Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok here goes maybe this is kinda stupid BUT. i looks like i am either a.) coming down with a killer cold of a lifetime or b.) the flu.. now that being said
can it be passed to my geckos? and what if any precautions should i take... maybe a facial mask like painters or dr use. i already as it is sterilize my hands with alvolhold before working with geckos and in between handling another...... last thing i would want is to have a room full of geckos with colds... i know some humas disieases can be transmitted to animals and vice cersa but do you know if these can be?????
thanks
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-robin struck
Geckoheads And Geeks

Beats me Robin, but you asked for the right person. Anyway, I just wanted to say I hope you feel better soon
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LEOs: 6.9.0
1.3 High Yellows-Barney,Betty,?,?
2.0 Hypo Tangerines-Bam-bam,Rex
0.3 SHCT's -Journey,Wiggy,Lil'bit
1.0 Rescued Normals -Shleprock
1.3Tremper Albinos Mr.Slate,?,?,?
1.0 Tang Tremp Albino - Rocky

You know Robin, I seriously doubt if viruses like the common cold or flu is transmissable to our pets. Our physiology is completely different. I am just getting over a really bad respiratory infection myself, and all of my critters are just fine! (even my husband-critter...) I honestly think that the vast majority of these things are species specific diseases.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

this bad a cold/flu in a LONG time... and with gravid females, normal feeding and husbandry and new babies i wanted to make sure all would be ok... thank you agaion marcia and thanks tim for the get well wishes
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-robin struck
Geckoheads And Geeks

Hey! I just wanted to add a few things...
First of all, I know that you CAN transfer flu/cold to your dogs and cats, but I don't know about reptiles. At least this is what my doctors have told me, since I have been sick more so since I started working at pet shops (I actually got a STAPH infection in my finger and almost lost it, thanks to a combination between dishydrtic exema and wet tail!!)
Secondly, I don't believe you can give your animal an infection, from an infection. For example, the hamster had diareah, not an infection. BUT, I could be wrong here, because well, I am not a doctor. Meh! OK, thanks for letting me talk!!!
~Angela
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2.2.0 Leopard Geckos (2)shct, (1) normal,(1) rainwater albino
1.0.0 Betta
2.1.0 Whites Treefrogs
0.0.1 Green Treefrog
1.0.0 Red eyed Treefrog
1.0.0 Huge Black Cat
0.1.0 Cocker Spaniel
0.1.0 Brittany
...Next on the list... a FEMALE RETF!!!

I understand what you are saying. There are zoophobic diseases and parasites that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Some examples would be swine/bird flu, monkey pox, e. coli, HIV, pinworms, etc. But, I would think that since the common cold and flu viruses seem to affect the respiratory and GI system in humans, it would not have any consequence on other species, especially reptiles.

Tell you what... I'll ask my vet! He is a great reptile specialist, the staff veterinarian for the East Bay Vivarium, consulting vet for the Oakland Zoo's Exotics, on the staff of the ARAV, as well as the contributing vet for the Northern California Herp Society. (whew!) If he doesn't know, who would? LOL!!!
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

Well, I sent an email to Ken today regarding this subject, and here's how he responded:

Hi Marcia,

No, as mammals are warm blooded and the bacteria or viruses that affect humans cannot pass to reptiles (as far as respiratory infections are concerned).

Ken Harkewicz, VMD
harkherp@aol.com
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com