Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, you hear a lot about this disease, especially concerning reptiles. I was wondering with there's any way to find out if your reptile is carrying it (except to lick your lizard and see if you get sick), and if there is any way to get rid of it. I know it doesn't hurt them, they're just carriers, but I feel it hinders my ability to play with them as much as I'd like with having to be sure to wash my hands carefully or sanitize every time I touch them or anything in their cage. No big deal, of course, and it is a good practice no matter, but I'd like to know if I'm going to be passing blood in my stool should I slip up. So. Yes. Any info? Thanks!

Well, recently i either got the flu or got salmonella from my baby bearded dragons know dragon one recently died but yes most reptiles ranging from anole's to komodo dragons carry salmonella

LIZARD20

MY LIZARD DOES THIS EVERY KNOW AND THEN
Link

NOT MY LIZARDS

while its unrelated to the post, the action you show is usually a girl "flirtling" with a boy...
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Only 11% of all salmonella cases can be attributed to reptiles...(though the article I saw about this a few weeks ago never did indicate the other 89% causes of Salmonella).

The bacteria that causes it is present in just about every living animal (reptile, mammal, bird, fish...not sure about insects) so handling any animal or their 'things' should mean washing your hands afterwords.

You can get a vet to test your dragons to see what levels of Salmonella they have but I highly doubt you can find any reptile that doesn't have some trace of Salmonella...to prevent being infected with it, continue to wash your hands after handling your reptile, especially after cleaning up soiled substrate etc.

But do keep in mind...that other 89%...you can get salmonella easier touching the cutting board or kitchen counter after preparing raw chicken if the counter isn't disinfected properly.
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PHLdyPayne

As LadyPayne said....almost all reptiles carry salmonella...and although you can test them for it the test doesnt give you a lot of info. Just because they are carrying salmonella does not mean they are shedding the bacteria.

You are way more likely to get Salmonella from meat or eggs than from your reptiles

Good basic hygiene - washing hands after handling reptiles will significantly decrease the risk. Also, keeping your herps happy and stress free will decrease their chances of shedding the bacteria. Stress can cause bacteria that is living in the herps system to become "active" - for lack of a better word, and begin to shed the bacteria.
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

Cool. I was mostly wondering because a very difficult temptation to resist is the desire to kiss them on their tiny little heads. *feels silly* And yeah, I knew a heck of a lot of cases come from poultry and poutry products, and that most herps carry it. I was just hoping there may be some way to reduce the risk of it making me sick. I'm sure I've done some risky behavior since getting them (I'm easily distracted). Maybe my luck will hold.

And Lizard20, a book I read before getting my babies (Your Happy Healthy Pet; Bearded Dragon 2nd edition) talked alot about their "waving" behavior. After I got mine I thought the author was exagerating or something, because mine hadn't done it. Then a week ago he "waved" at me and I squealed. I was so happy!

I'll admit that even though i can lecture about good hygene and all that - i kiss my lizards too!
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

ah!

That posted before i was finished....what i was saying was...

I kiss my lizards too....but i also cant stop myself from tasting raw cookie and cake batter with raw eggs....so if i ever get salmonella, i guess i will never know where i got it
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

typically keeping a reptiles environment clean as possible kissing them on the head wont' be much risk. Its more getting in contact with fecal matter or something that has had contact with fecal matter (bottom of lizards and their feet/tails which may have dragged through poop or the liquid which is also expelled with fecal matter, could carry the bacteria).

Letting dogs lick your face is likely to expose you to the bacteria far more than kissing the top of your bearded dragon.

The arm waving thing is natural behavior for bearded dragons, its a sign of submission. Its not the lizard waving hello to its owner or cage mates, or other dragons it can see. (or anything else the lizard decides to 'wave' away to.) But it is cute to see.

As there are something like 2000 strains of salmonella, doctors can actually isolate to a pretty good decree the source of salmonella if you get sick from it. I remember a poster here years ago (or another reptile related forum) who did get salmonella and she was worried it came from her reptiles (she has a bunch, dragons, snakes and others, can't remember what) turned out she contracted Salmonella from her cat.
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PHLdyPayne

Salmonella in reptiles is way over rated. If you touch poop wash your hands. That sounds stupid doesn't it? lol. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it at all. Assuming you are a healthy adult.

Glad I'm not the only one who can't resist cookie dough and cake batter.

i have handeled, played with and kissed herps every day for the last 12 yrs and have never had salmonella that i know of, so i wouldent be to worried about it...just wash your hands before you eat and dont let your beardie poop in your cheerios
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!