warppedupinreptiles on pet guys

[Rdean1]

Katt i am not disagreeing with you But at the same time Even if you are washing your hands it can still happen. I was at a persons house that had 4 Iguanas, they needed some help so i went. While there I got a superficial scrach, no big deal washed and bandaid Done. A few days latter I was very very ill, Guess what i had contracted the big S and it was not fun at all.
So with all that Gravid women have to deal with why give them one more. It is always better to be safe is it not.
I am not going to get into a fight about this if you want to call me fine heres my number 403-556-8050
We both feel very strong about our mis-understood friends why add to that by having a Gravid women get sich and the media run with that story.
Dean

[Katt]

I just wanted to add, if washing hands isn't enough or not available, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer handy.

http://biology.about.com/gi/dynamic/.../fsehandw.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

[Katt]

Exactly. It isn't inhaled through the air or absorbed through your skin... if you have cuts, make sure they are covered,

While there I got a superficial scrach, no big deal washed and bandaid Done. A few days latter I was very very ill, Guess what i had contracted the big S

A scratch is far different from handling. That's direct contact with your blood stream.

I'm not starting a debate. I'm just very concerned that you are an acting public reptile spokesperson, and here you are spreading anti-reptile sentiments. You aren't really educating, you're just passing along the established anti-reptile propaganda!

As for iguanas, they shouldn't be handled with anything, but gloves. They may not mean to scratch, but they do. Are you immuno-comprimised? Did you have tests to establish that you did get salmonella? I've been scratched by my iguana many times and have never been sick.

[Rdean1]

Give me your fax number and I'll get my doctor to send you a copy, Yes i had Salmonella! I had repeated calls from the health officals they new i had reptiles and would not leave alone, it took some time to convince them it was from another source.
Dean

[Rdean1]

Katt as someone in the so called public eye to protect my AS# if asked I will always say that that anyone under the age of 18 months, any senior with a bad immune system, and pregnant women should not handel Any reptile and if they have to Yes be super super careful.
Dean

[northernsnake]

I keep hand sanitizer in my herp room and in the kitchen it,s 65%ethyl alcohol 5%isopropyl it kills germs without water whenever regular soap and water hand washing is not possible.

[Katt]

No need to get uppity. If you are saying they can handle them with precautions, then I'm all in agreement.

I don't really need proof, if you went to the doctor and you tested positive, that's good enough for me.

Make sure your wife doesn't drink tap water either. I was ill last year and while everyone tried to blame my reptiles, it turned out to be Giardia from the tap water.

[C.m.pyrrhus]

One is more apt to get ill as well from the basic cleaning and feeding of reptiles as well. I get small scratches from dealing with my breeder rats, and every time I break-out with small bumps (kinda like mosquito bites). Cleaning up feces of any animal will be dirty. Also like Katt said there is a risk even more so without herps, as in human food prep and consumption.

The handling of herps should always be implied with cleaning afterwords. To say one cannot handle and leaving at that is a miservice to herpteculture. Its not that one cannot get ill, but imforming in another way would be more benificial for those that do not know. Why leave it at pregnant women? Might as well include small children and the elderly. All in all, it is the way you inform that gets folks thinking in a certain direction. To say something like that without including all the other stuff along with it is not something that should not be passed along. Uninformed folks will only know what you tell them. Leaving out better information is a miservice, and should be included when that 'topic' comes up.

[Katt]

You put that so eloquently. Thank you.

[Oliverian]

I get small scratches from dealing with my breeder rats, and every time I break-out with small bumps

I get that too. What is it, like an allergic reaction or a minor infection or something? I just figured I was slightly allergic to the aspen shavings, but what you said makes more sense.
-TammyR

[northernsnake]

Me to !

[Linds]

Last I checked snakes did not have nails. Salmonella isn't carried in saliva, so even the biggest bite wouldn't be of a threat where that is concerned. Of course, like Katt said, if you are handling an animal that has the potential to scratch you with dirty little nails, if you are at all compromised (and even if you aren't it isn't a bad idea), then proper handling equipment is a must. You can protect yourself by providing the proper information and *precautions*, but simply stating that they shouldn't handle them at all is simply misinformative and bad for the reptile's image. Less than 1% of salmonella cases are from reptiles, yet everyone is so quick to jump on them. Reptiles have enough bad publicity as is. If you aren't going to tell the whole truth, then it shouldn't be brought up at all IMHO otherwise it does more harm than good.

Originally posted by Katt
I just wanted to add, if washing hands isn't enough or not available, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer handy.

A friend of mine that owns a local piercing and tat shop had the hand sanitizer gel available from drug stores tested by and he said it wasn't a very effective means of killing bacteria. I just keep a spray bottle of 99% isopropyl alcohol on hand at all times. I use this in addition to antibacterial dishsoap.

[Katt]

Linds, I like the spray bottle idea. All our soap is antibacterial as well as all cleaners. I like the idea of washing hands and using hand sanitizer, at least it's a back up.

[chamitch]

yea or if u get scratched and it gets infected. just just one of those things like washing your hands when u get into your house. better safe than sorry. just good to know there is a risk is all.

[gonesnakee]

Sorry for the mixup Nett LOL I assummed it must be you, I forgot about Mr. Harper & co. Dean you haven't shown your face in public so long I didn't even consider that it could have been you LOL What ya don't do any reptile shows anymore? See James around quite often. What ya only show up for the TV appearences now LOL Mark I.
P.S. Hey Katt maybe from your point of view it is "warppedupinreptiles" eh, LOL only joking Dean