Grids: Cage Divider & Medical Safety Of A New Guinea Pig

[Pulsepoint129]

Hey there everyone. If this has been incorrectly placed, please feel free to relocate it to medical/veterinary if deemed necessary since what I'm asking could go either way, I suppose.

I have been e-mailing back and forth with Sue G. who constructs and ships out the specialty cages listed on here, and she told me that a recent question of mine would be better posted on here so I'm going to try!


I'm looking around to adopting another boy for my current guinea pig since his brother who he came with passed away in January and he's been alone ever since. Before I decide to do this, I want to expand his cage. (Currently, he has a 9.3 square footer.) My boyfriend and I are looking to expand it out another 7 or 8 square feet. I've heard a lot about having to quarantine a new guinea pig even upon a clean bill of health from the shelter/rescue and an experienced exotic veterinarian, for precautionary measures.

I just want to know, however, if a divider is sufficient enough to still keep any communicable diseases in cavies at bay. I ask this because, during the quarantine period, I know my curious little furball will still want to climb up and touch noses against the divider. I apologize if this question has already been asked before or if I'm being completely ignorant in any way, but--should I put something more concrete against the divider while they're separated in the beginning, like a piece of cardboard? (If that's safe, chewably-speaking.)

Any suggestions would be awesome, and thanks!

[ferndalezoo]

Quarantine needs to be in a totally different room, with the doors closed.

[walleandeva]

Some diseases are air bourne, so they could still be passed onto your current guinea pig if only a grid was seperating them. You should also handle and feed your current piggie first and always wash your hands after contact with your new guinea pig. It would be preferable if you wore an apron or something similar when around your new gp while it's in quarantine. Hope this helps.

[Pulsepoint129]

Ok. That, too, is do-able. Thanks.