Runy eye cold

Question
We got are guinea pigs about seven days ago. Right now one of them  has a runny eye,ruinny nose and troble breathing and when we pet her { which is her favorite thing }she won't purr we talked to the vet said she had it sounds like a cold we are wondering why is she not purring we are concerned but are other guinea pig is fine we are also wondering if we should bring her to the vet today or later.Is it comin that they have colds i am nine years old and i am also wondering if it could efect on people.Please write back Chloe Rotonda.

Answer
She most likely has an upper respiratory infection, which can start as a cold, or could come from a draft or change in weather. She does need to see a vet to get antibiotics for it, they will most likely use a sulfur based antibiotic. Until then though you can put some Vicks Vapor Rub on her nose, and give her 1/4 tsp. of Robutussin cough syrup in a syringe, this will help with some of the symptoms. Also put her cage in the bathroom whenever you take a shower, the steam helps clear the lungs. I would get her to the vet as soon as possible, at least with in a day in a half, using the treatments recommended, faster if not. Guinea pigs with upper respiratory infections can go down hill fast. Humans usually do not catch any thing from guinea pigs, including colds, usually it is the other way around, guinea pigs catch colds from humans. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Brittany