Pregnant women with hamsters as pets?

Question

I have hamsters as pets and just found out that I am pregnant...can I still handle them? Can I clean their cages? Are there any precautions I need to take?

Answer 1

pregnant or not always take  precautions while cleanning and caring for the hamsters.you will be fine dont worry.

Answer 2

Im thinking you should be ok. But the only precaution I would take is to wear gloves when cleaning the cage out and then wash you hands really good afterwards. You should be fine handling them.

Answer 3

hii well you should be fine handeling them and cleanin them out should be ok but you can always ask your doctor but dont stress wen u get near your due date it will be diffucult cleaning them out so maybe someone can help you as you start to get a big bump and your tummy begins to hurt and your ankles and feet swell out and ur back hurts and it is hard to bend down you will need help good luck with the baby i went through it and i found it extreamly hard cleaning the cage out wen prego the bump got in the way and i had some pains hope this helped!!! =) i bet you cant wait and i bet you are exited was it a surprise have you added a comment on yahho answers pregnacy yet i would have.

Answer 4

This is the kind of question you should be asking your doctor. But if you read the care sheets that are supplied to customers at Petsmart it reads "infants, young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and the infirm or elderly are at a greater risk of infections and should use caution when in contact with the pet or its habitat. Consult your doctor for more information."

It doesn't mean that you have to stop handling them, it just means that you have to be extra careful.

Answer 5

Pregnant women might have a small risk of contracting a virus called LCMV from pet hamsters. Not all pet hamsters have it and the probability of your hamster having it is very low and it is better to be on the safer side and avoid cleaning cages or handling hamster bedding until you deliver your baby. The following link will give you the scientific paper explaining the same -

http://www.opa.medicine.arizona.edu/news...