Exotic pets injuring owners proving a problem
Injuries caused by keeping exotic animals as pets has been described as a "small but increasingly significant problem" in a paper recently published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Data recorded in the NHS Episode Statistics for England between 2004 and 2010 revealed that exotic pet injuries resulted in an average of over 300 hospitalisation days per year in England alone.
The data, studied by Clifford Warwick and Catrina Steedman, indicated that injuries that were most likely caused by exotic pets resulted in 760 full consultation episodes, 709 hospital admissions and 2121 hospital bed days.
The most common cause of injuries was categorised as 'bitten or crushed by other reptiles.' Other injuries recorded by the NHS included being bitten or struck by crocodile or alligator, contact with venomous snakes and lizards, and contact with scorpions.
With the increasing number of exotic animals being kept as pets, the authors of the study suggest that there needs to be a greater awareness of relevant injuries and the medical sequelae from exotic pet keeping to help medics formulate their clinical assessment and advice to patients.
Mr Warwick said: "An increasing number of people are acquiring exotic pets like snakes, lizards and turtles, and some of these animals have robust physical attributes that can tear flesh or, in the case of some lizards and turtles, deliver crushing bites. Even a small bite or scratch can lead to infection with unusual bugs, sometimes seriously - meaning that in some cases an animal's bacteria is worse than its bite!"
Ms Steedman added: "Exotic pets are a small but important cause of a wide variety of injuries to people."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
