It is important that you and your child are safe around pet rodents.
Pet rodents could bite or scratch your child. They might also carry illnesses.
Some pet rodents do not live for long. It's important to explain this to your child.
The death of a family pet can be very upsetting for children.
Types of pet rodent
Pet rodents include:
- rats
- mice
- guinea pigs
- hamsters
- gerbils
- chinchillas
Rodents and health risks to your child
It's unlikely that a pet rodent will spread a disease to you or your child.
But they can be the source of germs and bacteria that cause infections such as:
- salmonella
- campylobacter
- giardia
- cryptosporidium
Your child can get these diseases by touching rodent poo or something the poo has been in contact with.
To reduce the risk of you and your child getting an infection:
- wash hands with soap and water after touching your rodent, its poo, bedding, cage, bowls, or toys
- talk to your vet about keeping your rodent healthy
- do not feed raw eggs or raw meat to your pet rodent - these can carry harmful germs
Rodent bites and scratches
To reduce the risk of a rodent biting or scratching your child:
- get advice about keeping rodents as pets
- make sure your rodent is used to being handled
- watch your child around the pet rodent
- show your child how to safely handle and treat the rodent
- do not disturb sleeping rodents
- talk to your vet about grooming and claw trimming
Ask your child to let you know if they are bitten or scratched by an animal.
If a rodent bites or scratches your child
If your child is bitten or scratched:
- wash the wound immediately with soap in warm running water
- dry it carefully
- cover with a clean plaster
Non-urgent advice: Talk to a GP if:
- a bite or scratch has broken your child’s skin, unless the wound is very minor
- the wound is not healing
- the wound becomes infected
- the wound is weeping, red, swollen or feels hot to touch
- your child develops fever, sickness or unusual marks on their skin
- you are worried
- your child was scratched or bitten abroad
Choose a healthy pet rodent
Choose a healthy pet rodent. This can lower the risk of your child getting a disease from the rodent.
Make sure the pet is lively, alert, free of droppings and has a glossy coat. Do not pick one that is quiet, tired or looks sickly.
The animal’s breathing should be normal. There should be no discharge from the eyes or nose.
If one of the animals in the cage in a pet shop looks sick, the others may have an infectious disease. Do not choose any of these animals as your pet.
If your pet rodent dies, thoroughly clean and disinfect their cage, toys, water and food bowls before letting a new pet use them.