Archive for the ‘Reptiles’ Category

I’ll bet you didn’t know that lizards and turtles can carry harmful bacteria called Salmonella.

I love reptiles and I bet you do too (or you probably would not be reading this article!). You may have noticed that reptiles are becoming more and more popular as family pets. Reptiles such as turtles, iguanas, snakes, geckos, horned toads, and chameleons can make great pets because they are fascinating, quiet, don’t require daily feeding/walking, and can be kept in a cage with relatively very little fuss. However, there is a cautionary note folks need to be aware of when taking on a reptile for a pet. Reptiles sometimes carry a bacteria called Salmonella that can cause serious illness in people.

Although many people think of salmonellosis as an illness caused by contaminated food, it can also be caught by handling a pet reptile or contact with its environment. The trick is that you can’t tell by looking at a lizard, snake, or a turtle if it is carrying Salmonella. You see, Salmonella occurs naturally in many reptiles and the bacteria doesn’t usually make the animals sick.

If you have ever had about it, you most likely won’t ever forget it. Salmonellosis is a serious infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea is the most common symptom of Salmonella infection, but other symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. It can sometimes be extremely serious and even fatal for young children, the elderly, and persons with weak immune systems. Salmonellosis is not to be taken lightly. For that reason, families with children aged 5 years or younger or persons with weak immune systems should think twice about having pet reptiles.

Bacteria, including Salmonella, are easily passed from pet reptiles to people. Research by the Center for Disease Control shows that a person who handles reptiles can easily pass germs to others because bacteria are able to cling to skin, clothing and other surfaces. To reduce the chances of getting sick with salmonellosis by handling reptiles, here are some tips to follow as a reptile pet owner:

• Wash hands with soap and water immediately after handling a reptile; Launder any clothing the reptile might have touched
• Do not allow reptiles to roam the house freely
• Keep reptiles out of the kitchen
• Use soap or a disinfectant to thoroughly clean any surfaces that have been in contact with reptiles.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it is illegal in the United States to sell or distribute turtles with shells that measure less than 4 inches in length. This size was chosen because some small children treat smaller turtles as toys and put them in their mouths. Yuk! Despite this ban, these small turtles can still be found in some pet stores.

Of course, children will still catch wild turtles and lizards and bring them home to keep as pets, which is what kids are supposed to do. Just keep in mind, whether store-bought or caught in a friend’s backyard, a reptile can carry Salmonella and might not be the best choice of a pet for your family, especially if there are young children or persons with compromised immune systems in the household.

Tom Vaughan is an avid admirer of reptiles, especially snakes. He caught his first rattlesnake (pygmy rattler) at age 10 and hasn’t stopped catching reptiles since. A favorite website is http://www.reptilefile.com

Author: Tom Vaughan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A reptile family includes turtle, lizards, snakes, etc. There are around 56 species of snakes, which people keep as pets, like king snakes, corn snakes, pythons, boas, etc. The turtles are also popular as pets and mostly these are aquatic turtles and box turtles. Other famous pet in this category are the monitor lizards, chameleons, Iguanas, bearded dragons, etc.

Many do not like these reptiles, but some people really enjoy keeping them as pets. These are entirely different from other pets like dogs and cats. These reptiles are not used to normal environment as the other usual pets. Different type of reptiles requires different type of environment.

Reptile pet supplies is the one shop which can help you to understand what the reptiles really need and which type of pets suits you the most. The shop has all the accessories necessary for the reptiles like cleaning equipments, food, decor, heating, housing, health care, incubators, lightnings, vivariums, etc.

The shop has reptile substrates like sand or carpets to create a great environment to your substrates. They also have a variety of vivariums suitable for all types of reptiles. You can buy one that interests you and comfortable to the reptile. Such vivariums provide space for the pet to move around and a tall vivarium is good for the climbing lizards. Usually, these are made of wood for the strength of the vivarium. The reptiles live a longer life in strong vivariums.

A team of people who are devotees of reptiles and reptile custodians together have created this wonderful shop and website to make available all the reptile accessories and information on reptiles. They have around 100 years of experience in breeding, looking after and keeping the reptiles.

The website is open all the time for providing complete answer to all your queries and is one of the largest suppliers of the needs of your pet.

The author personally loves reptile pets and owns this website. Reptile supplies is merely not a business but a way of life and a personal passion for these amazing creatures. Anyone new to buying reptile supplies or looking for more information on the pet reptile supplies can check the website.

Author: Abhinn Gupta
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Reptiles are amazing creatures. Whether you are interested in snakes, lizards, or turtles, there is always something different and fascinating to be learned. Children are also intrigued by the foreign looking animals, with scales and shells rather than skin and hair, and often convince their parents to let them have a newt or a snake to keep them company in their room, a turtle or salamander to study for a science fair project. It is estimated that there are over 11 million reptiles being held as pets in America, 11 million snakes and lizards and turtles that act as pets for our children, but bring many risks into our households that few realize.

Reptiles are not meant to be kept as pets. Like most animals, they are meant to be in their natural environment, usually in large spaces, with fresh water, variety of food, and predators to weed out the weak. In a domestic environment, reptiles are forced to live in small cages, in which they are in close contact with water that they are forced to eat and defecate in, creating a high chance that the reptile may become sick with bacteria or infection. Now if you asked the average pet owner how to tell if a reptile is sick or not, few would be able to answer. Therefore, reptiles may become sick, stay sick, and could get you and your family ill.

The biggest health risk in keeping reptiles is the threat of Salmonella, a bacteria which many reptiles carry and can transmit to humans. Salmonella can cause life threatening symptoms in people, including severe dehydration, through bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. In children and elderly people, this bacterium is not only severe, but can kill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 5% of all Salmonella cases were caused by exposure to some form of reptile.

Because the risk is so great, it is important to take safety precautions when working or playing with reptiles in your own home. For example:

Wash your hands with warm water and soap, or use a disinfectant after any contact with reptiles

Keep reptiles away from any food or food preparation

Make sure any open wounds or sores you have are covered if you come into physical contact with a reptile

Avoid contact of elderly and infant with reptiles

Reptiles are meant to be in the wild. However, as reptiles become more and more popular, especially with children, it is important to keep health and safety in mind when caring for your reptile pets.

If you would like more information about reptile care, contact the Atlanta Vet Clinics today.

Author: Joseph Devine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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