Family ‘disgusted’ after taking home ‘contagious’ infected guinea pigs

A family are shocked and ‘disgusted’ after taking home two ‘infected’ guinea pigs from Pets at Home.

Carl Tyrrell, his partner Tiffany and his son Logan, bought two guinea pigs from Pets at Home in Lincoln, who soon became worryingly ill with a ‘contagious’ respiratory virus.

Pets at Home has been forced to stop selling the furry pets after discovering cases of Streptococcus, commonly known as Strep, among the animals.

Strep is a bacteria which can cause dangerous infections in animals, including life-threatening pneumonia in guinea pigs.

The family, including nine-year-old son Logan, were excited to add to their 20-strong guinea pig herd on Friday when concerning signs of the Strep outbreak at Pets at Home were first visible.

Carl, 42, told Metro: ‘The initial guinea pig we had chosen wasn’t able to be sold as she had what appeared to be discharge from the nose. 

‘We were allowed to purchase two other piggies from the same enclosure and bought them home.’

Pretty quickly their new pets, named Cappuccino and Latte, became worryingly ill over the weekend, developing runny noses and sneezing.

The carer added: ‘This is an emergency. How is that fair on the animals. They still have feelings, they are not stock.’

‘Theyknew that one of the guinea pigs in the enclosure had some sort of issues going on on Friday, so it was rather disappointing that we were allowed to bring a guinea pig home.’

They say their piggies are also eating less, another sign of infection.

The family is terrified the strep bacteria, which is contagious amongst animals, has put their other guinea pigs, who are currently living separately, ‘at risk’.

This meant the family took stringent precautions such as ‘handwashing, putting on different clothes’ after handling Cappuccino and Latte.

Their son Logan ‘has such a bond with guinea pigs’.

Carl added: ‘He would be absolutely devastated if the guinea pigs passed away.’

They also have two frail cats who they fear would be at risk.

Strep bacteria can even be passed on to humans in very rare cases.

Pets at Home Lincoln’s guinea pig enclosure has now been emptied by staff, according to pictures provided by Carl to Metro.

Carl and Tiffany have also spoken of their fury at what they claimed were delays to care in treating Cappuccino and Latte.

Carl alleged: ‘We rang the store on Saturday and were told to contact the in house vet’s practice on Monday morning whom then informed me that the cost would be around £57 per guinea pig to seen, therefore £114 for both piggies.’

Carl was seeking veterinary care from Lincoln’s Vets for Pets, which is owned by Pets at Home.

‘I explained that Pets at Home said they would get them seen there and it be out on their account’

‘I was then informed by Vets for Pets that they would have to speak to their vet manager and that they would get back to me either today or tomorrow.’

After multiple phone calls between the family and the vets, as well as Pets at Home, the guinea pigs were scheduled to see a vet at 6pm and have the costs covered by Pets at Home.

Carl said: ‘I find it disgusting that they would make an animal which could be poorly to wait for treatment whilst the decide internally who will pay the bill.’

This appointment came as a big relief to the family, who worried the health of their furry friends was ‘at risk’.

A Pets at Home spokesperson told Metro: ‘We have identified a small percentage of cases of infection in our guinea pig population resulting from streptococcus equi zooepidemicus.

‘Pet welfare is always our top priority and as a precautionary measure we have taken swift and immediate action to temporarily pause the sale or adoption of guinea pigs.

‘We are in contact with Mr Tyrell about his case and have offered a number of support options.

‘We are also contacting other customers directly who have purchased a guinea pig from us recently with detailed advice and guidance.

‘If customers have any immediate concerns, we advise contacting their local Pets at Home or veterinary provider for further advice.’

Pets at Home has 41 locations across Scotland and around 433 across the rest of the UK.

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