guinea pig skin conditions

Question
dear sir  For over the past 2 years my husband and I have rasied guinia pigs and also rabbits ( in separarte large cages ).for sell to pet shops. Some months ago we  noticed that the guinia pigs started to get some sort of skin disease the causes them to loss their fur and disfigure their feet. Almost at the same time we saw that the rabbits also aquired this same problem  ( they have scally noses and ears and lost of fur ) We started to handy the animal only with gloves  but I fear that I think that I have contacted the disease that they have. My hands the joints in the fingers swelled and consequently I can not wear any ring on my fingers. I have done countless blood test which have all come up negative as to RH factor and so on. Could there be a contection between the animals conditions and the problem that I am suffering from? We have decided to stop breeding the animals and are just letting the few left live out their lives... never the less even when I change the food dish I wear gloves as I am afraid of getting infected . What can I do for the animals? Is there a connection between them and my condition ? Please help!!! thank you very much  batya  

Answer
Hi Batya

It seems too much of a coincidence that you got sick at same time as the animals so I think they probably are connected.

The only thing you can do really is to take the animals to a vet as skin conditions are usually quite simple to treat with antibiotics.

Sorry I cant help more.

Andy