HELP! Can they catch worms from people?

[Rebecca01]

My sister has just been diagnosed with worms! (Whatever the small white kind is around the bottom-threadworms?)
She only held the pigs the other day! Now I am panicking she could have passed this on to them- I know children’s hygiene isn’t the best!
Is this something that the pigs could catch, or will they be okay? Really don’t want them getting ill!

 

[Wiebke]

My sister has just been diagnosed with worms! (Whatever the small white kind is around the bottom-threadworms?)
She only held the pigs the other day! Now I am panicking she could have passed this on to them- I know children’s hygiene isn’t the best!
Is this something that the pigs could catch, or will they be okay? Really don’t want them getting ill!

Hi

Please take a deep breath. There is generally no risk of a transmission of worms between humans and guinea pigs; as species they are simply too different to play host. To my knowledge, we've never seen a case on here in coming up to 20 years.


I would however recommend that you practice extra good hygiene with hand washing before and after touching any thing guinea pig - the piggies, their stuff and any feeding etc. And no direct piggy contact for your daughter for the time being (which you are already doing).

Sorry for the stress and hassle for you right now but this should take one worry off you.

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