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Viruses Transmittable

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Flamestriker

Flamestriker

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Hello all

Are human colds and flu viruses transmittable to piggies?

Only I've caught a cold and I don't want to cuddle my lot if I could give it to them. It's a shame as Snowy had his first cuddle last night and I want to continue with that routine. Plus he is so cuddly and cwtchy just like my girlies. Only they love lap time and sprawl everywhere on me :)
 
I was actually thinking this same thing yesterday as i was feeling a bit flat and I washed my hands twice before handling their food just in case. I feel good today though but I would be interested in what others have to say also.

Hope you feel better soon so you can get back into those cuddles :)
 
I don't think they are; however I would keep physical contact with your pigs to a minimum, don't handle them unless you have to, good hygiene; hand washing before & after handling them, preparing their food etc. I use disposable gloves when preparing their veggies or handling them when cleaning out, if I have a bad cold :)
 
As long as you cuddle him on your lap and not really close to your face I can't see it being a problem at all.
 
Flamestriker said:
Hello all

Are human colds and flu viruses transmittable to piggies?

Only I've caught a cold and I don't want to cuddle my lot if I could give it to them. It's a shame as Snowy had his first cuddle last night and I want to continue with that routine. Plus he is so cuddly and cwtchy just like my girlies. Only they love lap time and sprawl everywhere on me :)
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Hiya! Most viruses are not transmittable between humans and rodents; any reports are only episodal, but on those VERY rare circumstances, it is usually devasting.

We always ask members with colds, flu and tummy bugs/norovirus to please use commonsense, i.e. good hygiene before and after contact and to keep any handling and interaction to a necessary minimum during that time.
 
My daughter had only a slight cold when she was letting 2 of the piggles give her kisses on the lips. One of the piggles developed a lower respiratory tract infection...she was fine in the morning but when I went to give them some food around 11am she wouldn't take it, then I noticed her nose was clogged with mucus, and she was gasping for breath...I rushed her to the vets, they put her in an oxygen tent and injected her with antibiotics but she had deteriorated by 3pm and needed to be put down. If I'd been out that day, I wouldn't have even noticed her being ill before she died, it was that fast. The other piggle was fine...maybe it wasn't related to my daughter's cold but who knows.
 
We've had a really rough year health-wise, and since having our guinea pigs all 3 of us have had colds, upper respiratory infections (mostly viral), and even influenza B. I got hit particularly badly with flu and another infection 6 weeks later. I'm the main one to feed and clean the pigs so frequently had my head in the cage poo picking etc. I did my best not to cough or sneeze over the cage and we didn't do lap time. Neither of my piggies have been sick at all.
 
Flamestriker said:
Ok thank you all. I need to do a poo clean but I won't be having cuddles.

I'm not happy :(
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Nobody is when they are not well at all and have pets to care for! I hope that you feel better soon! :(

I have been having a persistent cough from my cold for 6-7 weeks, and it hasn't affected the piggies. I didn't handle them while my cold was in the acute stage, though, as much as I would have liked some consolation by a squishy piggy cuddle!
 
IV done a poo clean in both cages, given fresh pellets and water, and some dandelion sprinkle from the Natural's/Woodland range.

I have two girlies looking at me, wanting their nightly cuddle...its soooooo hard to resist!
 
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