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Post by keawearascal on Jan 18, 2011 3:08:36 GMT -5
I've gotten pretty paranoid with Keawea. I carry sanatizer everywhere and put it on after I touch anything out of my own house, put it on anything, even groceries coming in the house, refuse to be in the same house as anyone I hear so much as sniffle, sterilize everything guests touch when they''re here (I dont let them see of course-but they do know they better not go within 10 feet of the cage) I even put a surgical mask and sanatizer on before touching her, plus a robe specifically for when she's out. I don't even touch anything except sterilized things when I'm handling her. I'm petrified she'll catch a cold or something and end up with pnemonia. Is this something I really do need to worry about? I heard it could happen and it scared the bejeezus out of me, but well, Im kind of getting laughed at for it and thouht maybe I was being overzealous. I figure she's fragile because she's older and one can never be too careful...plus I'm afraid germs would have an easier way in thru her tumor
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jan 18, 2011 3:22:09 GMT -5
To be honest, I know you mean well, but your germ protocols seems really obsessive. Also, if I'm not mistaken, she can't catch colds. She can catch flus, but not colds. I am of the mind that keeping things reasonably clean is good/great. Keeping things obsessively clean may not be doing her any favors. It might mean that your baby won't be able to build her immune system properly. Handling her with care when you're sick or suspect yourself of being sick in the future is normal and good-sanitizing your hands when your sick before you handle her, keeping her cage clean , etc, sounds reasonable. However, you can't spend every second of every day worrying that one little thing will get past you. That fear is founded-something will get past you eventually, but it might be a bigger deal when they do catch it because they're never exposed to it in smallish amounts. I know that you love your fuzz so much, and if this isn't a testament to your willing to do anything for them, I don't know what is. However, if I were you, I'd relax the routine a bit.
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Post by justahannah on Jan 18, 2011 3:29:58 GMT -5
I always think that if I keep things too sanitary, the body doesn't have the opportunity to build up a strong immune system and that would cause an infection to be far worse when something finally does get through. I'm around tons of people at school and when I go shopping, but I don't do any more than wash my hands after bathroom trips, before and after handling food, or if I touch something obviously icky...I haven't had a cold or flu in years and in the two years with fuzzies they've never had anything either so it seems to work for me.
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Post by bluemoose on Jan 18, 2011 3:41:11 GMT -5
Yeah personally I'm opposed to over sanitizing- for pets or children. As already mentioned, it can actually weaken the immune system. Unless you keep her in a clean room (which is completely unnecessary) germs will get to her no matter what you do and her body won't be prepared. Better to let her experience every day germs and get used to them.
With all my pets, I try not to worry too much about their passing. Obviously I take care of them to the best of my ability but IMO spending all your time with them scared they'll get sick/die cheapens the time you have. Every pet will die eventually and worrying obsessively over it is just stressful for you and subsequently can stress your pet. Enjoy the time you have with her and make great memories.
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Post by katt on Jan 18, 2011 5:05:50 GMT -5
I just wanted to add that by over-sanitizing you will actually just be making all of your problems worse. The thing about bacteria is that they mutate VERY rapidly and build a resistance to stuff, including cleaners, antibiotics, and antibacterial agents. By always using hand sanitizer for example, you are actually setting up conditions for bacteria to begin developing a resistance to the hand sanitizer. These might then be even more difficult to treat if she did by some off chance get infected. Now I am oversimplifying a bit, it is obviously much more complicated than that, but you get the idea. Also, for the same reasons, it is recommended that you always switch up your cleaning product. So if ALL you ever use is bleach in the cage, then you are at some point running a big risk of just ending up with the cage being colonized by bleach resistant bacteria. So you should have a few different cleaners that you can rotate through. Say bleach or vinegar as your main cleaner, then every few weeks or so clean out the cage with a different cleaner (vinegar, bleach, nature's miracle, baking soda, etc) thoroughly, and use that the next few cleanings before going back to your main cleaner. Then the next time do the same with a different cleaner. Etc. Hope that helps!
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foxfire
Going Natural
Foxfire Creations
Posts: 157
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Post by foxfire on Jan 18, 2011 7:04:06 GMT -5
With all my baby litters, I made sure I washed my hands after doing the litter and poo newspaper clean ups. Every afternoon, I washed the floor area, and kept the bedding, water and food bowls clean. But other than that, I did not over do the cleaning thing. Babies need to be exposed to natural germs so they grow up strong, with a strong immune system, like everyone has already mentioned. Their mums also kept the babies and the area clean. I think Merlin is proof of just how strong and healthy they grew up to be.
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Post by sherrylynne on Jan 18, 2011 10:38:12 GMT -5
I clean houses all day. I certainly don't feel like doing more than the basics when I get home So mine run around on carpets that need to be vacuumed, floors that need to be swept, etc. It all gets done once a week, carpets shampooed every 3-4 months. Cages get done weekly, bedding, etc. In fact, the only thing that gets done daily is their eating area/feeding den. And even then, since some of the feeding dens are cardboard, they use them over and over til they get too mucky, then get tossed. If I have a cold, or something that could be flu related, I hand wash, and restrict the cuddling/kissing, but otherwise, I just use good hand washing techniques. Both then, and after cleaning boxes, etc. Touch wood, in 3 years, mine have never had a problem(other than blockage and adrenal)
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Post by Heather on Jan 18, 2011 14:16:12 GMT -5
I'm a firm believer in dirt We need bacteria, without it we will die. This whole culture has become so paranoid about germs and bacteria that we've created a self fullfilling prophecy....we are creating supergerms. Maybe, I'm lucky but my guys play outside in the mud, snow...they go places and they're handled by everyone. I can remember just cringing when some parent would want their snarfling, snorting little one to handle one of the fuzzes, I remember looking into the hopeful little faces and going...are you crazy, that kid has to be infectious.....you know what...the ferrets didn't get it. Ferrets cannot get rhino virus, they can get flu bugs and upper respiratory infections. I've dealt with a couple that have gone through the business. Like a childs flu bug you give them rest, fluids and soup. If they need more care you go to the vet, but for the most part it's been good. The more sterile you make a place, the more likely you're going to create a bug that cannot be handled by your little one, because they've never dealt with the little infections. I've got little ones on pred (immune suppressor), I've got little ones with damaged immune systems.....they all get a raw diet, they all get to play outside, they all get to rumble around in the mud and dirt. They all get to be ferrets. I do not use disinfectants, I wash with vinegar and water. You cannot (and keep your sanity) wrap them up in cotton wool and expect them to thrive. caio
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