Overview
1 Covid and Monkey pox Tansmission Risk Assessment re. Guinea Pigs
- Covid
- Monkey pox
2 Ill owners: Contagion and Transmission Risks
3 Human Pregnancy or Immuno-depression and Guinea Pig Care
4 Transmission of Illnesses Between Guinea Pigs and Other Pet Species (Zoonosis)
- Ringworm (multispecies)
- Bordetella (from dogs or rabbits)
- E.cuniculi (from rabbits)
- Fly strike (eggs/maggots from flesh laying flies)
- Flea treatment and large pet sprays and powders
- Other not cavy specific skin parasites that can affect guinea pigs
- Worms
- Dog/fox pee
5 Practical Hygiene and Care Advice During Owner Illness
6 Ill/Self-isolating and Running Out of Guinea Pig Supplies?
1 Covid and monkey pox transmission risk assessment re. guinea pigs
Covid
It is very rare that things jump over from humans to guinea pigs, especially as many viruses are species specific.
A new study by UC David on genomic modelling of a wide range of species has shown that guinea pigs (like other rodents) are at a very low risk of being affected by the virus. (August 2020)
There is a very small and yet not researched risk that pet fur can act as a transmission angle from one human to another. That is the rason why our general hygiene recommendations are as important as never before.
One Health Institute (shared by The Guinea pig Guru)
This also goes for Covid-19, the new coronavirus on the block. Just because it has jumped one species barrier doesn't mean that it will jump all others automatically, too! However, good hand washing hygiene (before and after any interaction), no kissing and no interaction when acutely affected with ANY pet is vital common sense practice.
Here is the latest stance on pets cats: British Veterinary Association - BVA
Here is the new poster with recommendations (25th March2020), which tally with our own forum recommendations since the outbreak re. looking after your piggies. These recommendations have not changed.
Good hygiene and hand washing before and after any interaction with your pets (including feeding) as well as limiting direct contact with your pets if possible while you are acutely infected is still key. If possible, move your pets out of your bedroom while acutely ill.
You can transmit virus particles onto your pets' coats. There has been a case of Covid infection in hamsters being sold in a petshop in Singapore in January 2020, which has led to a city-wide cull of hamsters to prevent Covid being transmitted back to humans. This is likely the result of lack of hygiene and precaution. The same could happen in other in small rodent species.
Accessing veterinary care during Covid restrictions: Accessing veterinary care during coronavirus/Covid-19 lockdown
Monkey pox
Rodents (which include guinea pigs) are the main vector on the animal side via which monkey pox has made the species jump to humans. So far, any cases in Europe and the USA have been only human to human transmissions from people returning from some African countries or in close contact with them.
Monkey pox is much less infective than Covid. You need to share some time with an infected or person or their belongings (like shared bedding) in order to catch it.
It is worth mentioning that a one-off smallpox vaccination is also effective against monkey pox (including when given in the early stages of the infection) and that this vaccine is already developed, on stand-by and can be upscaled much more quickly than with Covid. Many of the older generation at higher risk of complications have had the smallpox vaccination with life-long protection already in the mass vaccination campaigns of the 1950-60ies before smallpox was declared eradicated. We are in a very different position in terms of monkey pox compared to Covid.
Guinea pigs can only become a problem when somebody in their household is infected and interacting closely with them as they could catch and then pass on the infection to others. Should monkey pox really become significant (which is not all that likely), measures for safeguarding a spread of the infection via rodent pets will be put in place; but they are more likely to happen at the borders/airports once an initial, likely limited outbreak is under control.
The good practice and common sense hygiene tips in this guide here will hopefully reduce that risk massively. Please do not kiss your piggies, always wash/disinfect your hands thoroughly after and in between handling any pets, use a towel or lap pad for your piggies and gloves for any cage cleaning - but these things already apply largely for your normal daily interaction anyway.
1 Covid and Monkey pox Tansmission Risk Assessment re. Guinea Pigs
- Covid
- Monkey pox
2 Ill owners: Contagion and Transmission Risks
3 Human Pregnancy or Immuno-depression and Guinea Pig Care
4 Transmission of Illnesses Between Guinea Pigs and Other Pet Species (Zoonosis)
- Ringworm (multispecies)
- Bordetella (from dogs or rabbits)
- E.cuniculi (from rabbits)
- Fly strike (eggs/maggots from flesh laying flies)
- Flea treatment and large pet sprays and powders
- Other not cavy specific skin parasites that can affect guinea pigs
- Worms
- Dog/fox pee
5 Practical Hygiene and Care Advice During Owner Illness
6 Ill/Self-isolating and Running Out of Guinea Pig Supplies?
1 Covid and monkey pox transmission risk assessment re. guinea pigs
Covid
It is very rare that things jump over from humans to guinea pigs, especially as many viruses are species specific.
A new study by UC David on genomic modelling of a wide range of species has shown that guinea pigs (like other rodents) are at a very low risk of being affected by the virus. (August 2020)
There is a very small and yet not researched risk that pet fur can act as a transmission angle from one human to another. That is the rason why our general hygiene recommendations are as important as never before.
One Health Institute (shared by The Guinea pig Guru)
This also goes for Covid-19, the new coronavirus on the block. Just because it has jumped one species barrier doesn't mean that it will jump all others automatically, too! However, good hand washing hygiene (before and after any interaction), no kissing and no interaction when acutely affected with ANY pet is vital common sense practice.
Here is the latest stance on pets cats: British Veterinary Association - BVA
Here is the new poster with recommendations (25th March2020), which tally with our own forum recommendations since the outbreak re. looking after your piggies. These recommendations have not changed.
Good hygiene and hand washing before and after any interaction with your pets (including feeding) as well as limiting direct contact with your pets if possible while you are acutely infected is still key. If possible, move your pets out of your bedroom while acutely ill.
You can transmit virus particles onto your pets' coats. There has been a case of Covid infection in hamsters being sold in a petshop in Singapore in January 2020, which has led to a city-wide cull of hamsters to prevent Covid being transmitted back to humans. This is likely the result of lack of hygiene and precaution. The same could happen in other in small rodent species.
Accessing veterinary care during Covid restrictions: Accessing veterinary care during coronavirus/Covid-19 lockdown
Monkey pox
Rodents (which include guinea pigs) are the main vector on the animal side via which monkey pox has made the species jump to humans. So far, any cases in Europe and the USA have been only human to human transmissions from people returning from some African countries or in close contact with them.
Monkey pox is much less infective than Covid. You need to share some time with an infected or person or their belongings (like shared bedding) in order to catch it.
It is worth mentioning that a one-off smallpox vaccination is also effective against monkey pox (including when given in the early stages of the infection) and that this vaccine is already developed, on stand-by and can be upscaled much more quickly than with Covid. Many of the older generation at higher risk of complications have had the smallpox vaccination with life-long protection already in the mass vaccination campaigns of the 1950-60ies before smallpox was declared eradicated. We are in a very different position in terms of monkey pox compared to Covid.
Guinea pigs can only become a problem when somebody in their household is infected and interacting closely with them as they could catch and then pass on the infection to others. Should monkey pox really become significant (which is not all that likely), measures for safeguarding a spread of the infection via rodent pets will be put in place; but they are more likely to happen at the borders/airports once an initial, likely limited outbreak is under control.
The good practice and common sense hygiene tips in this guide here will hopefully reduce that risk massively. Please do not kiss your piggies, always wash/disinfect your hands thoroughly after and in between handling any pets, use a towel or lap pad for your piggies and gloves for any cage cleaning - but these things already apply largely for your normal daily interaction anyway.