Pets at Home have been forced to stop selling a furry favourite over fears they are spreading a worrying infection. The pet shop has discovered cases of Streptococcus, commonly known as Strep, among their guinea pig population. Strep is a bacteria which can cause dangerous infections in animals, including life-threatening pneumonia in guinea pigs. The bacteria can also spread from animals to humans, although human cases are rare.
![[Cute guinea pigs eating parsley in Denver, Colorado, United States]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SEI_240315524-f5f0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Pets at Home bosses have blocked guinea pigs from finding a home as they look to stop the outbreak in its tracks. It is not known how many of the company’s 400 stores have been affected by the ban. A post shared on social media read: ‘This weekend, pets at home won’t be selling guinea pigs. ‘All customer-facing colleagues right up to managers and the customer service team have been told to tell any customer wanting guinea pigs that “they can’t be sold at moment as they’re new into store and need their rest period”.
![[SOUTHEND, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: A general exterior view of a Pets At Home, pet shop and vet surgery retail store on January 18, 2024 in Southend, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SEI_240315426-d06b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘However, that’s not the truth. The truth is, the breeding guineas have Streptococcus. What an absolute disgrace.’. A Pets at Home spokesman said: ‘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 will be contacting customers directly who have purchased a guinea pig from us recently with detailed advice and guidance. ‘However, if you have immediate concerns, please contact your local Pets at Home or veterinary provider for further advice.’. Streptococcal infections can lead to a range of mild to severe symptoms in a variety species of animals. Pets at Home have 41 locations across Scotland and around 433 across the rest of the UK.
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