Respiratory tract infection

[MiloPiggy]

Hi, so my guinea pig milo is ill and is on antibiotics and metacam since yesterday but today I had his new brother dropped off (keeping them separated for obvious reasons) how long until I can start to introduce them due to the illness? How contagious is is, should the cages be in different rooms ?
many comments with me helpful thank you

this is Milos new babybrother Otis

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, so my guinea pig milo is ill and is on antibiotics and metacam since yesterday but today I had his new brother dropped off (keeping them separated for obvious reasons) how long until I can start to introduce them due to the illness? How contagious is is, should the cages be in different rooms ?
many comments with me helpful thank you

this is Milos new babybrother Otis

Hi and welcome

How old are Milo and his companion and how long have you had them? Are they indoors or outdoors piggies?
A proper quarantine lasts 2-3 weeks with the piggies in different rooms. Contagiousness very much depends on what exactly is causing the respiratory symptoms.

A standard bacterial URI won't be a problem for a teenage/adult healthy companion with a fully working immune system, but it can be a problem for a baby companion with a not yet fully developed immune system, a stressed out new arrival or an elderly piggy whose immune system is no longer as flexible and strong.
Then there some rather nasty but thankfully rare bugs, like kennel cough (bordetellosis) etc. that can be fatal for guinea pigs.

Importance Of Quarantine
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
Dogs, Kennel Cough And Guinea Pigs - An Important Consideration.

Once you have separated, you always need to reintroduce companions formally on neutral ground outside the cage.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[MiloPiggy]

Milo is 7 months old and has a Respiratory Tract Infection .... his companion is only 4 months old they’re in separate enclosures, shall I move Otis to a different room? He’s a newbie I’ve had milo longer, Oscar came to me today cause as milo was lonely x

 

[MiloPiggy]

I didn’t like milo being alone and a few minutes this ago he lost his elder companion

 

[Wiebke]

Milo is 7 months old and has a Respiratory Tract Infection .... his companion is only 4 months old they’re in separate enclosures, shall I move Otis to a different room? He’s a newbie I’ve had milo longer, Oscar came to me today cause as milo was lonely x

Hi!

As two boys are not bonded, I would keep them in separate rooms for a couple of weeks and then for another week or at least a few days next to each to each other with interaction through the bars. That will take some of the overexcitement during bonding out of the equation.

It is less of an issue of Otis catching URI than Milo in a weakened state catching something off Otis; unless Otis has been adopted from a high welfare standard rescue with a mandatory quarantine. In the latter case he can live next to Milo for a week until Milo is recovered but the two can start making friends through the bars.

 

[MiloPiggy]

Otis is from a pet store, so I’ll put Otis in a diffrent room until milos recovered, thank you
And then I’ll let them live next to eachother, have you got and tips on bonding them? Many thanks x

 

[MiloPiggy]

I wanted to get a companion from a rescue but none of the ones in my area are open for adoptions and milo was getting awfully lonely, otherwise I wouldn’t of got one from a pet store x