Is a guinea pig that has recovered from a URI contagious to other piggies for life (even if they are showing no symptoms)? I recently adopted 2 young boys from a local rescue to add to my existing pair aged 7 and 3.5 years. They were supposed to have been in quarentine at the rescue and their policy was that they do the introductions so I took my boys to them. They got on well with my boys so I brought them home. Less than 24 hours later one of the new boys was very ill and he had to be PTS. My vet felt that he had an infection that head spread to his inner ear and brain. She said the cause was almost certainly something my other boys had encountered in the past and were immune to so they weren't at risk. Unfortunately, though, I lost my oldest boy just over a week later. The remaining two who had been well up until this point began showing symptoms of a URI. I think grief had a lot to do with them no longer fighting off the infection. They have been on antibiotics and Metacam , prescribed by a different vet for 5 days and they are both doing well. This second vet, though, suggests that the infection will be with them for life and may return. Does this mean they are infectious for ever? Or are they only infectious if they are sneezing etc? Sorry if this is a daft question!
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How long is a URI contagious for?
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Qualcast&Flymo
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Sorry for your losses! In the circumstances it's not a daft question at all, trying to understand what has been going on ...
My understanding is that URIs aren't usually infectious (unlike flu bugs etc in humans.) I had a piggy who was prone to URIs due to poor care in his earlier life, my vet said they were mostly likely triggered by stress; his companion never had any infections in the years they were together.
That's not to say your pigs haven't caught something from each other, one of the medical experts may know about things I don't, hopefully one will be able to advise you better.
What exactly are the symptoms that your pigs have/have had, and is your vet piggy savvy?
My understanding is that URIs aren't usually infectious (unlike flu bugs etc in humans.) I had a piggy who was prone to URIs due to poor care in his earlier life, my vet said they were mostly likely triggered by stress; his companion never had any infections in the years they were together.
That's not to say your pigs haven't caught something from each other, one of the medical experts may know about things I don't, hopefully one will be able to advise you better.
What exactly are the symptoms that your pigs have/have had, and is your vet piggy savvy?
Hi and welcome!
I am very sorry! It is the kind of nightmare and news that none of us every wants to hear!
What your vet means that your surviving boys may have got life long reservoir of whatever bug that may transmit to any new
piggies. They should not be introduced to any other piggies or be housed near any other piggies.
It is however more likely that your boy did already come with the bug but that the stress of the move may have activated it and that it has transmitted to your boys in turn. Streptococcus can go into the ear but the incubation period is 7-10 days (i.e. the time between infection and outbreak); piggies can be symptom free carriers which is why it is often only discovered when it is too late.
Do you have got rabbits or does the rescue also have rabbits in close proximity?
(E. cuniculi, which can go into the ear/brain and is often mistaken for an ear infection; but again, in our experience it is not instant the way it has happened with your first death. )
A bacterial URI is an opportunistic disease that healthy, well kept piggies can fend off. While secondary complications of URI like rhinitis or sinusitis can travel into the inner ear, it is also not causing the kind of symptoms at the speed that you are reporting.
Short of a post-mortem examination or a swab with a lab test to find out what bug you are exactly dealing with, all you can do is treat your surviving boys as potential carriers and prevent any further potentially fatal transmission to even more piggies in the future.
PS: Please make sure that you deep clean the cage and any furnishings with a vet grade disinfectant and that you wash any fabrics at at least 60 C.
PS2: There is a pretty good article with an overview over all possible respiratory problems in Guinea Pig Magazine #38 (May 2017), which you may find interesting.
Guinea Pig Magazine
Thanks for your help. My regular vet is an exotics specialist and highly rated rabbit vet so I expected her to be GP savvy. I asked about EC as a friend of mine has had it in the past with her rabbit. I also asked about a stroke as when I spoke to the rescue they were certain (without seeing him) that the original pig I lost had had a stoke through stress. The vet ruled both of those out. I think he was very unwell when I brought him home but he just appeared to be terrified so I didn't realise how sick he was. I do have 4 rabbits but they are all well. They have never had EC. The youngest one has been with me for 2 years so I haven't brought a new bunny in for some time. The rabbits are out in the day and then in at night in the same air space as my guinea pigs but different hutches. The guinea pigs are in during the winter (with their hutch open so they can potter about in the day time) and outside in a run during the day in spring and summer. My oldest rabbit and piggy had lived like this and been well for 7 years so I don't think my rabbits are the problem. The rescue doesn't rehome rabbits but they may keep them. Arthur, the 7 year old Guinea pig had no obvious respiratory symptoms but wasn't eating. He had become prone to getting a bit bunged up recently as everything round his bottom was a bit saggy in old age and he would go off his food. He usually responded well to meds but didn't on this occasion and he was going down hill. I took him to a new vet as it was a Friday and my vet doesn't work that day and the vet who covers her doesn't see guinea pigs! They did an x-ray and said his chest didn't look normal and to keep an eye on the other two. They felt he was suffering and advised he should be PTS. The other two were fine until last Sunday, two days after Arthur passed. Merlin is lost without his best friend and very sad. Little Percy has lost his brother and Arthur who loved him and looked after him during the time they were together. I think they both gave up a bit. Their symptoms were mild and they are fine now (but still on meds). I have them in isolation from my other animals but they are fed up now, wanting some freedom and they don;'t really want anything to do with each other. Am I right in thinking they are stuck with each other now, the alternative being living alone? I am totally gutted as Arthur & Merlin deserved better. Arthur coped badly with losing his original companion. With him getting older I wanted to get Merlin settled with new friends so he wasn't alone when Arthur passed. They accepted the new boys so well as they are lovely gentle boys. I am guessing the rescue hadn't quarentined them fully. There is also a possibility all their guinea pigs are carriers of something. I didn't see their herd and how they are keptas intros were done in the house I line my hutch with paper and put bedding on top so I can change it daily easily as boys are so messy! Everything is being disinfected daily at the moment too. We have also replaced the vinyl flooring in the room the guinea pigs free range in (which was ready for a change anyway).Hi and welcome!
I am very sorry! It is the kind of nightmare and news that none of us every wants to hear!
What your vet means that your surviving boys may have got life long reservoir of whatever bug that may transmit to any new
piggies. They should not be introduced to any other piggies or be housed near any other piggies.
It is however more likely that your boy did already come with the bug but that the stress of the move may have activated it and that it has transmitted to your boys in turn. Streptococcus can go into the ear but the incubation period is 7-10 days (i.e. the time between infection and outbreak); piggies can be symptom free carriers which is why it is often only discovered when it is too late.
Do you have got rabbits or does the rescue also have rabbits in close proximity?
(E. cuniculi, which can go into the ear/brain and is often mistaken for an ear infection; but again, in our experience it is not instant the way it has happened with your first death. )
A bacterial URI is an opportunistic disease that healthy, well kept piggies can fend off. While secondary complications of URI like rhinitis or sinusitis can travel into the inner ear, it is also not causing the kind of symptoms at the speed that you are reporting.
Short of a post-mortem examination or a swab with a lab test to find out what bug you are exactly dealing with, all you can do is treat your surviving boys as potential carriers and prevent any further potentially fatal transmission to even more piggies in the future.
PS: Please make sure that you deep clean the cage and any furnishings with a vet grade disinfectant and that you wash any fabrics at at least 60 C.
PS2: There is a pretty good article with an overview over all possible respiratory problems in Guinea Pig Magazine #38 (May 2017), which you may find interesting.
Guinea Pig Magazine
Sorry for the long post! I really wish I had gone to a reputable breeder instead of the rescue i went to.
Hi!
Sadly anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without any licensing and control. The results are accordingly; especially when they two mix. Always do your research first. it very much sounds like you have ended up with one of the hell holes.
Please also be aware that 'reputable' breeders are only covered by showing standards and not necessarily welfare standards in their homes. We have seen a few cases from 'reputable' breeders on here, too! Even a clean pen at a breeder's doesn't necessarily mean good practices when it comes to vet care or sexing/separating; we have a nice littering of them especially in our pregnancy section.
It is unfortunately a buyers/adopters beware minefield out there but you can complain to your local council about trading standards and report the 'rescue' to your local animal welfare branch.
We do however have a rescue locator on the top bar for vetted good standard rescues with a mandatory quarantine and vet care which would never, ever put very ill piggies up for adoption!
Our criteria in that respect are quite strict; any rescue on our list should be totally safe to use for any forum members and their piggies. It may mean travelling further but you get a lot of service and is well worth the peace of mind.
PS: No decent rescue would rehome boars to live as a quartet; especially not one that contains sub-adults. The risk of fall-outs and fights is just too great as it is the most unstable of all boar constellations, followed by trios.
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I am considering reporting them as I don't want this to happen to anyone else. I think they do mean well but they just have too many animals. I think they would have been fine as a quartet. Arthur & Merlin were/are gentle souls and happily accepted others. I have had a dominant boar in the past who I wouldn't have dreamed of introducing to anyone else. He was Arthur's original companion and Arthur put up with his pomp and let him get on with it. He would have a go at anything and just the sight of a rabbit or a bird when he was out in the garden would start him off. Arthur was never like that and neither is Merlin. Percy is an odd little thing with no a lot about him, bless him. He is definitely not a dominant boy. He is 5 months old with big balls, so very much a teenager. He is tiny, though, only weighing 600g. He isn't thin and is eating well but he is really small. Goodness knows where he came from.
I’m curious to know which rescue you adopted the 2 new boys from, please.
Thank you for your answer. As you will be aware we do vet the rescues on our locator and actively monitor their activity so that we ensure that are happy to continue recommending them. I had suspected the rescue who adopted you 2 boars to form a quad was not one on our recommended list. I’m so sorry that you have been through all of this.
No, its not on your list. I found this forum and the list too late, unfortunately. Avalon are well supported and the lady I met was lovely and seemed very knowledgeable. They are aware of what has happened and they are sorry and have offered advice. I get the impression that losing individuals is not that big a deal for them. Perhaps taking in lots of poorly individuals makes you feel a bit like that in the end. It has been devastating for me though, even having to make the decision to put to sleep a little pig I had had less than a day and didn't even have a name yet. I am also worried about the possibility of my other animals being affected (rabbits, rats, mice etc). I will definitely use your list in the future if adopting more piggies and recommend it to others.
AMMAH
Junior Guinea Pig
Not wanting to speak out of turn but I unfollowed that rescue on Facebook as there always seemed to be a lot of drama going on - fallings out etc.
So sorry for your losses. Hope your other 2 recover quickly
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I'm so sorry for your losses.what a dilemma.Cavy corner in Doncaster is well worth the travel ,on the recommended rescue list.
Thank you all for your advice and support. The boys had a check up at the vets yesterday and have the all clear. They are still on antibiotics for another week as a precaution but they can come out of isolation which is relief for everyone! The vet I saw today (who saw Arthur when he was very poorly and was fantastic with him and me!) said that while a guinea pig has no clinical symptoms of illness they are not contagious so I can stop worrying about all my other animals! The symptoms may return in times of stress etc in which case they will need isolation and prompt treatment again but for now they are all good. They are not the little furry bio hazards I had imagined they had become! I let them out for a wander around this afternoon for the first time since they became unwell and they very much enjoyed it!