Can my guinea pig catch a fungal infection from my sick cat?

Thanks for reaching out about your pets. Different species of animals commonly carry bacteria that can be harmful to other species, but most commonly transmitted by bites or claws. It is not recommended that predator and prey species co-habitate. Just be careful. Good luck.

Ringworm is highly contagious and you can get it from animals, but I've personally never heard of ringworm leading to a massive infection. Keep in mind, though, that I'm not a human doctor so I can't comment on this. It's certainly possible your dad got the ringworm from them, but I can't say whether or not that lead to the infection. Only a human doctor can answer that. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, they can get a lot of different diseases that go from infections, immune mediated diseases and even cancer. If you are concerned your guinea pigs are not doing well, make sure to have them evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

Thank you for your question about your guinea pig. There are cases where herpesvirus has been spread to rabbits - this has been through kissing or having close contact with the mouth. I would not recommend that your mother, or anyone, kiss your guinea pig due to the risks. As far as the antiviral medications that you are referring to, yes, many of them are tested using laboratory animals, including guinea pigs. I hope that this helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Toby should be safe from your cold, as most viruses are species-specific and don't cross from one to the other. That being said, be careful to wash your hands before and after you handle him for both of your protection.

Attention is less of a problem with guinea pigs, they will definitely not die because of that. the main problem will be the cat though, this is usually not a great match, unless your cat will not be bothered by the guinea pig at all. at least in the beginning i recommend putting the guinea pig's cage in a room where the cat cannot access.

Thanks for reaching out about your guinea pigs. Cat bites or claw marks are notoriously contaminated, often causing serious infections. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to prescribe antibiotics. Reaching out to local humane societies or rescue groups can sometime provide some financial assistance. But don't wait too long as infections can progress to systemic problems quickly. Good luck.