Snake danger to infants?

[longqi]

Im actually quite curious about the Salmonella bits regarding snakes
Salmonella has always been thrown around as a potential disaster waiting to happen

Now I have no doubt that snakes kept in filthy conditions could possibly harbour salmonella

But has there ever been a case of salmonella directly linked back to a snake??
Or is that HUGE RISK of salmonella just another story??

 

[disintegratus]

We're expecting soon and so many people have asked will we be getting rid of the snakes... People have some really strange ideas about pet pythons. If one was to escape it would seek out a dark warm spot somewhere. Not go looking for babies to strangel. I tell people that having a cat around a baby is far more dangerous and they dont believe me...
Sleeping cat suffocates baby - Telegraph

Yes, but people are generally idiots.

 

[yolz90]

Don't listen to your frend snake are great.

And the one your geting is a small snake so don't wory

Wow :shock: haha

 

[Ratatouile]

On the bacteria front..... I reckon kids bought up with dogs, cats, reptiles in thier lives devellop better immune systems (unless they are allergic or have weak immune systems).

I am also a firm believer of this theory I grew up eating street food and god knows what (in a third world country) and I had an iron tummy while I can almost guarantee that my Norwegian husband will spend most of the day in the bathroom if he as much as lick the shredded ice dessert bought on the street in Indonesia. He is now wise enough to only drink bottled water simply so we don't have to spend our holiday in the hotel room. I'm not talking about drinking contaminated water though... even I'm not game doing that! Germs in moderation :lol:

Im actually quite curious about the Salmonella bits regarding snakes. Salmonella has always been thrown around as a potential disaster waiting to happen. Now I have no doubt that snakes kept in filthy conditions could possibly harbour salmonella. But has there ever been a case of salmonella directly linked back to a snake?? Or is that HUGE RISK of salmonella just another story??

I don't have any medical background and what I know is based on the advise given to me while I was pregnant by medical professionals. I was told that the mother doesn't usually show any symptoms but it can still harm the baby. I don't think it's a huge risk but it is a risk to certain people (ie. those with weaken immunity system). It's probably like toxoplasmosis in cats, rare but possible. One of my cousins was born with skin lesions covering half her face and specialists in Singapore and Australia confirmed it was caused by toxoplasmosis. She is 16yo now and has been having regular laser treatment but it never goes away. Her 3 other siblings are fine so it's a bit like lottery, hey..

I don't know if there ever been a case of salmonella directly linked to snakes (anyone?) but I'm not willing to take chances while my kids are still in the risk category (under 5yo). It won't stop me from keeping reptiles but to keep the risk to a minimum, I will insist that my kids wash their hands before and after handling our animals and before eating. It's hard sometimes because my 2yo loves to share her food with our dog. One bite for me, one bite for you.. one bite for me... :shock: The locks on my reptiles' enclosures are more for keeping her out rather than keeping the animals in!

 

[dragonlover1]

[h=2]News: Sutton baby contracts Salmonella from pet lizard[/h] Posted Wednesday April 4, 2012
Most of us who keep reptiles are aware that they are a higher risk of being a salmonella source. But many people, especially those new to the keeping of reptiles, are completely unaware of this risk. It's not hard to manage. Washing hands thoroughly with an anti-bacterial soap after the handling of a reptile pretty much reduces the risk to near-nothing. But we must take the precautions if we choose to care for these lizards. Unfortunately, this does not always occur...
"A five-month-old baby was rushed to hospital after contracting a potentially fatal-infection from an exotic family pet. A warning has now been issued to all reptile owners after tests on the baby, that was suffering from severe diarrhea, revealed he was suffering from the effects of Salmonella pomona, a rare type of bacteria linked to reptiles.

 

[Bluetongue1]

An "exotic" family pet. Just what sort of reptile was it? I ask only because I think these things need to be put into the correct perspective.

I have read about a couple of salmonella infections that keepers on this forum have attributed to their reptiles. Unfortunately they did not have the reptiles tested to determine if these were in fact infected with the same strain of salmonella. The reality of life is that both birds and mammals also can carry salmonella and should you eat food that has not been hygienically prepared or properly stored, you are an even better chance to contract it.

Yes, reptiles can carry salmonella. No, every reptile does not carry it. As has been mentioned, appropriate hygiene when handling pets will reduce the risks to almost zero and you would have to be extremely unfortunate to contract it when doing the right thing. In fact, you put your life at much greater risk every time you get into a motor vehicle. It is the possibility versus probability issue I have a problem with which is why I believe this needs to be put into the correct perspective.

Blue

 

[dragonlover1]

An "exotic" family pet. Just what sort of reptile was it? I ask only because I think these things need to be put into the correct perspective.

I have read about a couple of salmonella infections that keepers on this forum have attributed to their reptiles. Unfortunately they did not have the reptiles tested to determine if these were in fact infected with the same strain of salmonella. The reality of life is that both birds and mammals also can carry salmonella and should you eat food that has not been hygienically prepared or properly stored, you are an even better chance to contract it.

Yes, reptiles can carry salmonella. No, every reptile does not carry it. As has been mentioned, appropriate hygiene when handling pets will reduce the risks to almost zero and you would have to be extremely unfortunate to contract it when doing the right thing. In fact, you put your life at much greater risk every time you get into a motor vehicle. It is the possibility versus probability issue I have a problem with which is why I believe this needs to be put into the correct perspective.

Blue

sorry Blue but I can't remember which site I found this on (I've lost the link)but it was some type of lizard not a snake and this type of salmonella is a reptile variety.
I agree cleanliness is paramount but with little children that's not always possible

 

[Nathyrich]

Grr we're having a baby next month and im so sick and tired of people telling me im an idiot for keeping snakes, and that there going to kill and "eat" my baby, seriously what do people think that we'll let the kid play with the snakes and stuff?! Some people are so stupid:evil:.

 

[Striker]

I bought 4 pythons including an Olive when my wife was 7 months pregnant so I know exactly what you're going through.

 

[Bel03]

Grr we're having a baby next month and im so sick and tired of people telling me im an idiot for keeping snakes, and that there going to kill and "eat" my baby, seriously what do people think that we'll let the kid play with the snakes and stuff?! Some people are so stupid:evil:.

I had a neighbour tell me similar, 'i am so careless to have a snake around my kids when she is such a danger to them'.......the edited, PG rated version of my response was 'there are parents out there who are more of a danger to their kids then a snake is'........the full version of the 'conversation' was far less 'polite'.....& after her dog got into my yard & snapped at my daughter only a week prior to this, i may have mentioned that my snake is more of a danger to her yapper........

Keep in mind, my children are 6 & 10, my big bad 'dangerous' snake is a yearling bredli, so she isnt huge, & she sure isnt looking to make a snack of the kids!! Nor am i silly enough to leave them alone together anyway!!

 

[Striker]

Keep in mind, my children are 6 & 10, my big bad 'dangerous' snake is a yearling bredli, so she isnt huge, & she sure isnt looking to make a snack of the kids!! Nor am i silly enough to leave them alone together anyway!!

6 & 10. That's pretty funny. It'll be a hell of a snake to eat them.

 

[-Peter]

Im actually quite curious about the Salmonella bits regarding snakes
Salmonella has always been thrown around as a potential disaster waiting to happen

Now I have no doubt that snakes kept in filthy conditions could possibly harbour salmonella

But has there ever been a case of salmonella directly linked back to a snake??
Or is that HUGE RISK of salmonella just another story??

Its not so much filthy conditions as much as contained conditions. A snake in the "wild" wouldn't likely come in contact with its on faecal waste but in a confined enclosure it is forced to. Thats where the risk arises.
Snake, turtle, dog or cat you need to wash your hands.

 

[Skeptic]

Its not so much filthy conditions as much as contained conditions. A snake in the "wild" wouldn't likely come in contact with its on faecal waste but in a confined enclosure it is forced to. Thats where the risk arises.
Snake, turtle, dog or cat you need to wash your hands.

Salmonella won't spontaneously develop on the faecal matter unless the snake is already contaminated. It has to be introduced.

 

[Nathyrich]

I had a neighbour tell me similar, 'i am so careless to have a snake around my kids when she is such a danger to them'.......the edited, PG rated version of my response was 'there are parents out there who are more of a danger to their kids then a snake is'........the full version of the 'conversation' was far less 'polite'.....& after her dog got into my yard & snapped at my daughter only a week prior to this, i may have mentioned that my snake is more of a danger to her yapper........

Keep in mind, my children are 6 & 10, my big bad 'dangerous' snake is a yearling bredli, so she isnt huge, & she sure isnt looking to make a snack of the kids!! Nor am i silly enough to leave them alone together anyway!!

Yeah i hate how i explain things to people and they then roll their eyes at me as if im some kind of idiot like they know best and stuff, i mean my stimmy is still a hatchling, so tiny lol and my bredli is also a yearling so no that big yet either.

 

[Tristan]

Salmonella is a bacteria, its true reptiles are more prone to carrying the bacteria and being able to pass it onto people that handle them, but as Skeptic said, if your pet is not currently carrying it then you wont catch it. but its still a good idea to clean your hands before and after handling.

 

[Nighthawk]

Here's big bad mac mauling my 4yo daughter. See how traumatised she is? How rife with salmonella? Lol - we've had snakes since she was 18 months old and she has great respect for them, she even reminds us to F10 ourselves and she's had a bite or two with no worries (obviously not from the bigger ones, and she never handles them without supervision).
Lack of education, that and complacency are the only real problems with reptiles as pets.

 

[CaptainRatbag]

Wow, look! Its going right for her throat :shock: I can clearly see her grimmacing with agony :lol:

The snake I mean.... not your daughter :lol:

Both lovely specimines.... does your daughter have her own enclosure and heatpad? :lol:

 

[BigWillieStyles]

The OP was talking about a baby not kids. A python alone with a newborn baby could pose a risk in my opinion. I wouldnt be happy for my 6 week old son to be alone with any snake. Snakes are opportunistic and given the chance will have a go at just about anything, including their owners arm. Be vigilant and make sure any enclosure is escape proof.

 

[Bel03]

The OP was talking about a baby not kids. A python alone with a newborn baby could pose a risk in my opinion. I wouldnt be happy for my 6 week old son to be alone with any snake. Snakes are opportunistic and given the chance will have a go at just about anything, including their owners arm. Be vigilant and make sure any enclosure is escape proof.

I understand the OP was talking about babies & not children, & i did say earlier that of course yes, it can happen, HOWEVER, it only takes some common sense to make sure every human & every pet is kept safe & poses no risk to each other. The OP asking the question in the first place shows he has that common sense, so i am sure he can have pythons & babies without any dramas. Im 5mnths pregnant with baby number 3, if anyone ever suggested i get rid of Matilda they would find themselves copping the same 'talk' my neighbour got.

 

[-Peter]

Salmonella won't spontaneously develop on the faecal matter unless the snake is already contaminated. It has to be introduced.

General hygiene of an animals environment and personal hygeine will go a lone way to preventing the spread of infection.