HELP! Pneumonia spreading to all our pets!

[VictoriaValentine]

I had to put my hamster down on Christmas due to pneumonia, the vets who worked with exotic animals went home for the holidays. He showed severe symptoms of respiratory illness for 4 days before i got him in. During this time, my sister bought a tiny mouse and she’s been sneezing/coughing since. We were cautious, so we shrugged it off to it being her bedding. When we went to pick up paper bedding, this white guinea pig caught my eye, and I didn’t hesitate to buy her bc I desperately needed a distraction from my hammy. I was traumatized from watching his health deteriorate. I wasn’t thinking, I just needed something to fill the void I changed her cage for the first time 2 days ago, and since she was out of her cage for the first time my sister asked to pet her. I told her since day 1 you keep to your pet, and I’ll keep to mine... but she insisted she washed her hands so I gave in. But now I’m noticing my guinea pig sneezing and making weird noises </3 I can’t go through this again! I’ve already debated giving her up to a shelter bc I CANT DO THIS! If I take her to the vet, I’m going to need to ask for financial help after I went and bought all her supplies. I feel like I’ve just given myself a long lasting reminder of my sick hamster. What can I do? I'm so at loss and heart broken. She’s sneezing often and it’s loud. I’m losing my sanity. Does pneumonia even have a high success rate? I’m so stressed about the road to recovery ahead. How can I help her recover when there’s a mouse with pneumonia in my house?!? I can’t stop crying.

 

[Betsy]

She really does need to see a vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Does your vet have a payment plan? Can you do extra jobs around the house to earn some money?

 

[VictoriaValentine]

She really does need to see a vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Does your vet have a payment plan? Can you do extra jobs around the house to earn some money?

I think I’ll be able to convince my dad to pay for half of the veterinary bill, we are very poor atm so it feels wrong of me to ask but I don’t think I’ll be able to watch another pet pass from a URI. I don’t think dish soap was enough if she washed her hands thoroughly, It’s like I’d need to wear gloves or use hand sanitizer. I can’t see him taking in a mouse so I’m not sure how I’ll be able to help her efficiently recover if she’s now suffering from pneumonia

 

[VictoriaValentine]

How contagious is URIs? Does it die without a host? I’m scared the bacteria is lingering around my room, and around the house. I’m extremely paranoid now. I made sure to wash my hands and anything that came into contact with my guinea pig, yet she’s still showing early signs. I hope I’ll come back to some answers and advice for preventing this from happening to any of our other pets.

 

[Piggies&buns]

How contagious is URIs? Does it die without a host? I’m scared the bacteria is lingering around my room, and around the house. I’m extremely paranoid now. I made sure to wash my hands and anything that came into contact with my guinea pig, yet she’s still showing early signs. I hope I’ll come back to some answers and advice for preventing this from happening to any of our other pets.

Some forms of are contagious. But it also comes down to immune response, some are going to be more susceptible than others. She needs to see a vet though. She won’t get better by washing things.

Once she is better, please get her a friend. Guinea pigs should never be kept alone. They need to be in pairs.

 

[Siikibam]

One thing you can do is go in and speak to the pet shop (manager). You were mis-sold ‘damaged’ goods and so are within your rights to claim vet fees from them. I think they sometimes have a three month limit on it so hopefully you’re still within the timeframe. Whatever happens, your piggy really needs to see a vet as said above.

I would strongly advise you start up a vet fund for your current piggy and her future cage mate. If you can’t afford to do that, then it may be best (for her/them) that you give her/them up to a rescue. One of their rights is access to veterinary care, and it’s also your legal responsibility as an owner.

I hope you get a solution soon. Make sure the vet is cavy savvy too. There’s a vet locator on here (main menu) if you’re in the UK.

 

[VictoriaValentine]

Some forms of are contagious. But it also comes down to immune response, some are going to be more susceptible than others. She needs to see a vet though. She won’t get better by washing things.

Once she is better, please get her a friend. Guinea pigs should never be kept alone. They need to be in pairs.

I'm terrified if this can be traced back to my Hamster, Ill try to take her in reasonably soon. Could be another illness from the pet store.. they really didn’t tell me anything, they just see rodents as a quick buck sadly. I only learnt about how socially dependant pigs were after my own research, if I find out what is going on here and get in under control I’ll be sure to!

 

[Siikibam]

It can’t have been passed on from your hamster to piggy if former was dead before you got the piggy.

Please have her seen AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. URIs are notorious and they can go downhill very quickly. Ring the vet today if possible.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s not uncommon to get pet store animals who are harbouring an illness. Young, stressed animals can be prone to such things. In some respects it doesn’t really matter where it came from though, it just needs treating. If she is suffering from a uri, then it needs antibiotic treatment quickly. The longer it is left, the more tricky it can be to treat as the infection can take hold further.

 

[VictoriaValentine]

One thing you can do is go in and speak to the pet shop (manager). You were mis-sold ‘damaged’ goods and so are within your rights to claim vet fees from them. I think they sometimes have a three month limit on it so hopefully you’re still within the timeframe. Whatever happens, your piggy really needs to see a vet as said above.

I would strongly advise you start up a vet fund for your current piggy and her future cage mate. If you can’t afford to do that, then it may be best (for her/them) that you give her/them up to a rescue. One of their rights is access to veterinary care, and it’s also your legal responsibility as an owner.

I hope you get a solution soon. Make sure the vet is cavy savvy too. There’s a vet locator on here (main menu) if you’re in the UK.

You’ve made a really good point there, even if she was an impulse buy, I’ve signed up for the responsibility to ensure she’s in good health. I’m just so overwhelmed, I want to run away from it all. The timing is terrible, it seems all our pets are sick rn.

 

[VictoriaValentine]

It can’t have been passed on from your hamster to piggy if former was dead before you got the piggy.

Please have her seen AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. URIs are notorious and they can go downhill very quickly. Ring the vet today if possible.

My sister had bought the mouse just before Hamtaro passed! But that’s good to know without a host, it won’t linger. I was worried it was on my doorknob or something

 

[Piggies&buns]

You’ve made a really good point there, even if she was an impulse buy, I’ve signed up for the responsibility to ensure she’s in good health. I’m just so overwhelmed, I want to run away from it all. The timing is terrible, it seems all our pets are sick rn.

Your most immediate concern needs to be getting her diagnosed and treated.

Guinea pigs are not cheap, easy pets. Their needs are complex, cage sizes much larger than most pet shop cages can offer, as exotic pets, most general vets aren’t knowledgeable enough to deal with some of their issues. It is important to know exactly what you have taken on and prepare for that. There are a lot of useful guides on this site which will give you a lot of information on how to care for her and her future friend.

 

[VictoriaValentine]

I’ve been up all night stressing, it’s 6 am in Canada so I’m going to try to sleep but ANY AND ALL ANSWERS/ADVICE ARE APPRECIATED! I'm WORRIED !

 

[Siikibam]

The advise we’ve given will be the same when you wake up. Call up and get her an appointment with a (cavy savvy) vet. Tell them it’s an emergency and have her seen as soon as possible. As @Piggies&buns says, the most immediate thing now is getting her diagnosed and on treatment. Get some sleep then call up.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Like most bugs, they can't linger long without a host, that's assuming that you are dealing with a URI which was contagious anyway as not all strains are. URIs are not the common cold that humans get and piggies cannot catch a cold. Sadly piggies are very fragile and the longer you wait for an appointment the more likely it is that the illness will progress and a URI can be treated quickly and effectively when caught early, however it can also progress into pneumonia which can be curable (though may leave damage to the lungs through scarring) or it can be fatal. Fast and good quality vet treatment is essential

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum
Hope you can get to a vet today so if it is a URI your piggy can be treated.
You are going through a tough time but we are here to support you

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Please don't panic and get stuck on your feelings of guilt of a potential (but rather unlikely) transmission from your hamster. Far more important is to treat your piggy and to keep it alive right now!
Respiratory infections are transmitted by air and not by touch (germs will die within a few hours). Infections are they are very common in stressed young pets shop pets in close contact with each other and with a not yet fully developed immune system. Transmission from your hamster is much less likely than your piggy coming with the bacteria already in its respiratory system.

However, the ONLY way to get on top of a bacterial respiratory infection is an antibiotic. And it is your responsibility as an owner to have your piggy seen by a vet and not pass away from a perfectly curable illness.

You may find this link here helpful. It contains information on respiratory infections in new guinea pigs and your customer rights: What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Here are our tips for emergency, crisis and bridging care at home, especially if your piggy is losing weight and not eating properly but the sooner you have your piggy vet checked and can start the necessary treatment, the greater the survival chances. Any medical treatment won't be successful if you piggy isn't eating and isn't getting your support care at home until it can be seen by a vet and then during the following days until the medication is kicking in full and doing its job.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment