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No exotic pets for kids under 5, say docs
Categories: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Health & Safety, Pets
Thinking of adding to your family zoo? If your kids are under 5, you might want to read this. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently sent out a warning to parents that certain pets and young children don't mix, especially exotic pets like hedgehogs, baby chicks, hamsters, lizards, and turtles.The doctor's group is concerned because young children have undeveloped immune systems and many animals carry germs. In fact, they say, 11% of all salmonella cases involving young children are thought to stem from exposure to certain types of pets and other animals. And even when germs aren't a concern, biting is.
The best thing you can do as a parent and a pet owner is to do your research. Rather than caving in to a child's pleas or an animal's cuteness, make pet ownership a family decision that involves learning all about an animal before acquiring it. That way, you'll be sure to choose an animal that's appropriate for every member of the family, even the smallest.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
renee 11-04-2008 @ 11:45AM
That is absolutely crazy! I had a turtle when I was 4, and always played with toads in the back yard. I had parakeets, and raised them in my room in 2nd grade, and had a hamster in 1st grade. I even got my first snake when I was little, and had him for 13 years before he died. I almost never went to the doctor, and never had any health problems due to odd animal exposure! lol.
I think it is good for child developement to expose them to all kinds of new things, and new experiences from early on. Parents take their children to the zoo, why is it more dangerous to have the zoo at home...plus it saves money!
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