We occasionally get questions from people worried about getting salmonella from birds or reptiles. Keeping your pets cage clean and washing your hands very well before and after you handle your animal can help prevent the illness. Susan wrote all about it on the Garanimals blog:

Salmonella infections pop up in the news every now and again. The disease can be picked up from contaminated food or water, and from animal feces, particularly from reptiles and poultry.

The severe flu-like symptoms of salmonellosis include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, aches, fever, bloody diarrhea, and dehydration. Not fun. Young children are particularly vulnerable because small exposures can infect immature immune symptoms and their hygiene habits aren’t always great. — read more —

 

Photo credit: Chick on The Farm II by edenpictures via a Creative Commons license.