Merck Manual

Please confirm that you are a health care professional

Yes No
Merck Manual
Veterinary Manual
The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955
VETERINARY PET
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Veterinary /
All Other Pets /
Reptiles /
... /
Special Considerations for Reptiles /
IN THIS TOPIC

For More Information

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Reptiles
Introduction to Reptiles
Description and Physical Characteristics of Reptiles
Special Considerations for Reptiles
Selecting a Reptile
Providing a Home for a Reptile
Routine Health Care of Reptiles
Emergencies of Reptiles
Disorders and Diseases of Reptiles

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Test your knowledge

Lyme Disease (Lyme Borreliosis)
Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease affecting a broad range of species and causing a variety of clinical syndromes. Infection of which of the following tissues is most often fatal in dogs? 

More Content

Loading

Special Considerations for Reptiles

By

Stephen J. Divers

, BVetMed, DZooMed, DACZM, DECZM (herpetology), FRCVS,

  • Professor of Zoological Medicine, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Georgia

Last full review/revision Aug 2020 | Content last modified Sep 2020
Topic Resources

Most reptiles cannot tolerate much handling and do best when provided with an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat and then left alone. Reptiles also require specialized diets often involving live prey, fresh vegetation, and vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Because of these requirements, reptiles are pets best suited to adults or older children who will enjoy observing their pet’s behavior rather than playing with it.

icon

Preventing the Spread of Disease from Your Reptile to You

It is extremely important that you practice good sanitation every time you come into contact with your reptile or anything from its environment.

  • Wash your hands with a disinfecting soap after handling the reptile and any of its environmental contents, especially after cleaning its cage and coming into contact with any animal droppings.

  • Use disposable gloves.

  • Disinfect the cage and its accessories often.

  • Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling your reptile or cleaning its environment.

  • Do not kiss your pet reptile.

  • Do not clean your reptile’s cage or its contents in your kitchen or where any food preparation may take place.

  • Disinfect the sink, tub, or counter you use to clean these items immediately after cleaning them to reduce the potential of disease-causing organisms being transmitted to you or anything you may use in the near future.

  • Supervise children around the reptile.

  • If your nonvenomous reptile bites or scratches you, wash the injured area immediately with a disinfecting soap and then apply a topical antibiotic ointment. If any signs of infection (such as redness, swelling, pus, or fever) develop, contact a doctor as soon as possible.

  • Do not keep venomous reptiles.

  • Take your reptile to a veterinarian and have the reptile tested for potentially harmful organisms.

Reptiles can transfer some disease-causing organisms to humans. Children under the age of 10 years, pregnant women, elderly people, and people with a weakened immune system are more susceptible. Even if your reptile is not sick, it can still pass disease-causing organisms to you. Salmonella species, Edwardsiella species bacteria, and various parasites, fungi, and protozoa are just some of the potential disease-causing organisms transmitted from reptiles that can cause disease in humans see Table: Diseases that can be Spread from Reptiles to People.

Table
icon

Diseases that can be Spread from Reptiles to People

Organism

Found in

Disease it Causes

Human Symptoms

Salmonella

Turtles and tortoises, lizards, and snakes

Salmonellosis

Upset stomach, cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting; can become life threatening

Edwardsiella

Turtles and tortoises, snakes

Gastroenteritis; neonatal sepsis and meningitis

Same as salmonellosis plus more life-threatening illnesses

Spirometra

Snakes

Sparganosis

Painful and inflamed skin nodules, swelling and inflammation around the eye; could travel to the brain

Pentastomes (tongue worms)

Snakes

Pentastomiasis

Usually causes no symptoms; high numbers of worms can cause abscesses, masses, or blockage of ducts in various organs, with symptoms depending on the location

*Note: This is not a comprehensive list of infections passed from reptiles to people, but it includes the ones that are most common. (For a more detailed discussion of diseases you can catch from animals, see Introduction to Diseases Spread between Animals and People (Zoonoses).

Because of the risk of bites, it is not recommended that you keep venomous snakes or reptiles as pets.

For More Information

Also see professional content regarding reptiles.

© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
Description and Physical Characteristics of Reptiles
Selecting a Reptile
Others also read
Clinical Procedures for Reptiles Clinical Procedures for Reptiles
Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs
Overview of Diagnostic Procedures for the Private Practice Laboratory Overview of Diagnostic Procedures for the Private Practice Laboratory

Also of Interest

SOCIAL MEDIA

Merck and the Merck Veterinary Manual

Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world.  The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community.  The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Manual outside of North America.

View Privacy Shield Verification Status
View APEC CBPR Privacy Certification Status

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

 
© 2021 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
TOP