Vermin as Pets -- Bad Idea, Says Docs
Monday, October 6, 2008
In what could be considered the no-brainer news announcement of the year, doctors are now warning that kids should not keep such "exotic" animals as hamsters, hedgehogs, lizards and turtles because of the risk for disease. Duh.
"Many parents clearly don't understand the risks from various infections" these animals often carry, said Dr. Larry Pickering, the report's lead author and an infectious disease specialist at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As an example, Pickering says roughly 11% percent of cases of salmonella in children are believed to be caused by contact with lizards, turtles and other reptiles. Hamsters also can carry this germ, which can cause severe diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
Hedgehogs are also extremely dangerous because their quills can penetrate skin and have been known to spread a bacteria that can cause fever, stomach pain and a rash.
If you already own one of these creatures, the study suggests you contact your vet to find out about specific risks to you and your family.
See Also:
|
previous: When Nannies Go Bad
|
Email7 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
Kids need a pet like this GOLDEN RETRIEVER who qualified for the Olympics! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOP2S9FL_98
- micki
whats the author
- Anonymous
Excuse me I always thought the kids that didn’t have these pets at least once were weird! Not to mention my kids and every kid they know has had them! None of them have fallen ill with some mysterious illness ether! I think this is just another scare tactic thing like when they were saying eggs were bad for you! Suddenly they are good for you again! Not to mention the hamsters, Ginnie pigs, and small pets of that sort are raised and breed in a captive environments! Its not like they went to a forest and picked up some rabid rabbit or other type of rodent! Not to mention the only way I could see it being a problem is if your child is allergic to many things! As for me I’m going to keep getting my children these little pets and besides they are easy to keep care of and not expensive!
- Becca
I’d like to know where they are getting their fact from becasue I have never ever heard of anything like this from my child’s doctor! It doesn’t seem accredited to me! For all we know it could just as well be here say stuff that this writer wrote up as from the experts! I don’t believe it!
- Becca
As a vet tech and small animal specialist, I can say that they are correct - AT LEAST about the reptiles. In Texas, we weren’t allowed to sell turtles under 4” because children could stick them in their mouths and become infected…and we were always sure to tell them about salmonella and to be sure and wash hands well after playing with their pet. As for the small rodents, I hadn’t heard that, but you can get fecal matter on your hands, when handling them. This is just a case of people needing to educate their children on proper hand washing …and everything will be all right! :)
- Cindy
I will never have these kind of pets in my home. We will stick to dogs…I won’t even get a cat.
- Rikki
I had hamsters, lizards and turtles as a kid and the lizards and turtles were ones we caught outside ourselves. I NEVER got ill from any of them.
- Sheryl
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Vermin as Pets -- Bad Idea, Says Docs.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.momlogic.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/98821
 |
 Get the scoop and latest giveaways delivered right to your inbox!
Subscribe to the Momlogic newsletter! |
 |
|
advertisement
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
The Momlogic Community
