can a snake catch anything from a rat?

[pliskin]

I got some feeders the other day and one my snakes didn't want to eat , so I took the rat out and put it into my rat rack.

I noticed that it was making some weird noises after a couple of days. I fed it to another one of my snakes , and he took it no problems.

But then I started to think , maybe I shouldn't have done that. I know it would be a slim chance that reptiles and mammals could be prone to the same diseases , but I thought I'd ask.

Can a snake get sick if the rat you fed it was sick?
If so, what kinds of diseases can a rat transfer to your snakes?

[jason79]

I don't think reptiles can get any of the same diseases that mammals have.

[p3titexburial]

Not that I know of... but I'm sure there's something that can be transmitted, just not a lot. Kinda like how we can't get the cat flu (RI for felines) even if our cat has it. Different species--and I'm sure it's an even bigger genetic jump from mammals to reptiles.

[Kaorte]

I think they only thing to worry about would be internal parasites. If the rat had a cold, the snake is not going to get an RI. The bacteria that causes those infections are mammal or reptile specific. Sort of like how mites are cold blooded, warm blooded specific.

[iCandiBallPythons]

They can catch a meal

[littleindiangirl]

I wouldn't worry about the snake, I would worry about the other rats!

[Tiny_loves_Roxanne]

I wouldn't worry about the snake, I would worry about the other rats!

this

[mxrider42]

Snakes can get Salmonella from rats.

[pliskin]

thanks for the input everyone.

I didn't think it would be a problem , and the snake which ate the rat in question has suffered no ill effects from it. it was just an afterthought and I figured I'd post and get some other opinions.

hearing everyone else's thoughts on it kinda puts my mind at ease, though .