Caring for pet gerbil while pregnant?

theunplannedparent

I've never heard of this, but just read that gerbils can carry a disease that can be transmitted to humans (LCMV) that can cause miscarriage and birth defects. I had no idea, I have been handling our gerbil almost daily.

Anyone else heard of this?

I'm going to mention it to my doctor and see what they say. Also guess I will leave the gerbil care to my husband, but kind of makes me sad because he won't handle it as often and I like to keep it used to human touch. Little thing, I know, but still...

526SadieSadie

Yes, I have heard of this.  It's not just pregnant women who can get sick from small pets, the elderly and immune supressed need to be careful too.

If you're diligent about washing your hands after you handle the gerbil, and you don't kiss it or let it touch your mouth you should be ok - but let someone else clean the cage.  There are untold germs and bacteria in their poop, even if you washed your hands with bleach you could still get sick.

Same thing goes for kitty litter boxes, don't clean them while pregnant, someone else needs to do that for you.  If it's not an option, wear gloves, the kind that are used for washing dishes and soak them in hot water after each use (and of course, wash your hands)

KellersPrag

I've never heard of this - do you know if it's just gerbils or if the same goes for hamsters as well??

526SadieSadie

KellersPrag:

I've never heard of this - do you know if it's just gerbils or if the same goes for hamsters as well??

All small pets.  Hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, even birds can be hazardous to pregnant women.

Pet stores in my area had all of their small pets taken by the state a few years ago because there was a sudden rise in miscarriages and deaths and recently purchased small pets were a common link.  The people that died were elderly and a couple of them had recently had organ transplants.  It was a big story around here for a while.

PepperStick

If you wash your hands after handling it, and like PP, don't kiss it or anything, you should be fine. And have someone else clean it's cage.

KellersPrag

526SadieSadie:

KellersPrag:

I've never heard of this - do you know if it's just gerbils or if the same goes for hamsters as well??

All small pets.  Hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, even birds can be hazardous to pregnant women.

Pet stores in my area had all of their small pets taken by the state a few years ago because there was a sudden rise in miscarriages and deaths and recently purchased small pets were a common link.  The people that died were elderly and a couple of them had recently had organ transplants.  It was a big story around here for a while.

 

Wow! I really never knew that. I knew about birds, and of course about the risk when cleaning cat litter. This is good to know - I've been responsible for cleaning my hamster's cage. Now I'm going to have to put that task on my BF! Great reason.

526SadieSadie

I forgot to mention lizards, too.  Handling them can be dangerous, even when you're not pregnant.  Being reptiles, their skin has different secretions that can make you sick.

KellersPrag

Just found this on TB:

 

Hamsters, guinea pigs and mice can carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), an infection that can cause severe birth defects and miscarriage. So if you?ve got a rodent at home, avoid cleaning its cage, and by all means, don?t touch its saliva, urine, blood or droppings. Some moms-to-be put cages in a guest room or somewhere else they don?t spend much time in while they?re expecting.

As for snakes, lizards, turtles and other exotic pets, you want to be concerned with germs like salmonella, which they can carry. Try to avoid your reptile (your partner can clean up!), and if you do touch it, make a point to wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Also, clean any surfaces it?s been in contact with.

 

SortaCrunchy

526SadieSadie:

Pet stores in my area had all of their small pets taken by the state a few years ago because there was a sudden rise in miscarriages and deaths and recently purchased small pets were a common link.  The people that died were elderly and a couple of them had recently had organ transplants.  It was a big story around here for a while.

Wow.  I really hope the was some sound science behind that decision.  It sounds incredibly knee-jerk...   

Your pet is almost certainly not going to hurt your baby.  Just use common sense, as some have already mentioned.  Wash your hands, don't kiss your pet, have someone else clean the cage if you're more comfortable with that.  Have a vet examine your pet for illness if you want.

If you've had your pet for any period of time and you're enjoying good health, you can probably assume that (a) you're resistant/immune to whatever germs your pet may be harboring, (b) your pet isn't carrying anything that can hurt you, and/or (c) you're already practicing proper hygiene to avoid getting sick from your pet.  That said, *I* probably wouldn't choose to acquire a new type of pet while pregnant, for several reasons, and not only to avoid getting sick.  It's also true that pregnant women's immune systems are slightly suppressed during pregnancy, so you *could* acquire an infection from your pet even if it didn't make you sick in the past.  That's why I suggest using caution but not freaking out.  I think that, in general, the world is not nearly as hazardous to pregnant moms and their babies as we sometimes think it is. 

Anecdotally, we had 2 dogs, 1 rat, 1 cockatoo, and 3 cockatiels in our home while I was pregnant with DS.  One of the dogs was a sick rescue we took in while I was in my 1st trimester.  DS is perfectly healthy, and yes, I did clean the cages, groom the dogs, and pick up the yard.

SortaCrunchy

KellersPrag:

Just found this on TB:

Hamsters, guinea pigs and mice can carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), an infection that can cause severe birth defects and miscarriage. So if you?ve got a rodent at home, avoid cleaning its cage, and by all means, don?t touch its saliva, urine, blood or droppings. Some moms-to-be put cages in a guest room or somewhere else they don?t spend much time in while they?re expecting.

Your pet rodent could, technically, become infected via exposure to a wild rodent, but your primary concern should be wild mice and the like: 

From the CDC:

The house mouse, a wild rodent found near and in homes, is the primary host of this virus... Human infections from pet rodents are rare.

and

How can the risk of getting LCMV be reduced? LCMV infection can be prevented by avoiding contact with house mice and by taking precautions when handling pet rodents (i.e., mice, hamsters, or guinea pigs). If you have a pet rodent, take the following precautions to reduce the risk of LCMV infection: Wash hands with soap and water after handling pet rodents; use waterless alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available. Keep rodent cages clean and free of soiled bedding. Clean the cage in a well-ventilated area or outside. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after cleaning up pet droppings. Closely supervise young children, especially those less than five years old, when cleaning cages, and make sure they wash their hands immediately after handling rodents and rodent caging or bedding. Do not kiss pet rodents or hold them close to your face.
You can see the entire CDC fact sheet here. 

 

theunplannedparent

Ah, thank you (everyone). We've had the gerbil for a year now. I've always handled it daily. And the more I researched, the more I understand it's probably very rare to contract this from a domesticated animal I've had for some time, BUT the pregnancy paranoia set in there for a little bit.

Will still be extra cautious, but will stop freaking out.