My husband and I have had viral bronchial infections for almost 2 weeks now. It's been going all around our little town. Anyway,as soon as we were diagnosed, I called a couple of the vets in St Louis to make certain that my Suggies couldn't get it from us. I was assured that they could NOT.

It appears that Tosca is feeling puny. She hasnt been eating well for the last 2 days. She doesnt appear to have any of the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection - Just not eating well. Im worried that somehow she may have gotten a secondary bacterial infection from us????

I called 4 vets yesterday - 2 of them were out of town and 2 didnt call me back. I have already made calls this morning. I think she probably needs some amoxicillin to get her over this. Im making certain that she is drinking by giving her pedialyte from a syringe every couple of hours. I have also been giving her food as licky treats - which she will take some, but not as much as she needs.

She appears to be doing better this morning. She readily drank about 4 syringes full of pedialyte and ate 8 mealies and a little bit of yogurt as a licky treat.

My question to all of you is (sorry I took the loooooong way to get to my point - I stayed up last night- worried):

Can Suggies get upper respiratory infections from us????
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Rita, I have been told when I worked with the vets that dogs and cats can catch colds from us. But I am not sure about gliders. I have been haveing colds all winter because the kids get them in school and bring them home. I haven't had one catch it yet.

It seems that suggies can not get viral infections from us - BUT they can get bacterial infections. Sometimes, human viral infections can turn into bacterial as a secondary infection and that is when we can transmit from human to animal.

Even tho we have practiced the best hygiene we could,constantly washing our hands,covering mouths when coughing, etc - with 2 of us having this so badly, it has been almost impossible not to spread it. My mother has it, several of my co-workers have it..... More than likely the suggies got it from me as I am their primary care giver.

So, Tosca will need to go on antibiotics to get rid of a possible bacterial infection that she got from either myself or my husband. I am going to the vet tomorrow morning before work to pick up her amoxicillin. She is doing better today. I have been giving both of them Pedialyte from a syringe about every 2 hours. I also mixed some of their nectar with Pedialyte, warmed it and fed it from a syringe - which they both willing took like little piggies. And Tosca ate meal worms today. All good signs!!! I just hope they dont get spoiled and think they are going to eat like this all the time!!!

Now - to get myself and hubby back to the Dr to get 2nd rounds of antibiotics. Maybe we can get everyone in this house well!

Some bacterial infections can cross species. Most viruses are species specific and need an intermediary host to mutate (essentially become a different virus) and infect another species. A few viruses can infect a variety of species - certain bordatellae, distemper, rabies. Your respiratory viruses are highly unlikely to infect your gliders.

Your animals cannot catch the human cold. They are very unlikely to catch a respiratory bacterial infection from you. It is always good hygiene practice to avoid kissing your animals, avoid coughing on them and washing your hands before and after you handle them.

It could be just a coincidence that she got sick the same time we did. Her symptoms are a little popping noise when she breathes, not eating well and sleeping alot. Today - she has a little bit of a runny nose. So she is on Amoxi-drops for 10 days. Of course - she doesnt want to take her medicine - and Tilly was grabbing for the syringe!!!!

This morning - she was running as fast and furious in her wheel as she normally does. So - with a little bit of medicine, she will be back to new before we know it!!!