Can snakes get sick from us?

[trailblazer295]

Hey guys and gals

I wasn't able to find a thread answering this. Can snakes or in my case ball pythons catch an illness from us? I'm in the middle of battling a cold. I'm not one that gets sick often, generally 1 cold a year and always plays out the same steps. Now while sick I'm not handling my BP but regular husbandry is required, spot cleaning and fresh water. I don't play with my cat either. Just curious how easily they can catch things from us.

[Kuamata]

Hmm... I know colds(rhinovirus) is zoonotic between other mammals and avians, but not so sure on our fellow cold blooded friends...

[marvelfreak]

No they can't. Some where on this site there's a thread that talked about it. I just can remember the name of the thread.

[trailblazer295]

I'm not going to handle him when I'm sick but just wanted to confirm that doing husbandry for the few days a year I'm sick won't risk his health.

[PsychoSnake]

I wouldn't worry about it. You're more likely to contract salmonella from your reptile than your reptile contracting a cold or flu virus from you.

On another note, drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. :)

[trailblazer295]

I always wash my hands before and after handling the snake with disinfectant hand soap.

I have managed to keep this one from getting to bad, more of an annoyance.

[jjhill001]

The common cold is not communicable between species (might hit primates though).

[JustMeNmySnakes]

I hope all this is true. I woke up this morning with the Shingles and I'm not sure even after washing hands if I should handle my baby retic... Not looking forward to dealing with this crapp.

[MDT]

shingles is from the varicella virus...meaning that when you had chicken pox, you were infected with that virus. you'll have that virus in your body (living dormant in your spinal cord) until the day you die.....occasionally, it reactivates and migrates out along a dermatome causing the rash (and crazy a$$ pain you're feeling).....but....you can't "give" your shingles to your retic.

typically, zoonotic infections are not common, especially something viral passing from reptile to human or human to reptile.

[JustMeNmySnakes]

Thanks. Just wanted to be sure. Good to know.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yeah, generally viruses are not communicable between warm-blooded animals and cold-blooded animals. Some bacteria, like salmonella, can be though.

[trailblazer295]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I hadn't heard of it before with the exception of salmonella but just wanted to be sure. I wash my hands with anti bacterial hand soap before and after handling mushu as regular practice. Just wanted to get a better idea the level of risk when maintaining his cage if I happen to be sick which is rare for me and I live alone.

[Aaron_S]

shingles is from the varicella virus...meaning that when you had chicken pox, you were infected with that virus. you'll have that virus in your body (living dormant in your spinal cord) until the day you die.....occasionally, it reactivates and migrates out along a dermatome causing the rash (and crazy a$$ pain you're feeling).....but....you can't "give" your shingles to your retic.

typically, zoonotic infections are not common, especially something viral passing from reptile to human or human to reptile.

Damn. Knowledge bomb if I've ever seen one.

Didn't know I have a virus in my spine! Hmm, if I scratch it right maybe I can gain a superpower and become some sort of awesome villian....ugh... I mean superhero.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Damn. Knowledge bomb if I've ever seen one.

Didn't know I have a virus in my spine! Hmm, if I scratch it right maybe I can gain a superpower and become some sort of awesome villian....ugh... I mean superhero.

Same thing happens with cold sores/herpes. It's weird.

[Pareeeee]

This thread makes me glad I've never had Chicken Pox.

To OP: like others said, don't worry about it. Snakes can't catch colds from us :)