Quarantine

[Guineautopia]

Hi guys,
looking for some pointers please...
So I understand the importance of quarantine period when introducing new piggies to existing. I already use F10 and good hygiene.
I know to look for skin issues such as fungal/ringworm/evidence of mites/lice/scratching.
But what other illness are contagious to piggies and what symptoms can I look for?
Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys,
looking for some pointers please...
So I understand the importance of quarantine period when introducing new piggies to existing. I already use F10 and good hygiene.
I know to look for skin issues such as fungal/ringworm/evidence of mites/lice/scratching.
But what other illness are contagious to piggies and what symptoms can I look for?
Thanks

URI (respiratory infection) Guinea Lynx :: URI
Typical are thick eye crusts and crackly breathing. If your new piggies are sneezing a lot, please have them vet checked.
Any vet will treat for URI before they will consider other avenues (like sensitivity to dusty hay or pollen allergy) because it is much more common and it can kill if left untreated/undertreated.

Pets@home have obviously changed their breeding stock/commercial supply breeder because mange mites and URI have been mostly eliminated but ringworm is still a real problem and we are currently seeing quite a bit of that in UK shop piggies.

If you are adopting from a good standard rescue with a mandatory quarantine, a second quarantine is not necessary and you can introduce as soon as your new piggies have settled in.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

ALWAYS double check the gender upon arrival; mis-sexing is sadly still very common!
Sexing Guide

Here are our quaranting tips: Importance Of Quarantine

 

[Guineautopia]

Thank you @Wiebke, I wasn’t aware URI could also be contagious. So I will be sure to look out for that also.
I’m actually rehoming some from a friend, she also has very good hygiene and the piggies are well looked after and loved.
But I want to be 100% sure I don’t risk any illness with my existing piggies.
Thanks for your help

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you @Wiebke, I wasn’t aware URI could also be contagious. So I will be sure to look out for that also.
I’m actually rehoming some from a friend, she also has very good hygiene and the piggies are well looked after and loved.
But I want to be 100% sure I don’t risk any illness with my existing piggies.
Thanks for your help

If your friend's piggies are well kept and healthy and you have verified that, I would not worry and drop the quarantine. There has simply been no exposure to any of the usual transmittable bugs.

If you get babies, the need for company usually outweighs any quarantining considerations anyway, even more so with a single baby.

The problem is usually with young shop and breeder babies whose immune system is not yet fully developed when they have their little lives turned upside down several times in quick succession while penned up together very closely - the ideal breeding ground for the most highly transmittable opportunists to spread around like wildfire: weak immune system, high stress and exposure to bugs at close quarters with a high turnover all coming together in a perfect storm!
It also depends on how the piggies are kept at the commercial shop supplying and at private backyard or farm breeders where as little as possible is spent on the stock.

The other groups of piggies you need to quarantine are free-ads piggies you do not know the background of (people wanting to get rid of their piggies will very often lie through their teeth!) or piggies you have rescued yourself that you know come from a bad situation as well as piggies you adopt from shelters or rescues without mandatory quarantine and vet care.

 

[Guineautopia]

Ah thanks for the explanation @Wiebke that makes sense.
Yes they are looked after and I have seen and held them.
They are between 2-3 years old and showing no signs of illness and she has had them all their lives so I know the full history.
Thanks again for the help

 

[Wiebke]

All the best!