
Today rodents have become excellent companion animals and there are numerous people that in their house they have guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, gerbils, squirrels, chinchillas or irons.
Rodents are active and sociable pets that although they require care they are easy to keep in good condition, however, they are susceptible of contracting multiple diseases and can even transmit some of them to humans, as is the case of salmonellosis.
In this article of Animals and Pets Online we show you how to prevent salmonellosis in rodents.
What is salmonellosis?
Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium , which is usually found in chickens and their eggs as well as in some reptiles such as turtles.
This pathogen is also known as Salmonella Enterica , a term that refers to the intestine since it mainly affects this body area, hence It manifests mainly through diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, not only in humans, since these signs are also visible in infected animals.
One of the most important characteristics of this pathology is that it is a zoonosis , that is, a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, in fact, 1.4 million Salmonella infections occur annually in the United States and it is estimated that a good number of these are acquired through contact with infected animals.
How is salmonellosis transmitted?
The bacterium that causes salmonellosis is transmitted mainly by mouth , through the intake of water or feed contaminated with the feces of an infected animal and through food consumption In poor condition, although it is also transmitted by inhalation.
In rodents it can also be transmitted from parents to children, observing symptoms of the disease in newborns.
We must highlight that some animals do not manifest the symptoms of the disease but are carriers of the bacteria , which they excrete with feces, and therefore, also act as dangerous sources of infection.

Symptoms of salmonellosis in rodents
If our rodent is infected with Salmonella we could observe in certain symptoms that should make us suspect a possible salmonellosis:
- Low birth weight
- Weight loss
- Depression and lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Conjunctivitis
- Cyanosis (blue coloring of the mucous membranes)
- Curly hair
- Diarrhea
We know that diarrhea is a very dangerous symptom for rodents, as it can cause damage severe dehydration and malnutrition, therefore, if we observe this or any other symptom mentioned above, we must urgently go to the veterinarian .

Treatment of salmonellosis in rodents
The veterinarian will observe the symptoms presented by the animal although to check for salmonellosis you can also perform a stool culture.
The main treatment is performed through antibiotic drugs , although sometimes this treatment can be supplemented with probiotics to restore normal intestinal flora, which translates into an improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms.
The veterinarian is the only person trained to prescribe a treatment, Never self-medicate your rodent with antibiotics as some of them are toxic and can have fatal consequences for the life of your pet.

How to prevent salmonellosis in rodents?
To prevent salmonellosis in rodents it is very important to apply the following Hygienic-dietary measures :
- Keep the accessories of your rodent and its environment in optimal hygiene conditions
- If you have received more than one animal , before any symptoms of salmonellosis, you should isolate the sick animal
- Thoroughly wash all the food you offer to your rodent
- Discard any food that could be in poor condition
- If you are going to host a rodent, verify that it is in good condition and is not in the company of sick animals
- Talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of frequent deworming
- Wash your hands after handling your pet
Remember that preventing salmonellosis in rodents is of great importance since this also prevents possible infection with humans.

This article is merely informative, in Expe rtoAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Salmonellosis in rodents , we recommend that you enter our Prevention section.
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