Are These Unusual Pets Unhealthy for Humans? You Decide.
Do you know someone (or are YOU someone) who chose a pet BECAUSE it was unique, different, exotic, wild? Then you will find the information here of interest.
In a Quality Health Newsletter titled "Unhealthy Pets", I learned that, while some pets can actually make you feel better, the following animals and reptiles have been known to cause illnesses.
I am not passing any judgment here, you all. I am just relaying what I read.
I have included links to external sites (just click on them) with added information so you can be more informed about these exotic pets and the illnesses they might cause.
If you have an opinion, you are very welcome to state it in the Guest book. In fact, please do!
An Iguana or Turtle for a pet?
Is this your exotic pet of choice?
"A report released in 2002 estimated that 90% of reptiles, particularly green iguanas (in the image below), carry salmonella in their intestines."
So, when you clean the tank and you touch their poo, you could get sick. Yuck.
In 1976 the Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of turtles with a shell of less than four inches. The FDA did this to stop a salmonella outbreak. I remember this ban. (I also remember having a baby turtle that small. It died not long after it was purchased.) This action produced a 77% decrease in reptile-related salmonella sickness. However, it did not stop the sale of baby turtles.
Reptiles!
Buy at AllPosters.com
It's a jungle out there! Beware!
Caution Iguanas, Nicaragua Women's V-Neck T-Shirt
Price: 19.99 
Caution Turtles, South Africa Tote Bag
Price: 15.99
Turtle Sticker (Bumper)
Price: 4.09
More Information About Illness and Exotic Pets:
On March 4th, Talk of the Nation on NPR featured guests who shared their opinions about owning or having exotic animals as pets. Jane Goodall was interviewed from her home in England. The link to the information about this show is located on the first link below:
- Should Exotic Animals Be Kept As Pets? : NPR
- In February, a pet chimpanzee named Travis mauled a guest in his owner's home, and police shot and killed him. Travis was raised by his owner and treated like family. The attack raises questions about whether primates and other exotic animals can be kept responsibly as pets.
- Can Your Pet Make You Sick?, Tips To Prevent Disease And Protect Family And Pets - CBS News
- A little prevention and information can virtually eliminate the possibility of contracting illness from your pet. Resident veterinarian Debbye Turner explains some of the more common zoonotic diseases and how to avoid them.
- Contageous Critters-Interactive Tool
- Learn about some of the ways exotic and everyday pets can make people sick.
- Exotic Pets and Sick Kids - Can Exotic Pets Make Kids Sick - American Academy of Pediatrics
- A 2008 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that families with young children should avoid exotic pets due to the risks of illness or injury.
- "Nontraditional" Pets Can Carry Health Risks
- Article from WebMD. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC urge parents considering these risky pets.
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Check out these Books (and one article) about Exotic Pets
Owners of exotic pets risk serious infection: Article by Debra Wood
This digital document is an article from Internal more...1 point
Exotic Pet Behavior: Birds, Reptiles, and Small Mammals by Teresa Bradley Bays, Teresa Lightfoot, Joerg Mayer
In addition to coverage of all normal behavior pat more...0 points
Exotic Pets: A Veterinary Guide for Owners by Shawn Messonnier
A basic understanding of the care required for som more...0 points
A Practical Guide to Exotic Pets by Chris Mattison
A guide to caring for exotic pets features practic more...0 points
A ferret for a pet?
California and Manhattan have banned the sale and possession of ferrets. Why? They are believed (according to the Quality Health Newletter) "to be unpredictable and dangerous, prone to biting frenzies that are especially harmful to infants and children." Ferrets can also carry and transmit rabies. So can your dog or cat. The Journal of Veterinary Medicine estimates that dogs are 200 times more likely to bite humans than are ferrets.
Ferret Central looks like a good site for information about having a ferret as a pet.
Ferret Factoid
Archaeological and historical evidence shows that ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years.
Ferrets in the Bedroom on Amazon
Ferret in the Bedroom, Lizards in the Fridge (Minstrel Book)
This actually looks like a cute book!
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 12/11/2009)
Ferret Stuff on CafePress
Ferret Sticker (Oval)
Price: 4.00
Little Angel Ferret Keepsake (Round)
Price: 7.99
Never Get Out of Bed Ferret Small Pet Bowl
Price: 18.99
Ferrets (double sided) Baseball Jersey
Price: 22.99
More Exotic Pets
Parrots or Parakeets as a pet?
Is tropical exotic?
Their tweeting might be soothing to some, but these fine feathered pals can pass along Chlamydia psittaci, a form of pneumonia. According to Quality Health,"Humans acquire the bacteria through contact with dust from bird feathers, bird droppings, or from the bite of a bird carrying the bacteria." Thanks to antiboiotic-laced feed and quarantines for imported birds, this type of pneumonia has become extremely rare.
Visit this Squidoo lens when considering parrots or parakeets for a pet.
Parrot and Parakeet Stuff
Parrot Ornament (Oval)
Price: 8.99
Sky Blue Parakeet Sticker
Price: 3.99
Quaker Parakeet Christmas Postcards (8 Pack)
Price: 9.99
Is your pet of choice a prairie dog?
Yes, I guess some people want a prairie dog!
Prairie Dog
by
WorldDesign
Design a photo card at www.Zazzle.com
Browse Rodents Cards
Praire Dogs on CafePress
Can you or your child get a skin disease from a pet?
Purchase this article from Amazon if you would like the answer to that question. Or you can Google it.
Exotic pets can transmit serious dermatologic diseases.(Infectious Diseases): An article from: Pediatric News
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/11/2009)
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Exotic Pets on the Blogosphere:
This pup might not be exotic, but it sure isn't a danger to your health! Unless you are spending entirely too much time on the computer!
What is your opinion about Toxic Pets
Everyone has a voice! Let's hear yours here.
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Reply
- Jane S. Jane S. Aug 14, 2009 @ 9:14 am
- I have had pet hermit crabs before. While they may not make you sick, I don't think they should be kept as pets. They never lived long when I had them, even though I cared for them properly. Besides, they can't breed in captivity, so that means all of them are being taken from the beaches.
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Reply
- missbat missbat Jul 29, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
- I tried to get my grandma to let me bring home a prairie dog in a box when we visited New Mexico. I was twelve at the time. Now I would completely agree that wild critters are just that and should be left in the wild! Great lens!
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Reply
- naturegirl7 naturegirl7 Feb 25, 2009 @ 8:41 am
- We think that wild creatures should be left in their natural habitat. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens link to the appropriate plexo and vote for it.
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Reply
- Webcodes Webcodes Jan 16, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
- When I lived in South America, I used to have a chick as a pet. It started growing and the cheep cheep noise drove everyone in my family crazy... we had to give it to the local farmer... they sure are cute though! 5*
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Reply
- LaraineRose LaraineRose Jan 13, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
- Good information here. My brothers found a turtle and brought it home. It was 12" in diameter and had someone's initials carved into the bottom shell. They were very good to it but eventually it escaped. Although they were sad, I was happy .. I felt sorry for it. Wild things should be in the wild.
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Never a pet!
Raptors should live wild!
by Mickie_G
I am a wife, mother, & grandmother who also happens to be a Baby Boomer. I am also trying to find my place in the world. So who isn't?
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