Children washing hands after petting?

[Black piggies]

Do you ask your kids to wash their hands after petting your guinea pigs? Our pigs live indoors, after I pet them, I wash my hands but then I've often poop scooped etc. I don't ask my 9 year old to wash his hands after patting the pigs as it seems a bit OTT. But just read a 2017 news article article about people catching pneumonia from their pigs. Son's a bit lazy and not sure he'd pat the pigs if he always had to wash his hands :-)
Ta.

 

[Siikibam]

My three wash their hands after petting. If they’ve stroked in passing I usually let them off. Same goes for me. But if they’re going to eat with their hands they wash whether it’s a passing scratch or prolonged stroke.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I think it's good practice for children to wash hands after handling any animals. However, as someone who has worked with children and animals (yes I know they tell you that you shouldn't ha ha), I have caught many illnesses off children, but none off animals!

 

[Piggies&buns]

My children always wash their hands after touching the animals.
I work with children as well so I am always on top of hygiene and I am always getting my own children to wash their hands when they are at home, I’m always telling them to wash their hands at school as well...not that i am sure they do! Sickness bugs going round their school and the school I work at and having already had a bug in our house twice in two weeks, I don’t want any more!

 

[Wiebke]

Do you ask your kids to wash their hands after petting your guinea pigs? Our pigs live indoors, after I pet them, I wash my hands but then I've often poop scooped etc. I don't ask my 9 year old to wash his hands after patting the pigs as it seems a bit OTT. But just read a 2017 news article article about people catching pneumonia from their pigs. Son's a bit lazy and not sure he'd pat the pigs if he always had to wash his hands :-)
Ta.

Hi!

Please teach your children to wash their hands after petting or handling any animal. Guinea pigs lie in their poos and pees. Basic hygiene is a very good routine to get into early in life. There are not many illnesses that transmit between humans and guinea pigs, but there are a few, thankfully rare, nasties. It is usually not a problem if they forget to, but on the other side it is something to be aware of.

You can find the list on here: Human Pregnancy And Guinea Pigs

 

[Freela]

I think it's good practice to wash your hands after handling animals, especially young kids who are apt to rub their eyes or put their fingers in their mouths. That said, I've had small animals since I was under 10, have not always washed my hands after handling them, and have never caught an illness from my pets, so I don't think the kids are at much risk if they forget to wash their hands.

 

[piggieminder]

Since my piggies got parasites and worms from contaminated grass in the garden I wear gloves when handling their poop and bedding. Parasites and worms are transmittable between animals and humans, and are all around us in the soil. Teach your children to always wash their hands after handling animals and before eating, not worth the risk for a few minutes of fuss. Saying that I caught worms when I helped out in a school from a child!