Monday, October 20, 2008

No Turtles, Lizards, or Hamsters as Pets for Kids

4th\SW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix

From the Associated Press\Via Inrich

Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets -- or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles -- because of risks for disease.

That's according to the nation's leading pediatricians' group in a new report about dangers from exotic animals.

Besides evidence that they can carry dangerous and sometimes potentially deadly germs, exotic pets may be more prone than cats and dogs to bite, scratch or claw -- putting children younger than 5 particularly at risk, the report says.

Young children are vulnerable because of developing immune systems plus they often put their hands in their mouths.

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