Monty+Pregnany fiance=salmonella baby?

desert_savage · 08-16-12, 12:20 AM

Long story short my fiance and I recently found out we were(are) pregnant, being my mother's first grandchild she's going a little crazy. She's recently started calling me and emailing me information regarding reptile born salmonella and cases of newborns and young children being stricken by it and salmonella related maladies. My question to you all is how valid are her concerns? I know many/most of you have children and families so I figured this would be the best place to go for answers rather than asking the angry faced old lady that's serving as medical adviser/midwife for my fiance who will likely respond simply based on bias. My dilemma, I haven't spent the time and money on improving Monty's living conditions merely to send him away, I don't know that I can guarantee that his next home will show the same commitment, and after seeing his change in attitude and behavior neither of us want to see the "little" guy go. On the same token I can't risk the health and well-being of my unborn child if the concerns are valid.

philipniceguy · 08-16-12, 05:01 AM

I have 3 kids: a 5 month old 15 month old and 5 year old, I have kept reptiles before they came alone and since/still but not once have they had any form of salmonella. If when handling the reptiles or enclosure so on you simply wash your hands there will be very very low risk. salmonella is far easyer to catch from uncooked chicken than it is a live healthy reptile, Yet people don't worry about handling uncooked chicken do they????

It's most likely the persons "angle" in order to get you too stop keeping reptiles due to some reason they dislike them.

end of the day it's your home your reptiles and your unborn but I wouldn't sell my reptiles due to some low risk thing.

on another not my OH always looked after my reptiles while i'm at work all the way through pregnancy 3 times, having more contact than me with them and no harm came to her or the children

Norm66 · 08-16-12, 06:04 AM

My main point was already made above, but I think it bears repeating: chicken is at least as and most likely more likely to transmit salmonella. If you're smart and careful (and who isn't with a newborn?) I'm sure you'll be fine.

Good on you for looking for the facts instead of just dumping your pet.

SnakeyJay · 08-16-12, 06:11 AM

My girlfriend works in a lab and tested the salmonella on my snakes for me... It's an exotic salmonella and can't survive at all once off the host body. Unless your going to let your baby chew on a snake for e few hours I really wouldn't worry.

mykee · 08-16-12, 06:50 AM

Quote:

"Yet people don't worry about handling uncooked chicken do they????"

Ummm, yeah!

infernalis · 08-16-12, 06:55 AM

All I can say is, keep your hands washed and you should be perfectly fine.

Lankyrob · 08-16-12, 07:11 AM

Just ensure good hygiene practices, dont let the baby use a snake as a dummy, no licking it, no handling snake faeces then cuddling the baby etc etc.

Wildside · 08-16-12, 07:27 AM

I owned a pet shop through my whole second pregnancy and when I closed it I kept about 10 snakes and like 17 lizards. I have never had a problem.

BarelyBreathing · 08-16-12, 10:20 AM

I handled snakes, lizards, and frogs every single day of my pregnancy. My daughter turned out just fine, and I never got sick from them, either. Your fiancee, as mentioned, will have more of a chance of getting salmonella from handling meat. The biggest concern for her pregnancy animal wise would be cats. Even petting them can cause serious results.

jarich · 08-16-12, 11:04 AM

Apparently nowadays the bigger risk is chicken eggs. They carry salmonella, but since its not raw meat, people arent as careful with washing their hands. A high percentage of eggs in North America have salmonella. In Europe they inoculate against it, but here the extra penny per egg it would cost is just too much I guess.

desert_savage · 08-16-12, 09:29 PM

Well cats are a non-issue, neither of us are overly fond of them, and I'm religious when it comes to washing my hands and such after handling Monty or after cleaning his tank. I figured I'd check with some people with first hand experience before I did anything as neither of us want to see Monty leave, he's not a pet, he's family. So thank you all for your input and I'll make sure Thor Jr doesn't go chewing on Monty's legs.

desert_savage · 08-16-12, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarich

Apparently nowadays the bigger risk is chicken eggs. They carry salmonella, but since its not raw meat, people arent as careful with washing their hands. A high percentage of eggs in North America have salmonella. In Europe they inoculate against it, but here the extra penny per egg it would cost is just too much I guess.

Considering we go through a flat of eggs every two to three weeks I'm now going to suffer nightmares and fits of paranoia every time I make her breakfast...

Lankyrob · 08-17-12, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desert_savage

Considering we go through a flat of eggs every two to three weeks I'm now going to suffer nightmares and fits of paranoia every time I make her breakfast...

There was a study done in the UK recently (will try to find it and link if i can) that showed the greatest risk of salmonella being passed to humans from eggs was when people break the eggs on the side of the bowl they are using to prepare the food they will eat.

Break the eggs into a separate bowl and then tip them into whatever you are making was the recomendation (tho i dont see this lessening any risk anyway???)

To be honest i think most of these risks are blown out of proportion in order to warrant the GOvt spending money on research in the first place, i ate raw eggs pretty much everyday for 14 yrs and have never suffered ill effects from it

desert_savage · 08-19-12, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

There was a study done in the UK recently (will try to find it and link if i can) that showed the greatest risk of salmonella being passed to humans from eggs was when people break the eggs on the side of the bowl they are using to prepare the food they will eat.

Break the eggs into a separate bowl and then tip them into whatever you are making was the recomendation (tho i dont see this lessening any risk anyway???)

To be honest i think most of these risks are blown out of proportion in order to warrant the GOvt spending money on research in the first place, i ate raw eggs pretty much everyday for 14 yrs and have never suffered ill effects from it

I'll have to look into that one, I'd love to see they're explanation for that madness.

Lankyrob · 08-19-12, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desert_savage

I'll have to look into that one, I'd love to see they're explanation for that madness.

I have had a look and cant find where i heard it from

- pretty sure it was something on the BBC which is why i remembered it.