Salmonella?

[Incredipigs]

My baby brother (4 months old) has caught salmonella. Do guinea pigs carry salmonella? Is there any chance they could have passed it to him? Also is there any chance that the Guinea pigs or the other animals (dogs, cats and hamsters) could catch it from him?

 

[Wiebke]

My baby brother (4 months old) has caught salmonella. Do guinea pigs carry salmonella? Is there any chance they could have passed it to him? Also is there any chance that the Guinea pigs or the other animals (dogs, cats and hamsters) could catch it from him?

Guinea pig do not normally suffer from or carry salmonella, but they can catch it from humans and - when infected - transmit back to them as can other pets. Salmonella is one of the few things that can be passed between species. So far we have only ever have dealt with one case of salmonella in guinea pigs in over 10 years of our existence and that has been an human to guinea pig infection because the owner was initially misdiagnosed and therefore didn't take any precautions straight away.

Please follow good hygiene with thorough hand washing before and after you handle the guinea pigs and any of their stuff; keep handling to the necessary minimum during this time. The same goes for your baby brother. See a vet asap if your piggies develop diarrhoea and keep any pets well away from your baby brother. I am very sorry; it must be a very stressful time for you all!
Here are our hygiene tips when dealing with infectious and transmittable issues in humans. It is bascially just common sense advice to minimise any risk of transmission; salmonella require the same precautions as a norovirus: Human Colds/flu And Tummy Bug Advice

 

[Merab]

Hope your baby brother recovers soon and everyone else , including piggies, are fine