Wednesday, December 2, 2009
9 pets that parents shouldn't get their kids
editor
photo 1 of 9
African Gambian rats
After watching the movie "Ratatouille," many kids wanted to adopt cute little rats as pets. But beware of the African Gambian rat. Once these rats were imported into the U.S. as pets in 2003, they spread monkeypox (a version of smallpox).
Photo Credit: Getty Images
At some point in your parenting life, your kids are going to ask
for a pet. As you try to talk them down from wanting a dog or cat,
you might offer options like a pet rat. Or a hamster. Maybe even a
lizard. But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
you'll need to come up with better options. In the
October
issue of Pediatrics, the AAP says
parents should avoid getting their kids "non-traditional"
pets. Check out the slide show for details on the nine
exotic pets that are dangerous to young children. You'll notice
the common theme of disease, and specifically salmonella, as a top
risk for many of these pets.
And if your kids happen to be around any of these critters, or
really any pet, make sure they know to:
- Not kiss them.
- Not put their hands in their mouth after
handling a pet.
- Wash their hands with soap and hot water
after handling a pet.
- Never bring a wild animal home.
I have to admit that I was surprised to see many of the animals
mentioned on the AAP report...and not because they posed a risk to
kids. I'm actually surprised that parents would even consider
some of these critters as pets. What about you?
Related links on Shine
Kid
wants a dog? 5 questions to help with your answer
First Pet: You can't go wrong with Betta fish
Related: pets to avoid, pets, parenting, exotic pets, cdc, aap
-
Posted by HotCrossBuns Wed Oct 8, 2008 9:39am PDT
While I do think that parents today are encouraged to follow rediculous protocols on protecting their children from germs and injuries, I do think the AAP is right on this one. At least for the wee ones. Heck, at that stage we were lucky if my kids remembered to wash their hands and/or wipe after using the bathroom, let alone after cuddling with Fluffy!
Report Abuse
-
Posted by WooWoo Wed Oct 8, 2008 2:36pm PDT
damn - there goes most of my Christmas gift ideas. i hope i can return that monkey to target....
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Angela Wed Oct 8, 2008 3:54pm PDT
OMG talk about paranoia. Let your kids be kids quit trying to shelter them all the time. Dogs and cats with rabies can bite or scratch your kids, omg fish! When your child asks for a tiger then you should put your foot down. RELAX. God this s--- annoys me!
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Anna Thu Oct 9, 2008 1:32am PDT
there's nothing wrong with hamsters. as long as your kids know not to kiss them (hams don't like that much anyway) and they wash their hands after playtime, they'll be fine. as with any pet, make sure your kid is mature enough to handle it. a 3 year old won't handle a hamster as well as a 10 year old. if you're careful they won't escape. and even when they do, sometimes they behave! i had an amazing hamster who got out of his cage while i was at work, and he actually waited by the cage for me to come home and put him back in. it was so cute cus i didn't see him right away so i was calling his name, and he poked his little head up so i could see him. man, i miss him...
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Karen Thu Oct 9, 2008 8:26am PDT
My daughter is 8. We have pet rats (not the monkey pox carrying type shown above in the article). They are the sweetest things you could imagine. Each one has his/her own personality and we made sure we were well informed on not only how to care for the pets, but how to care for our environment while having them as pets as well. There is a lot of knowledge to be gained from your local smalls & exotics animal hospital. As with all pets, your sanitary upkeep around them for your sake must be above reproach. We have weekly cage cleaning sessions where all bedding is replaced and all cages, toys and food and water containers are sterilized. A child has to be old enough with any pet to know that you don't handle the animal and then put your hands in your mouth. Propoer hand washing or bacterial hand sanitizer are good things to foster. Parent supervision is always a good thing too, if the child is too young to be handling the animal on their own. Don't be afraid, just don't have any of the listed pets for children five and under as recommended and after that, supervise if you want to have one of these little lovelies!
Report Abuse
-
Posted by whats with them? Thu Oct 9, 2008 6:23pm PDT
I am a parent of a young child. we have a cat and it is great with him. i do agree that kids are protected now days. Any animal can be unhealthy if you kiss it or don't wash your hands after touching it. that is why they are called animals. I can understand the monkey racoon and chick they are not your normal house pet anyways.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by redwingsgirl514 Thu Oct 9, 2008 7:12pm PDT
My mom teaches science and my brother and I grew up with pet reptiles. I'd come home from school and there'd be a huge turtle in the tub. We had pet snakes all the time, too. We were supervised with our visits until we got old enough to understand why we had to wash our hands after holding them.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Carri Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:14pm PDT
Give me a break. You might as well keep your kid in a bubble. How obnoxious!
I grew up with chickens and I'm still alive. I still have them and they give me fresh eggs, as well as entertainment. Sure, you don't want to put a little kid with a baby chick (they are very fragile), but to lump them with wild praire dogs and hedgehogs is just crazy.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Thomoose. Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:52am PDT
parents- stop overprotecting ur kids! coming in contact with germs is what builds up youe immune system! when i was little i played in the rain, slid through mud puddles, played in the dirt, and all that normal kid stuff, and i never get sick. ever. maybe once every year and a half. the flu for me only lasts like 5 or 6 hours. your children have to be exposed to germs to stregnthen their immune systems.
and where in the world can u get a praire dog as a pet? i've never ever heard of that in my life.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Jenjen Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:06pm PDT
I'm sorry but thats a bunch of bull. My family has owned ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, newts, mice... all sorts of exotic creatures, they are perfectly fine. In fact, I would prefer to give my kid a hamster or ferret ove a dog anyday, they don't make so mush noise, and they are fun to watch. The only thing I recommend you do is teach you child that it is wrong to play rough with the little creatures. You would do the same if you brought a puppy home right?
Report Abuse
