General Care Discussion :: Disease Protection

[zeek]

Hi there guys,
Today I was wondering, how do you keep yourself safe from catching a disease from your turtle.

- How can you catch it
- How can you protect yourself from it
- How to keep your turtle safe from it

Thank you!

[megcornell]

Just follow basic sanitary practices. The biggest risk from a turtle is salmonella. But unless your immune system is severely compromised from some other infection or from being very young (as in an infant) or very old salmonella isn't really that serious. To avoid getting it, just make sure you wash your hands before and after touching your turtle, and don't let it crawl anyplace like a kitchen table or on your keyboard.

There really aren't any diseases you can give your turtle. Just don't lick him and you'll be perfectly healthy.

[zeek]

oh alright, its just that I known this guy who is a bit of a pet freak, and he told me that they can carry disease and so forth, thank you for your info.

[marisa]

Most reptiles and other animals do carry the salmonella bacteria in their intestines, and it's shed into the water when the animal is sick or under stress and poops. Keep your turtle healthy with a good habitat, clean water and healthy diet to help prevent this. Also wash your hands after handling your turtle or having contact with tank water or objects in the tank. Then you should have no worries.