Are URIs contagious?

[popcornpiggles]

I've heard some people say they are and some say they aren't. I just lost a pig to a URI (only had him a week and a half ) and I'm wondering if my other pig should be checked out by a vet? The pig who passed declined incredibly rapidly despite multiple vet trips and treatment, and my other pig Kooky showed no symptoms. But I just had Kooky out for a cuddle and noticed he sneezed, and his nose looked a little moist. I know that could be nothing at all, but having lost 2 pigs in the past 3 weeks I am very anxious about this.

Kooky is the pig on the right, the left is Mallow who passed yesterday

 

[Wiebke]

I've heard some people say they are and some say they aren't. I just lost a pig to a URI (only had him a week and a half ) and I'm wondering if my other pig should be checked out by a vet? The pig who passed declined incredibly rapidly despite multiple vet trips and treatment, and my other pig Kooky showed no symptoms. But I just had Kooky out for a cuddle and noticed he sneezed, and his nose looked a little moist. I know that could be nothing at all, but having lost 2 pigs in the past 3 weeks I am very anxious about this.

Kooky is the pig on the right, the left is Mallow who passed yesterday

Hi

I am extremely sorry for your loss of Mallow.

By all means have Kooky vet checked if only for your own peace of mind.

I could answer your question better with a bit more background information: Which country are you in (this is really important in this context and can make a real difference in how I assess the problem). URI is entrenched in pet shops in some countries but not others.
How did you get Mallow (pet shop, freeads or rescue) and did you get Kooky and him together? How old are your two boys?

URIs are contagious but they are an opportunistic illness, i.e. healthy guinea pigs with a fully working immune system can usually fend the bacteria off and will not get infected. At risk are especially the young who immune system is still under construction when they are ripped from their family, distributed to branches and kept with other youngsters in close quarters, first in usually small quarters at the back of the shop and then on the floor - which basically means a perfect mix of stress/lowered immune system with perfect transmission conditions. At risk are also the pregnant, the frail and the elderly.

The origin question has also got another reason: There are a few really nasty - but thankfully comparatively rare - respiratory bugs around that piggies are not equipped to fend off so being able to assess whether exposure to those may have been a possibility or rather not can also help to answer your question. It is not quite as straightforward as it seems.





Here are your customer rights for newly acquired piggies from different backgrounds.
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs (this guide also has an assessment of your customer rights and how much you can enforce them as well as the various most common pitfalls)

 

[popcornpiggles]

Thank you for your response ❤

I am in Scotland and I got Mallow from a breeder, he was 2 years old and an ex breeding pig. He had been living with a rabbit and had also apparently been passed between quite a few homes before the breeder I got him from decided to take him back. I think the turbulence of bouncing between homes was too much for him and caused the URI. It was pneumonia that he died from

 

[popcornpiggles]

Thank you for your response ❤

I am in Scotland and I got Mallow from a breeder, he was 2 years old and an ex breeding pig. He had been living with a rabbit and had also apparently been passed between quite a few homes before the breeder I got him from decided to take him back. I think the turbulence of bouncing between homes was too much for him and caused the URI. It was pneumonia that he died from

Oh and yes Mallow and Kooky were together for about a week. Kooky is 3 and I have had him since 8 weeks, Mallow was 2 and sadly I only had him a week and a half. Kooky recently lost his cagemate Ziggy to lymphoma, which is why I got Mallow. I knew of the breeder I got Mallow from as I'd spoken briefly to her a few years ago over Facebook enquiring about baby pigs but never ended up getting any from her. I found Mallow's ad on gumtree, so the fact I'd spoken to her before was a coincidence.