My daughter has kept rats as pets for years. Now that she is pregnant her OBGYN tells her that she has to give them up because handling rodents can cause birth defects. Does anyone know what the facts are about this?
2007-09-16 13:27:46 · 5 answers · asked by Darla G 5 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Thanks to everyone who has answered my question so far. There seems to be a concensus concerning the handling of bedding. Unfortunately, her husband leaves for Iraq in October, and she can't change Dr.s, it's the Army!! I think I will take her rats while she is pregnant. I admit I couldn't understand her love for them at first, but I have grown to admire how clever and resourceful they are and some have been very sweet.
2007-09-16 15:52:34 · update #1
All of her rats have been born and bred in captivity, they are all 2nd and 3rd generation pets of hers. She has taken excellent care of them through out the years and they have never been exposed to wild born rats or mice.
2007-09-16 15:54:58 · update #2
What an interesting question. I have owned and bred many rats and never heard of them causing any problems.
I did find some info on a virus that pet rodents can apparently carry. It's on the Center for Disease Control website, on a page about having a healthy pregnancy:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/abc.htm
Scroll way down the page to 'R'. It states that a pregnant woman doesn't have to get rid of rodents, but that she shouldn't handle them and should have someone else care for the pet and clean its cage.
If you follow that link for more information (here it is too):
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/lcmv/qa.htm
It tells more details about the virus. Probably more than you want to know!
That's the only thing I could find. I tried to find any statistics to see what likelihood there is that pet rats would actually carry this virus, hopefully someone else will have better luck.
I personally think that it depends on where she got the rats from and what the chances are that they ever had contact with a wild mouse. I would guess pretty low, but to play it safe, if she can have someone else help care for them that would probably be best. Just like changing the cat litter--it's a great way to get the man involved...sorry honey, the doctor said I wasn't allowed to do it! :)
added: Thanks, bzzflygirl...I missed the 5% of wild mice stat...gracias
2007-09-16 14:03:55 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Apparently her OBGYN believes in myths rather than common sense. I would choose a different doctor. Doctors are supposed to do their research on topics related to their field rather than handing out info they hear from a bunch of germaphobic ranting idiots. Should your daughter keep her animals clean and healthy and wash her hands after handling, she will be fine to keep them.
If you notice, the further reading on the above given website states that up to 5% of wild mice may have this virus. Even less pets would have it. And all humans (pregnant or not) can become infected. SO if your daughter hasn't gotten ill already, chances are her rats don't have the virus.
2007-09-16 14:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I kept rats through my entire pregnancy without issue. My ObGyn suggested that I have other people change the bedding and handle the waste, just like with cats.
2007-09-16 13:35:56 · answer #3 · answered by wolfwoods01girl 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Woah....what a strange pet fetish. Maybe it has the same effects that cat poop has on pregnant woman. Tell her to go to parentcenter.com. There should be a article on there regarding that
2007-09-16 13:38:49 · answer #4 · answered by skinfan23 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think she should be fine as long as she makes sure to take extra measures to stay clean as soon as she's done no exceptions any slip ups you dont now what could happen
2007-09-16 14:29:38 · answer #5 · answered by morgan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋