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Fear of Salmonella

L

Lawrence1996

New member
I'm trying to get my mom to let me have a corn snake, and she pretty much agreed already, but I have a 2 year old brother, and after hearing about salmonella, i'm not sure whether its safe. Do all snakes have salmonella? Are there any precautions other than washing your hands that could help prevent it? And even without the salmonella, can a corn snake be dangerous to a 2 year old?

Thank you
 
Salmonella can be found in most all reptiles. Washing your hands and a good hand sanitizer help greatly. My grandson is 4 and he loves to help me hold the snakes here. The biggest fears are them squeezing the snakes and putting them in thier mouth I would guess. But a supervised petting of the snakes does not hurt. If your brother is the type to squeeze I would just let them touch the snake until they got older. At two they really don't understand. Good luck with it and take care.
 
I agree, maybe it's best not to let him touch it untill you're sure he'll do as you say with it. And wash his hands afterwards. A good lock on your viv is an idea then.

Until now, I've always believed the salmonella risk to be very small. I've never heard a confirmed case of salmonella caught from reptiles, although there I've heard of some suspected ones. But of course the risk is still there, and with a child, you better be safe than sorry.
 
Salmonella can also be found on many raw foods. If your mother is concerned, there's a very simple answer: Don't let your brother hold or touch the snake until he is older.
 
You can get Salmonella from lettuce. Good sanitation for you is the key. Keep hand sanitizer near the cage and use evertime after you handle the snake.

dc
 
Adults as in reptiles or as in people. Both can get it. I really don't think it is that big of an issue as long as good sanitation is kept up and hand washing.
 
I'm assuming since all of you have been is contact with snakes for a long time and that none of you have had a problem, that it is rare. I'll follow your advice and wash my hands often. Thank you for the help.
 
I think as long as you wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer you will be fine. Also keeping the animals cage really clean will help. As your snake wont be crawling around in it's own feces and urates.

I do the above and I even kiss my snakes and I have never gotten sick.

I have gotten e coli from food though (snakes can have it too). So it seems to me more likely to get food poisoning than get sick from your snake.

As for your brother. Personally I wouldn't let a 2 year old anywhere near my snake. I might let them touch it but not hold it.
 
Lawrence1996 said:
I'm assuming since all of you have been is contact with snakes for a long time and that none of you have had a problem, that it is rare. I'll follow your advice and wash my hands often. Thank you for the help.
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You are much, much more likely to get salmonella from raw poultry or eggs than from a reptile.

If anyone was going to get salmonella from a snake, it would be me. I am _always_ kissing my snakes! I mean, every time I pick them up. I _do_ wash my hands any time I touch snake poo, and I use a disinfectant soap. Truthfully, that is more to protect other snakes from the potential spread of disease rather than myself! It's just good sanitary precautions.

I'll never forget being at a reptile show with Tim, who never posts any more. He was handling a snake, and we were daring him to lick it. (It was this joke that was going around back then). So he did! Someone asks him, "So Tim, what does that snake taste like?" and without missing a beat, Tim replies "Salmonella!" Classic. We all died laughing. But don't do that in front of a child!

Children _are_ more vulnerable to intestinal bacteria like that, so it _is_ smart to instill proper safety/sanitation habits while they are young and impressionable.
 
I understand your concerns though Lawrence. I have to kiddos, 6 and 3, and after reading a gazillion statements in books and online saying "don't get a snake if you have children under 5 in your household" I was pretty bummed out. However, after joining the forum and reading how many people here have little kids with snakes in their families I figured as long as we don't let the kids unsupervised around the snake (which wouldn't have happened anyways!) and keep up proper sanitary rules we should be all set!
Enjoy your snake !!
 
I think the concern with young kids is either that they are more susceptible or that cases or more serious if they do contract it. Kids that young should be supervised anyways for the snake's safety, and I've always figured its a good habit to wash your hands after handling animals or their waste anyways.
 
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