Can snakes catch colds

Hey i recently came down with a common cold and was wondering if it would still be ok for me to handle my BP. I would usually just wait till i felt better to handle here but since i am treating her for scale rot i need to have her out to soak and also so that i can give her the meds( orally). I guess my question is do BP's catch human sicknesses, or if washing my hands before touching her will be fine.

Nope, I don't think a human cold could affect a ball python. I may be wrong, but I'm sure they're built differently so the virus wouldn't affect them like it would with us.

i agree with cody. i don't think it's possible and i've never heard of it happening before.

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Originally Posted by DrEwTiMe

I guess my question is do BP's catch human sicknesses

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No.

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Originally Posted by DrEwTiMe

, or if washing my hands before touching her will be fine.

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Always a good idea to wash your hands before and after anyway.

-adam

Regardless if you are sick or perfectly healthy:

ALWAYS ALWAYS wash your hands BEFORE AND AFTER handling your bp. It's much safer for both you and your bp.

Yes, especially if you have been handling rodents. :)

Yeah, there are very few things that humans can transfer to animals, and I dont think that anyone has probably even looked into whether or not humans can pass any sicknesses to snakes. I know you can give the flu to your dog though!

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Originally Posted by Andrew00

I know you can give the flu to your dog though!

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Ya thats was what i was thinking when i asked this question, because i knew that dogs can catch human sickness so i figured that it might be possbile to give my cold to my snake. But it sounds like that is not the case with snakes. That is better for me because i don't think my mother would be too thrilled with opening my snakes mouth and shooting the antibiotics in hehe. She likes my snake but not that much lol

I know why I should wash my hands before I handle my BP but what is the reason behind washing after? I always do it (because you guys told me to :D)

So that God forbid you snake has salminela(i know that is not spelled right, work with me people :)) that could be transfered to you or perhaps another pet that you own in the house. Its the same with turtles and stuff. they are all carriers.

Oh wow I didn't know that.. I though salmonela *another mis-spelling* was only found in eggs and raw chicken. I learn something new here every day!! Thanks Drewtime!

-Troy

Or parasites that could go to another part of your collection.

Salmonela (sp?) can be carried by ANY ANIMAL that hatches out of an egg. So you should always wash your hands.

Any species of bird, or almost all reptiles. Your animal may not be a carrier, but it's better that you wash your hands anyway.

Actually... Salmonella is carried in any feces, and in eggs and raw poultry. We have it, snakes have it, your loveable little evil hamsters have it, LoL. It's just bacteria, and I've seen it under a microscope. It's cool, it wiggles :)

Also, you can't give your dog or your snake a cold. Now ferrets are a different story, they can catch the human cold virus/ and the flu.

You wash your hands before and after because it's a sanitary thing to do. Before you handle the snake because you might have oils or an offensive perfume/lotion that the snake might sense, or you may smell like rodent/dog/cat something... You wash your hands after because of the chance of spreading salmonella/internal parasites that you may get/external parasite eggs that may spread to other animals in the house/colony. Besides, the snake may have slithered through poop before you picked it up and even though you may not be able to see it, it's still there, with you sticking your hands in it. What if your eye has an itch? Or you bite your fingernails? All of the above are good reasons to wash hands. Or just have some antibacterial hand cleaner around for a quick cleaning.

I mean, seriously, not washing your hands, is just, well... Gross... :)

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Also, you can't give your dog or your snake a cold. Now ferrets are a different story, they can catch the human cold virus/ and the flu.

I mean, seriously, not washing your hands, is just, well... Gross... :)

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Um no, I am postive that you can get your dog sick if you have a cold. Not in all cases, but their are definelty some strains that humans as well as dogs are suceptible to.

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Originally Posted by lucky8926

Oh wow I didn't know that.. I though salmonela *another mis-spelling* was only found in eggs and raw chicken. I learn something new here every day!! Thanks Drewtime!

-Troy

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heh no problem im glad i can be of help. And i think that i too have herd something about dogs being able to catch some kind of sickness from us. But i could just be wrong.

No, there's really not any human cold virus that dogs can get... It's a different strain, just like certain parasites are host-specific and can only live in that specific animal. Believe me... I haven't paid for a year and a half of vet tech classes for nothing. Ferrets can get colds and the flu from us, and sometimes rats can, but it's not common at all. Dogs and cats on the other hand, cannot...It's just not the same thing. Something that can live comfortably in our 98 degree body cannot live comfortably in a dog's 102-103 degree body. This is why chickens can't get rabies :) Their body temp is 105-106...

But anyway, if you can find where it says that a dog can get a human cold, let me know. Otherwise, I'll just keep remembering what my teacher(who is a vet) told me in class. :)

Ya you are right, i was not trying to argue there but i really did think someone told me that. But ya i was looking around on the internet and dogs can't get cold but they can get things like teberculsous, you can check it out Here if you would like, just thought it was interesting.

I have only heard it on the news, you always hear them say it arounf flu season.

i hate the news, nothing but mombo jumbo

I highly recommend the WipeOut series of handgels by ZooMed - they are an alcohol based gel and you just squirt a glob in your palm and rub your hands together and then it dries right away. This stuff kills a wide variety of pathogens so I think it is a lot better than just using soap and water. I use it everytime after I deal with my herps.
EyeLashViper

Yes, that site tells me everything about why a dog might cough, but it never says that dogs get things from humans... Bordatella bronchiseptica(kennel cough) is the most well-known, and it's pretty nasty. Their eyes get drainy and they cough up foamy phlegm, bleh.

And EyeLashViper, I'm sorry, but nothing beats good ol' antibacterial soap and water. Kills the stuff and then you wash it off... The wipeout stuff and other hand sanitizers are good, but you aren't washing the dead bacteria,viruses, etc. off of your hands. They are good for a quick sanitizing if you don't have access to a sink. Plus, alcohol really isn't a disinfectant unless you leave it on the surface for more than a few minutes...And still, it really doesn't do a good job.