Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Good morning! Sorry if this has been asked a million times already, but I am 4 months pregnant and am not wanting to give up my ball python. Is testing for salmonella something I can get done at my vet's office? I know it's rare, but it would set my mind at ease, not to mention more ground to stand on when opposing those who would very much like to see me give up my pet just because I am pregnant (and just because they are prejudiced against snakes!)

>>Good morning! Sorry if this has been asked a million times already, but I am 4 months pregnant and am not wanting to give up my ball python. Is testing for salmonella something I can get done at my vet's office? I know it's rare, but it would set my mind at ease, not to mention more ground to stand on when opposing those who would very much like to see me give up my pet just because I am pregnant (and just because they are prejudiced against snakes!)

Just about all animals (including dogs, cats, humans, etc.) naturally carry various strains of salmonella in them. Testing is pretty much a waste of time for that reason. Also you can have an animal with salmonella test negative if the animal is not actively shedding any of the bacteria at the time of testing and so it is impossible to say the animal is salmonella free (which makes some of the newer 'turtle laws' a big joke). If you have had the snake for more than a few months, chances are you have already built up an immunity to whatever strain it might possibly be carrying and are not going to get sick from it. You are more at risk of salmonella infection from store bought chicken than you are from your pet whose hygiene is properly kept up because people tend to build up protection against strains their pets have compared to being significantly exposed for the first time to whatever the chicken might have.

What it comes right down to is washing your hands. Whether your snake has salmonella or not will never be a problem if you always practice good sanitation. This should be the practice when contacting with any pet.

Congratulations on your good news
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.1 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Right. Whenever I or my kids handle any snakes the antibacterial soap is a given afterwards. Also, I watch that the kids do not stick their hands in their mouths until they wash.

Agreed...eggs, chicken, spinach, cats, dogs...it's everywhere. Wash your hands!!!
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Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

Is there anyone else in the house that can water and feed your snake while you are pregnant? If you can avoid any physical contact with the snake, that would eliminate any theoretical concern at all.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Thank you so much everyone for the responses. I do practice good handwashing, and my boyfriend has done a wonderful job taking over the cleaning and feeding. I used to have quite the little zoo of reptiles...I had about 35 at one time about 7 years ago, so I'm familiar with how to keep things as sterile and clean as possible. What concerned me was studying the (albeit very rare)cases of salmonella in young infants. It's nothing pretty...they are basically vegetables after a bad infection and never progress mentally or physically. So even with the good handwashing and whatnot, I had thought that getting tested would help ease my concerns even more (I read that salmonella can stay alive on a surface up to 30 days). Mind you, that would not mean I would relax my cleaning standards, but I thought it might just help with a little peace of mind. I was not aware at all that they could shed it at different times...good info to know! Also, everyone wanted me to give away the snake once I got pregnant which is just ridiculous. If I had a retic or some other gigantic snake, I probably would find another home for it, but a ball python? They are like labradors lol!

Not sure if this will work, but here's a pic of Seth

While your pregnant and until your baby is a bit older you basically have to pretend like your reptiles are raw chicken. You don't want to be letting them crawl all over you or the baby - you want to make sure everything they touch is disinfected and make sure you designate a baby free area to clean out their cages, bowls and stuff. And wash wash wash -- if after the baby is born you have your reptiles out - just wash and change your clothes before you handle the baby. The chance of getting salmonella poisoning is slim but be smart.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl