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I used to work at a "Pet Store" and I use this term very loosely as basically the place was a breeder of Rats and Mice for pet shops and mostly for food for snakes, iguanas and other perhaps baby rats for the occasional pet and more breeders. They did sell some guinea pigs, which some went for "gasp" big lizard or big boa constrictor food, hamsters (that bite too much for food) and the occasional chinchilla which actually was sold for pets. Anyway, I worked at this place for rent on a pad above it and in doing so, I worked mainly with rats and mice. I seen overbreeding, rats eating their offspring due to overbreeding (talking 13 or more rats in a cat pan size containment system so the babies had very small chance of survival) and at times I got bit. That brings me to this story I want to post. The rat I had as a pet NEVER bit me and most times if I worked fast and non threatning cleaning the "cages" and respected the rats space, I rarely got bit. I am talking a system of litter pans filled with shredded cedar feet higher than me and as wide across as some offices. Mice and gerbils and hamsters as well. I was most likely to get bitten by the teddybear hamsters who came out as babies biting..cute but vicious they are.
Anyway, I still have a scar from a female rat bite who had babies, as they are protective. That wound bled for a while. I never got treatment, just ran my hand under water. I never heard of this disease and as non caring and irresponsible as my employer was, I am lucky that this never happened to me.
Anyway, sharing for anyone who may have or know of someone who has a rodent as a pet. Not sure if this is more known to Rats, but I take it as it can be any rodent.
Boy's death from infected rat spurs suit vs. Petco
By JULIE WATSON Associated Press
Posted: 02/26/2014 01:56:49 AM MST
Updated: 02/26/2014 01:57:02 AM MST
SAN DIEGOThe death of a 10-year-old San Diego boy from a bacterial infection he reportedly got from his pet rat prompted his family to sue retailer Petco, saying they want to raise awareness among parents.
Attorney John Gomez told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his firm filed the lawsuit Monday in San Diego County seeking an unspecified amount for the suffering endured by the Pankey family, whose son, Aidan, died June 12, 2013, hours after he was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pains.
The San Diego County medical examiner's office ruled that the cause of death was streptobacillus moniliformis infection, commonly known as rat-bite fever, after exposure to an infected rat.
Gomez said the Pankey family was not giving interviews, but they are devastated by the death.
"It's a means to ensure this doesn't happen again," Gomez said of the lawsuit. "Apparently there was some breakdown in procedures. They want tighter controls."
According to the lawsuit, the rat appeared safe. But the lawsuit says Petco should have known about the rodent's health and did not adequately test for the disease. It also says that negligence led to the boy's death, which has caused his parents, Andrew Pankey and Vanessa Sauer, emotional and economic hardship, and that the retailer did not post adequate warnings about the potential risks, especially for children.
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. said it is "in the process of investigating these claims and will respond appropriately when we have more information."
Meanwhile, the retailer in a statement expressed its condolences.
"We are deeply saddened by the Pankey family's tragic loss," Petco said. "The health and safety of people and pets is always a top priority, and we take the family's concerns very seriously."
The boy's grandmother purchased the male rat, which Aidan named Alex, because her only grandson wanted a mate for his female rat, Gomez said. The boy took the rat home May 27, 2013, and woke up the night of June 11 in severe pain with a fever and stomach problems. He was pale, lethargic and could barely walk, according to the lawsuit. He died at 1:09 a.m. the next day.
"He was a bright, energetic, friendly, happy kid who actually had a prior rat, who was a female, and he had this idea in his young head of having his female rat get married," Gomez said.
The lawsuit was not filed until now because attorneys were awaiting the lab results from the federal Centers for Disease Control, which tested the rat to confirm it was infected, Gomez said. The agency could not immediately confirm the results Tuesday.
According to the CDC, people can contract rat-bite fever from bites or scratches from infected rodents, such as rats, mice and gerbils, or even just by handling an animal with the disease without a bite or scratch. It can also be contracted by consuming food or drink contaminated with the bacteria. It is not spread from person to person.
Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are highly effective at treating rat-bite fever, and it is rarely fatal, according to the CDC.
The CDC says those at higher risk of contracting the illness are people with pet rats or who work with rats in laboratories or pet stores, or live in rat-infested buildings. The agency recommends that people who handle rats or clean their cages wear protective gloves, wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their mouths with their hands after being in contact with rodents.
Petco also mentions preventative measures for rat-bite fever in information it posts online and provides in stores. The company warns that all rats are potential carriers and that pregnant women, children under the age of 5 and people with weakened immune systems should contact their doctor before buying a rat and "should consider not having a rat as a pet."
Only about 200 cases of rat-bite fever had been documented in the U.S. as of 2004, according to the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. Scientists believe the disease may be underdiagnosed because it is hard to detect and responds to commonly used antibiotics. But the number of cases, they say, may be increasing, especially among children, with the growing popularity of rats as pets.
Read more: Boy's death from infected rat spurs suit vs. Petco - The Denver Post
Posted on 02/26/14, 04:57 pm
Anyway, I still have a scar from a female rat bite who had babies, as they are protective. That wound bled for a while. I never got treatment, just ran my hand under water. I never heard of this disease and as non caring and irresponsible as my employer was, I am lucky that this never happened to me.
Anyway, sharing for anyone who may have or know of someone who has a rodent as a pet. Not sure if this is more known to Rats, but I take it as it can be any rodent.
Boy's death from infected rat spurs suit vs. Petco
By JULIE WATSON Associated Press
Posted: 02/26/2014 01:56:49 AM MST
Updated: 02/26/2014 01:57:02 AM MST
SAN DIEGOThe death of a 10-year-old San Diego boy from a bacterial infection he reportedly got from his pet rat prompted his family to sue retailer Petco, saying they want to raise awareness among parents.
Attorney John Gomez told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his firm filed the lawsuit Monday in San Diego County seeking an unspecified amount for the suffering endured by the Pankey family, whose son, Aidan, died June 12, 2013, hours after he was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pains.
The San Diego County medical examiner's office ruled that the cause of death was streptobacillus moniliformis infection, commonly known as rat-bite fever, after exposure to an infected rat.
Gomez said the Pankey family was not giving interviews, but they are devastated by the death.
"It's a means to ensure this doesn't happen again," Gomez said of the lawsuit. "Apparently there was some breakdown in procedures. They want tighter controls."
According to the lawsuit, the rat appeared safe. But the lawsuit says Petco should have known about the rodent's health and did not adequately test for the disease. It also says that negligence led to the boy's death, which has caused his parents, Andrew Pankey and Vanessa Sauer, emotional and economic hardship, and that the retailer did not post adequate warnings about the potential risks, especially for children.
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. said it is "in the process of investigating these claims and will respond appropriately when we have more information."
Meanwhile, the retailer in a statement expressed its condolences.
"We are deeply saddened by the Pankey family's tragic loss," Petco said. "The health and safety of people and pets is always a top priority, and we take the family's concerns very seriously."
The boy's grandmother purchased the male rat, which Aidan named Alex, because her only grandson wanted a mate for his female rat, Gomez said. The boy took the rat home May 27, 2013, and woke up the night of June 11 in severe pain with a fever and stomach problems. He was pale, lethargic and could barely walk, according to the lawsuit. He died at 1:09 a.m. the next day.
"He was a bright, energetic, friendly, happy kid who actually had a prior rat, who was a female, and he had this idea in his young head of having his female rat get married," Gomez said.
The lawsuit was not filed until now because attorneys were awaiting the lab results from the federal Centers for Disease Control, which tested the rat to confirm it was infected, Gomez said. The agency could not immediately confirm the results Tuesday.
According to the CDC, people can contract rat-bite fever from bites or scratches from infected rodents, such as rats, mice and gerbils, or even just by handling an animal with the disease without a bite or scratch. It can also be contracted by consuming food or drink contaminated with the bacteria. It is not spread from person to person.
Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are highly effective at treating rat-bite fever, and it is rarely fatal, according to the CDC.
The CDC says those at higher risk of contracting the illness are people with pet rats or who work with rats in laboratories or pet stores, or live in rat-infested buildings. The agency recommends that people who handle rats or clean their cages wear protective gloves, wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their mouths with their hands after being in contact with rodents.
Petco also mentions preventative measures for rat-bite fever in information it posts online and provides in stores. The company warns that all rats are potential carriers and that pregnant women, children under the age of 5 and people with weakened immune systems should contact their doctor before buying a rat and "should consider not having a rat as a pet."
Only about 200 cases of rat-bite fever had been documented in the U.S. as of 2004, according to the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. Scientists believe the disease may be underdiagnosed because it is hard to detect and responds to commonly used antibiotics. But the number of cases, they say, may be increasing, especially among children, with the growing popularity of rats as pets.
Read more: Boy's death from infected rat spurs suit vs. Petco - The Denver Post
Posted on 02/26/14, 04:57 pm
Thank you for posting this information. My immune system is quite low and I will be sure not to visit any more rodents while at pet stores.
Currently I have a shelter rescue Kitty who is a spoiled princess and a horse I have had for about 20 years. I don't even want to think about having to say goodbye to either of them.
Pathogens of all types abound.