Salmonella

I was just wondering, how likely is it to catch salmonella from a pet snake?

Very unlikely. I have yet to hear of someone coming down with salmonella from a snake, although mild cases might happen and just never get reported.

Most of the salmonella stories I've heard about come from turtles. Just wash your hands after handling your snakes and don't allow your snakes around food preparation areas and you should be fine.

ive heard that frogs often carry this too.

strangely i did catch salmonella, but i am certain it wasn't from my snakes. I've had them for 7 years, and it would have been odd for me to all of a sudden catch it from them (i feel). I'm sure i read somewhere as well, that you really would have to get your hands dirty when cleaning them out, and then not wash.

Makes sense. I was just wondering. I'm not worried about it, I've just heard a lot about it.

i cought it once. my iggi jumped in my mouth. yuk. it was terrable. i had it for three weeks. im not gonna explain the symptoms though. NASTY!:rage:

LOL, not to sound mean or like I find humor in you being ill, but I was just wondering, how does something "jump" in your mouth exactly?

:P LICK UM!

Almost guaranteed way to get salmonella...

Great, atleast I know a sure way to get out of going to work. LOL.

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Originally Posted by Elvyra's Keeper

Great, atleast I know a sure way to get out of going to work. LOL.

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;) Just looking out for you...

:rofl:

well i had her on my chest and i was laying down and i touched her tail. this startle her and she jumped into my mouth. iggi tastes gross.

You're far more likely to get salmonella from your own kitchen cutting board or a restaurant that doesn't practise proper food prep and storage.

Just have common sense about the snake, wash up afterwards, etc. and you'll likely be quite fine.

You can also just keep a small bottle of Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizer Gel beside your snakes enclosure and use it after putting him/her hack - in addition to washing your hands, of course. (Like ReadyNurse , although there are many good brands to choose from at your local drug store.)

i use that hand sanitizer religiously. especially if im going from one aniimal to the other. i just disinfect my hands and keep on truckin

;) we have like 5 bottles of the disinfectant!! there is a bottle in the kitchen, one in the bathroom and the rest beside the critter enclosures. never had a problem once.

I keep a bottle of Germ X on my rack for that reason:)

I love germ-x. I always have some with me.

You could probably catch salmonella if you play with their feces or something. Ive heard its easier to catch it from some lizards other than snakes. Could be because lizards expell themselves daily or every couple days compared to once a week or every other week.

I have 2 children , 8 and 4, that love handling and touching my snakes, ( under careful supervision) especially the 8 year old. While I consider myself a cautious parent, I am sure there have been a few times when hands were forgotten to be washed after handling the snakes. My children have never gotten sick after handling my snakes. and I am sure my 4 year old, has put his hands in his mouth after touching or holding one.

I think I may had a mild case of salmonella this last week..... Cleaned all my cages then went to eat something and forgot to wash up before eating. The next day I was sicker than a dog. throwin up all day and night. It was bad.....

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Originally Posted by Elvyra's Keeper

Great, atleast I know a sure way to get out of going to work. LOL.

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Skip the lickin' and just call in and lie. Then you can actually enjoy your day off! (Not that I condone lying....)

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Originally Posted by NightLad

You can also just keep a small bottle of Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizer Gel beside your snakes enclosure and use it after putting him/her hack - in addition to washing your hands, of course. (Like ReadyNurse , although there are many good brands to choose from at your local drug store.)

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With boys, 6 and 3 yrs olds, we keep the hand sanitizer by the tanks to make sure they clean up. I use it, too, but make sure I wash my hands before preparing/eating any food.

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Originally Posted by AdamJB

I think I may had a mild case of salmonella this last week..... Cleaned all my cages then went to eat something and forgot to wash up before eating. The next day I was sicker than a dog. throwin up all day and night. It was bad.....

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Bummer! Sorry to hear that. Could have been a coincidence, but you never know. Guess that's why the hand washing helps - it will also wash off other germs from the outside world.

All, just don't kiss your snakes. Ahem, I mean, read the thread I posted on that, and you'll get a laugh - or maybe not.