Pododermatitis (Bumblefoot)

This disease is seen most frequently in Guinea pigs housed on rough, unsanitized wire floors. Lesions occur on the palmar and plantar surfaces of the feet and consist of granulomatous cellulitis or chronic, fibrous granulomas with or without an exudative crust, of the feet. Staphylococci have often been isolated from these lesions, probably as secondary invaders. The best treatment is to transfer the affected animal to a solid floored cage with dry shredded paper bedding. Resolution of advanced lesions despite local and parenteral therapies is uncommon. Soaking the feet in astringents or tamed iodine solutions and bandaging the feet may be beneficial in severe cases.

No, bumblefoot is not contagious. However, if you have multiple guinea pigs living in the conditions you listed above such as heavily soiled bedding, lack of exercise, or wire floors, they are all susceptible to getting the condition.

The answer isn't as simple as yes or no. The fact that one animal in a group has it means two things. First, there are environmental conditions present that may be hard on the feet causing breaks in the skin. Second, the will be a very high inoculum of Staph present since the diseased animal is shedding bacteria into the environment. To cause a disease like bumble foot you need two things, a source of bacteria and a portal of entry. With an infected animal in the group, you have satisfied the first condition in spades! If the housing conditions can cause skin damage, you have satisfied the second. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

So, the presence of an infected animal increases the odds of a second animal getting the disease if the second animal has skin damage but won't cause the disease in an animal with no skin damage.

40+ years raising and showing guinea pigs and a PhD in biology/microbiology with lots of years teaching micro to nursing, premed and prevet students