How to Keep Children Safe Around Exotic Pets

I'm the last one to discourage kids from having pets. But more and more evidence is building up that exposure to non-traditional or exotic pets can lead to disease, especially in young children. Here's how to play it safe with kids and exotic pets.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. .
   
   ***Background***
   
   More and more households are turning animals other than cats and dogs as pets. Examples include lizards, hamsters, prairie dogs, hedgehogs, chicks, turtles, and many others.
   
   As cute and as interesting as they may be, exotic pets and young kids can be the wrong mix.

2. .
   
   ***Avoid Disease***
   
   Exotic pets can carry unusual diseases. Young children have immature immune systems, no sanitary habits to speak of, and cannot handle pets with the sophistication of an older child, so are more susceptible to germs, bites and scratches.
   
   The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a policy that discourages families from owning nontraditional pets.

3. .
   
   ***Play It Smart***
   
   Exposure to nontraditional animals occurs not only in the home, but in other homes, petting zoos, pet shops, and elsewhere. Parents should:
   
   --Decide on their comfort level regarding a child's exposure to animals.
   
   --Supervise children's activities around all animals, paying special attention to exotics.
   
   --If you decide to have an exotic pet in the house, make sure your pediatrician is aware, so they can consider this factor when diagnosing any childhood ailments.

4. .
   
   ***Educate Yourself***
   
   See the Resources, directly below, for more information on the recommendations about exotic pets from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Resources

• American Academy of Pediatrics Warning
• News article on exotic pets and safety

[ResearchJunkie]

on 10/9/2008 Well we were thinking about getting an iguana... but maybe now we'll wait until the kids are little bit older.

[Miragi]

on 10/7/2008 I want a LLLLLLlama !! :) Or, at the very least, a bevvy of beautiful Alpacas!! Yay for me, for no longer having tiny tots around to be concerned over!! Even the most unsuspecting pets, like those cute lil fuzzy bunnies can be vicious. It took ours a good 6 months to become acclimated to her new surroundings and to stop BITING us!! Grr. Dwarf Bunny, My Arse!!

Great advice!!!

Ya know what else would be really cool? A SLOTH!! :)

[Ballzy]

on 10/7/2008 Such a Cool Article! Thanks for the info!5*

[slphilbrick]

on 10/7/2008 Good food for thought..... I know people who are interested in snakes (the big kind)....and those ALWAYS worry me when there are kids in the home !

[MIghtyDreamer]

on 10/6/2008 Wonderful suggestions.