Keep a turtle at home? heart

At first glance, the little turtle looks cute and harmless. If you are one of the people who raise this animal, you must be vigilant. The reason is, turtles are known to be natural carriers of Salmonella bacteria which can cause serious infections or even threaten a person's life.

Turtles can be one of the causes of Salmonella outbreaks

From March to August 2017, there was an outbreak of Salmonella in various states in the United States (US). After further investigation, it was found that 45% of people infected with Salmonella bacteria had indeed touched, raised, or played with turtles before.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, there are certain behaviors that increase the risk of people who raise tortoises with Salmonella.

Among them are kissing turtles, letting these animals roam in kitchens and tables where food and drinks are placed, and when cleaning areas they have passed.

These animals are known to carry Salmonella bacteria on the surface of their skin and shell. Actually, not only turtles, all types of reptiles and amphibians such as iguanas and crabs have the potential to be carriers of Salmonella bacteria.

Salmonella is usually spread through direct or indirect contact. This infection can also be spread when you clean the cage either through dirt or tank water.

Various health problems caused by raising turtles

Salmonellosis

Turtles are natural carriers of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonellosis is a disease that attacks the intestines. This infection usually appears after a person eats raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs and eggs.

Some people who are infected with Salmonella bacteria usually experience a variety of symptoms while others do not. Many people actually recover within a few days without special treatment.

However, this disease can be recognized by various symptoms such as:

• Stomach cramps
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Gag
• The body feels hot and cold
• Bloody bowel movements

When infected with Salmonella bacteria from a tortoise, for example, you will not immediately feel sick. Symptoms of this disease generally appear at least two to three days after you are contaminated with bacteria.

Because it does not cause immediate symptoms, this makes Salmonella an infection that is not easy to spot.

That is why, it is necessary to do special tests to really know whether you are infected with Salmonella bacteria or not.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the main conditions that attack when infected with Salmonella bacteria due to turtles. In addition to stool that tends to runny, you will usually experience various conditions such as:

• Stomach ache
• Stomach cramps
• Fever
• Blood in the stool
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Feelings of wanting to continue to defecate

Usually the various symptoms of this infection last from two to seven days. In fact, diarrhea can last up to 10 days.

Dehydration

Dehydration usually results from severe diarrhea that you have had. This condition is usually characterized by various symptoms such as:

• Urinating infrequently or slightly
• Dry mouth and tongue
• Sunken eyes
• Dizzy

If you become dehydrated due to continuous diarrhea after playing with a turtle, consult a doctor immediately.

Enteritis

Enteritis is inflammation that occurs in the small intestine. This infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and radiation therapy.

Usually enteritis caused by bacteria and viruses occurs when you eat contaminated food. Food can be contaminated when you use dirty hands while handling it.

Apart from Salmonella, the bacteria that usually cause this disease are:

• Bacillus cereus
• Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni)
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Shigelia
• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)

As for various foods that usually cause enteritis infection, namely:

• Raw poultry and meat
• Raw shellfish
• Unpasteurized milk
• Undercooked meat and eggs

When you get enteritis, the various symptoms that usually appear are:

• Stomach pain or cramps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Bleeding or mucus discharge from the anus
• Fever

Typhus

Typhus or typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by bacteria Salmonella typhi. Typhus appears and develops from food and water that has been contaminated with these bacteria.

This disease is usually characterized by symptoms that appear 1 to 3 days after infection, such as:

• Fever that continues to increase until it reaches 40.5 degrees Celsius
• Limp body
• Stomach ache
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Rash on the skin
• Muscle ache
• Sweating

In some people, these signs and symptoms may return up to two weeks after the fever has subsided.

Bacteremia

Bacteremia is a condition when Salmonella infection gets into the bloodstream, whether it's from a turtle or something else.

Not only enter, bacteria can infect tissues throughout the body such as:

• The tissue around the brain and spinal cord that causes meningitis
• The lining of the heart or its valves causing endocarditis
• Bone or bone marrow causing osteomyelitis
• The lining of the blood vessels, especially if you've had a blood vessel graft

This condition usually develops when the infection is not treated and has entered a quite severe stage.

Reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis is a condition when the joints experience inflammation due to a reaction to certain bacterial infections, one of which is Salmonella. This condition is also known as Reiter's syndrome.

Reporting from the pages of the American College of Rheumatology, bacteria enter and interfere with the body's defense system against infection and the genetic environment.

This inflammation of the joints is usually indicated by various symptoms such as:

• Pain and swelling in certain joints, such as the knee or ankle
• Swelling and pain in the heel
• Swelling of the toes or hands
• Low back pain that is persistent and usually gets worse at night or in the morning
• Pain when urinating
• Rash on the palms or feet
• Red and irritated eyes

Therefore, do not underestimate this little pet. Although small, this reptile can have a huge health impact on its owner.

Who is at risk for disease due to tortoise breeding?

Anyone can get disease from Salmonella, including those carried by turtles. However, the following groups of people are at higher risk, namely:

Babies and children

Even though it looks healthy and adorable, the presence of Salmonella bacteria in the animal's body cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, many parents do not understand the dangers.

Babies and children who raise these animals are more susceptible to infection with Salmonella. This is because they have an immature immune system like adults.

As a result, even if their parents do not get Salmonella bacterial infection, children who raise turtles can be infected. Because, your little one's immune system is not as strong as adults to ward off infection.

Reporting from the Washington Post, Eduardo Groisman, a microbiology lecturer at Yale School of Medicine stated that Salmonella bacteria in turtle cages have the potential to make people sick.

In fact, in 2007 data showed that a three week old baby in Florida died from Salmonella infection from pet tortoises.

When the little ones play with the turtles, they often kiss, rummage through the turtle pond or aquarium.

Then without washing their hands, they put their fingers in their mouths or eat right away. This is what increases the risk of illness due to Salmonella bacteria.

Pregnant women

In pregnant women, Salmonella bacteria that are carried by tortoises are very dangerous because they can cause various health complications ranging from dehydration, bacteremia, and reactive arthritis.

In addition, if Salmonella infection is passed to the unborn baby, he can experience diarrhea and fever after birth. In fact, your baby is also at risk for meningitis.

People with low immune systems

Elderly, people with HIV / AIDS, and people with cancer are classified as people with low immune systems. Therefore, these people are not advised to keep turtles because the risk of developing disease is very high.

There are various reasons for not raising turtles

Source: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Can only survive in the right temperature

Even though it seems trivial, this animal turns out to be only able to live in the right temperature, which is around 20 to 28 degrees Celsius according to its natural habitat. Unfortunately, this is not easy to do.

You will need to buy a thermometer and make sure that the cage temperature is just right. Therefore, raising turtles is not as easy as it seems.

Carry disease

As already mentioned, turtles have Salmonella bacteria attached to their shells. These bacteria can cause various diseases for your family members.

Instead of bringing a disease home just because you want to raise a turtle, it is better to resist your desires for better health.

Eat a fairly specific diet

Some turtles are omnivores. But some others are strict vegetarians and even carnivores. Therefore, you cannot give him any food so that this one animal can survive.

You have to identify the type first to know what food it eats.

Unfortunately, some of these animals only eat very specific foods. Even the various sources of food are often only available in the habitat. For that, this will be quite difficult for you to maintain.

Prevent infection while keeping tortoises at home

The main principle in preventing bacterial infection from turtles is actually quite simple. Keep the cage and the surrounding environment clean. Especially if you have babies or toddlers.

However, there are several other important things that you must pay attention to if you want to keep turtles at home, namely:

Make sure to buy it in healthy condition

Don't just be cute and adorable, you also need to make sure the tortoise you buy is in good health.

Never buy animals that are sick because they can transmit various unwanted diseases.

For that reason, buy this animal in trusted places that only sell healthy animals. You can also bring a friend who knows how to distinguish a healthy and sick turtle.

You can also join groups of animal lovers before buying them for guidance.

Put the cage outside the house

It is best if all pet cages are kept outside. This aims to prevent contamination of dirt and germs in your pet's body.

In addition, placing the cage outside the house also keeps the house clean.

Use gloves

Petting a pet is fun. However, you never know that there are so many infection-causing germs that stick to the body of this one reptile.

To be safe, use gloves when you want to handle it. Don't forget to wear it too when cleaning the cage.

Washing hands

Washing hands with soap and warm or running water after touching or cleaning the reptile's cage is mandatory.

Even not only turtles, you must wash your hands thoroughly after handling and cleaning any kind of animal enclosure.

By washing your hands, the germs that stick to your hands can be swept away. Don't underestimate this habit.

The reason is, Salmonella is a serious infection that is usually transmitted through feces, even just by handling the source of the infection.

For that, you are obliged to wash your hands after touching and cleaning the cage. That way, your risk of being infected with bacteria, including Salmonella, can be avoided.

Don't forget also not to hold the mouth or other mucous membrane parts of the body after handling this one animal. Make sure to wash your hands first until they are clean.

Clean the enclosure outside

To prevent you from infection with unwanted diseases, you should not clean the cage in the house.

You don't want to clean the enclosure in the bathroom or even the dishwasher.

Cleaning it in the house makes the risk of spreading Salmonella bacteria even greater. Especially if you clean it using the same dishwasher to wash dirty dishes. This method should be avoided because it can endanger the health of you and your family.

Clean it in a special place

To prevent cross-contamination, it's best to clean these reptiles in a small plastic tub or special container. In essence, make sure that your turtle equipment doesn't get mixed up with the things you and your family use every day.

Never use shower puff or your shower brush to clean your pet's shell.

This does help to keep these animals clean, but it will be very detrimental to the health of you and your family.

Keep the cage clean

Turtles live and do activities in the same water. Automatic activities of eating, drinking, swimming, defecating and urinating are also carried out in the same place.

As a person who maintains it, you need to really keep the house clean.

Water that is left dirty not only makes this animal sick, but also you as the owner. For that, you need to keep the cage clean.

Don't be tired to clean the cage and change the water. Remember, the more dirty the water is, the more germs are lodged and of course the risk of spreading the infection increases.

Don't play with pets when they are sick

If you are sick, try not to mess with him. This is to protect the tortoise and of course yourself.

When you are sick, your immune system is down. As a result, you are susceptible to other infections, including those that come from your own pet.

However, if no one else can care for him, it's best to wear gloves when feeding him. Use a mask if you have the flu to prevent the infection from spreading to him. After that, wash your hands with soap under running water.

Don't smell it

Salmonella bacteria can live and stick to the shells and shells of turtles. For that, try not to kiss him because this of course endangers your health.

If you have children under 5 years old at home, really monitor their movements. Do not let your baby kiss him or even put this small animal in his mouth because it is considered a toy.

Check their health regularly

Unlike other pets, turtles do not look sick easily. However, you are still obliged to monitor their health regularly. In addition, you also need to be sensitive to the signs that this reptile is sick.

If your pet refuses to eat, has swollen eyes and looks like crying, or appears to be breathing through its mouth, take it to the doctor immediately.

The reason is, Dr. Laurie Hess, a veterinarian in New York stated that turtles often hide important signs when they are sick. For that, taking him to the doctor regularly is the right step.

All the things that have been mentioned earlier are done not only to prevent the spread of Salmonella bacteria, but also as an effort to maintain the health of you and your family.