Pregnancy and garter snakes

[Lowfur]

Exactly how dangerous is it to keep a garter while pregnant? I am currently 6 months pregnant, and I fund an article about the ability to contract salmonella from pet snakes. Just wondering if this inky applies to cleaning the enclosure, or if it includes dangers from handling the animal as well. Thanks in advance :)

[d_virginiana]

It's nothing airborne; primarily in their waste (so safer than birds or cats in that regard). A lot of reptiles have salmonella in their systems, but it's kind of like what you'd find in raw chicken. The difference is that people are usually really good about not touching their face and washing their hands well after handling something like raw meat, but it's a lot easier to forget and wipe your nose or something when you're holding a pet.
There may be other aspects of this I'm not aware of, but there are people on this forum who have kept their snakes while pregnant and had no problem.

[chris-uk]

As long as you maintain good hygiene practices (ie wash your hands after handling) you shouldn't worry too much, you stand a far higher chance of picking up salmonella from your own food.
When my wife was pregnant she didn't clean out the snakes as a precaution, and she did cut down on handling, but that was as much because she was tired and uncomfortable a lot of the time.

It you have good hygiene practices you shouldn't have much to worry about, I believe that the salmonella risk is overstated by groups opposed to reptile keeping.

[Steveo]

I normally don't worry about it. I'll wash my hands thoroughly after touching soiled substrate, but that's about it. My only other precaution is that I avoid handling them for at least 36 hours after a meal, but that's as much for them as it is for me.

[Lowfur]

Thanks!