Do you wash your hands after handling herps? - Page 3

Bartman · 10-20-04, 08:10 PM

Thanks. Sort of proved me wrong their.....

But I dont at all agree with this line..

"It is prudent to assume that all reptiles and amphibians can be a potential source of Salmonella"

I know that I dont have enough reptiles to say that ive never gotten it and I dont wash my hands after handling, but I havnt. I just dont really like when people say assume. I can assume lots of stuff. Ive also handled a ton of different animals at work (reptiles/amphibs) and have yet to even get a cold, thank god, for the last year id say.

Matt_K · 10-20-04, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bartman
Yes, but they use soap and water, or that special type of soap I always see surgeons using in movies

Yes, and in Movies, Giant Poop monsters come out of the toilet...

Quote:

I just dont think purell really works......well at least not anymore.

Bartman · 10-20-04, 08:13 PM

I wasnt saying anything about movies being right, I was just saying they use, which they DO, that soap. I know its no normal soap you find at shoppers.

Im trying to imply that soap and water is ten times better then purell or any of that crap. It even says it doesnt kill all germs..so id rather just flush em down the drain then "kill" them.

HeatherRose · 10-20-04, 08:14 PM

AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA DOGMA

Quote:

""It is prudent to assume that all reptiles and amphibians can be a potential source of Salmonella"

I know that I dont have enough reptiles to say that ive never gotten it and I dont wash my hands after handling, but I havnt. I just dont really like when people say assume. I can assume lots of stuff. Ive also handled a ton of different animals at work (reptiles/amphibs) and have yet to even get a cold, thank god, for the last year id say."

Yeah, but that is just the same as cooking your burgers all the way through, because we tend to just assume they could ALL have e. coli.

-Heather

Derrick · 10-20-04, 08:15 PM

I wash my hands before handling them. I'm probably dirtier than them.

yes, yes I'm a dirty old man

sweet · 10-20-04, 08:16 PM

I wash my hads because I see what comes out of my snake, yuk.

Bartman · 10-20-04, 08:17 PM

Ok, let me summarize what my key point of washing your hands is.

Im saying soap and water is better then purell and I think its all bs. Id say it did the best when sars hit canada because people thought it would kill everything. I say washing them off your hands rather then mushing them around is better then purell.

Im also saying that washing your hands is pushed on by society so much that we just think if we dont do it we will get sick.

marisa · 10-20-04, 08:17 PM

"I know that I dont have enough reptiles to say that ive never gotten it and I dont wash my hands after handling, but I havnt. I just dont really like when people say assume. I can assume lots of stuff. Ive also handled a ton of different animals at work (reptiles/amphibs) and have yet to even get a cold, thank god, for the last year id say."

It's not really the simple act of handling that causes salmonella. It's by possibly getting the animals feces into your mouth via your hands that transfers it. Animals simple track through there feces once in awhile, you hold them, don't wash, later eat. Boom salmonella.

Of course not every reptile has it, but it's a proven fact SOME do. Our job as educated reptile owners is not to "de-bunk" and fight every single seemingly negative aspect of reptile ownership, but to look at the negative points (because there ARE some) and then educate others on how to avoid them, or the consequences of them. Totally ignoring that snakes DO and CAN harbor salmonella is not helping. But educated on hand washing, fecal testing, etc DOES help.

This is all just IMHO and salmonella or no, I am still a hand washer.

Marisa

CDN-Cresties · 10-20-04, 08:20 PM

Anitbacterial soap provides an enviroment where weak strains of bacteria die and those resistant bacteria become even more resistant. ITS EVOLUTION BABY!!!

http://waynepaulson.topcities.com/HelthL30.htm

Matt_K · 10-20-04, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bartman
I wasnt saying anything about movies being right, I was just saying they use, which they DO, that soap.

I know, i just wanted to post a pic of the poop monster from Dogma!

Bartman · 10-20-04, 08:22 PM

HAHAHA..that was a great movie!

daver676 · 10-20-04, 08:23 PM

I always wash before handling, and usually after. I always wash after I have to pick her up after making a big mess.

smallball · 10-20-04, 08:58 PM

Really, why not take the time to wash your hands. I don't know about cleanliness with the rest of herpers but I think taking the few moments to wash my hands after holding my snakes is probably not a bad idea.
Just my thoughts on the subject

Br@d

Lrptls · 10-20-04, 09:12 PM

i have this wonderful little blue bottle called wipe out, its a nice little liquid i just rub in my hands for about 3 seconds and it evaporates, i use it almost every time i even put my hands in a herp cage.

now, i wont bother using it after handling amphibians but i usually use it after the lizards and snakes. i always use it after touching turtles or even simply turtle water because for some reason i just dont trust those little shelled critters.

if i do any cleaning of their cages, even just water bowls i will use it.

Bartman · 10-20-04, 09:14 PM

Yea, dont get me wrong..ill forsure wash my hands after cleaning's or after dealing with rats (feedings).

Thats hygiene, but I dont think touching another person or touching a snake is any different.