Poop And Wee Safe?

[PaulB]

Hi,

Newbie here just wondering is guinea pig poop and urine safe to humans? My little piggy is only a few weeks old and poops like mad even somethings when holding her so just have it in the back of my mind.

I am a bit of a germ freak at the best of times so I always make sure we all wash our hands after handling the piggy but just like to hear from long term owners like yourselves? I am afraid to check Google in fear of what I may read as with anything searched on Google.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 114675]

There vegetarian ( well, vegan actually ) animals - so I don't think there is anything we need t worry about in their poop. I do agree it is a good idea to wash your hands after handling them - and cover any cuts if cleaning the hutch out.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

Newbie here just wondering is guinea pig poop and urine safe to humans? My little piggy is only a few weeks old and poops like mad even somethings when holding her so just have it in the back of my mind.

I am a bit of a germ freak at the best of times so I always make sure we all wash our hands after handling the piggy but just like to hear from long term owners like yourselves? I am afraid to check Google in fear of what I may read as with anything searched on Google.

Thanks

With sensible hygiene, i.e. hand washing after you have handled your guinea pigs or cleaned their cages, there should be no problems. There are thankfully only very few transmittable issues between rodents and humans.

Please consider getting your little piggy a same sex companion. Guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to be on their own. They can lose the ability to perceive themselves as guinea pigs if they are separated young and then kept without social interaction with their own kind. As a human, you just can't provide the need for a 24/7 companionship for the duration fo their whole life.
Companionship
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[PaulB]

Thanks for the reassurance, I had a fair idea it was relatively safe as they are pets after all but I thought I'd ask anyway..

Unfortunately my living circumstances at the moment are preventing me from getting a second one. Hopefully when I upsize I will be able to.

 

[Sian25]

@PaulB I've always picked their poos out of their cage to tidy them up with bare hands. Of course I wash my hands afterwards but never had any I'll effects. I've never washed my hands after just handling the guinea pigs

 

[Sian25]

On the other hand though, I always wash my hands before handling the guinea pigs as my dog is fed on a raw meat diet and although good hygiene is practised around the dogs food and his face gets washed after eating, I don't want to take any chances with making the piggies ill

 

[LorryDriverLuke]

@PaulB I've always picked their poos out of their cage to tidy them up with bare hands. Of course I wash my hands afterwards but never had any I'll effects. I've never washed my hands after just handling the guinea pigs

Me too. There's nothing disgusting about guinea pig poohs in my opinion, they're just concentrated hay really!