New Pregnancy Fear?

[angie r]

The following story was on our local news broadcast tonight? Has anyone else heard this? Do I get rid of our hamster now?? They said that the worst case senario can case blindness and cerebral palsy??


Researchers say pregnant women should avoid kitty litter...but now they warn mice or hamsters can be just as dangerous. They say rodents can transmit a viral infection called L-C-M-V, which can hurt a developing fetus. A new study found more than 90 percent of babies exposed in the womb were born with neurological problems. Often the only symptoms feel like a case of the flu.

[Amy]

Hmmm....I think if you where rubber gloves to change the cage, you will be fine. I had THREE ferrets during the course of my dd's pregnency and a cat with Feline Leukemia with my ds. Everything is fine and I would have to research out that claim a little bit more before you make any major decisions.

[AnnW]

Don't have a clue, but if it means getting rid of the varmit, I am all for it!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin:

[JAK]

I'd talk to your dr and see hwat he/she thinks. Can't someone else (I can't imagine who! LOL) clean the cage for the next 9 months or so?

[KarlaB]

I haven't heard anything about this either. Like others mentioned, I would research it a little more before making any decisions, ask your OB, and make Brichard clean the cage for the next 9 months. :D

[angie r]

From what I understood, it isn't just cleaning the cage that is the problem. It is an airborne virus. No one I have talked to has ever heard of it either?

[Leigh]

Before I got all worked up, I would ask the dr first and see what he/she thinks. If you do have to get rid of it maybe you could just get another one after the baby is born. I know it wouldn't be the same but...

[Lynda/WA]

How attached to the hamster are you? Maybe the classroom would like a pet for the school year? At the very least I'd suggest someone else take care of the pet. Even if it's airborne it may only be when the dust is worked up by cleaning the cage. I haven't heard anything about this. Even if you ask your dr and this is new knowledge he may not be aware of it yet.

When DD got her shots, her dr asked if anyone in contact with her had a suppressed immune system. When I said BIL was in cemo he suggested waiting on her shots until the visit was over. BILs cancer dr hadn't heard of any such thing. Since then I've read that in other places.

[Amy2]

Angie, it's called Toxoplasmosis, and it is most commonly found in cats. More specifically, cat feces. It grows in the cat's intestines, therefore, it's not the cat, but the poop. It can be found in other rodents, but most commonly cats. If you have fears, don't handle the rodent or change the litter box and you should be fine. If you feel really fearful, the idea of lending out the hamster (gerbil?) to a school is a good one. Apparently, it is pretty rare, unless you're sculpting with cat poop or something. So yay for you! No more changing litter boxes for a while!

Amy

[Diane]

I had cats/kitten and hamster's when I was pregnant with all of my dk's and it never affected them in any way. :) I had heard about the kitty litter thing and I did try my best to avoid changing the litter box as much as possible but I had never heard about the hamster/mice thing. What did you decide to do... ??

How have you been feeling with your pregnancy? Any morning sickness? I hope you are doing well. :)

Diane... :wave: