P1 / PET SAFETY

Turtles, Frogs, Lizards, Snakes, 

and Salmonella - Oh, My!

P2 / PET SAFETY

Cold Weather Care for Our Pets

P3 / PREVENTIVE HEALTH

Veterinary Preventive Care

P4 / FOOD SAFETY

Keeping Your Food Safe Before 

and After a Power Outage

2018 News about Animal Health, Food Safety, and One Health

Army Public Health Center

Veterinary

Pet reptiles and amphibians can carry Salmonella and other germs that make people sick. 

Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Reptiles include turtles, lizards, and 

snakes. While these pets are a lot of fun, they can pose a health risk to owners, especially 

young children and those with weakened immune systems. We usually think people get 

Salmonella infections from eating contaminated food, 

but you can also get it from handling amphibians 

and reptiles. There are steps you can take to keep 

you and your Family healthy! 

How do amphibians and reptiles spread 

Salmonella to people? 

Amphibians and reptiles naturally have Salmonella bacteria 

in their gut. This means your pet can have no signs of illness but 

still make you sick. You can get infected by touching and playing 

with your pet. You can also get infected even if you do not touch an 

amphibian or reptile because Salmonella is in their droppings, which can 

contaminate anything it touches such as their aquariums and food dishes. 

You can be exposed through indirect contact such as eating off of surfaces 

where these animals may have been. 

Who is at risk? 

Anyone can get Salmonella. Groups of people at increased risk are kids younger 

than 5 years old, adults older than 65 years of age, and people with a 

weakened immune system. Salmonella typically causes diarrhea that lasts 

from 4-7 days in most people but can lead to hospitalization and death in 

some. Other symptoms include vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps. 

Children are at particular risk because they love to put 

things (e.g., toys, rocks, and keys) in their 

mouths. They’ll even put animals in 

their mouths if the animals are 

small enough to fit such as frogs, 

salamanders, and small turtles. Any 

size turtle can carry Salmonella, but 

tiny turtles are especially risky due to 

their size. Most amphibians are of similar 

small size, so they can become especially 

enticing for kids to try and lick. 

Turtles, Frogs, Lizards, Snakes, and Salmonella - Oh , My!

> Article contributed by CPT James S. Corrigan, DVM, 

DACVPM, Branch Chief, Pensacola Veterinary Services

WINTER 2018

Approved for public release, 

distribution unlimited .

>> CONT. ON PAGE TWO
> Article contributed by MAJ Danielle Tulloss, DVM, 

Branch Chief, Fort Leavenworth Veterinary Services

P2

With the cold weather months now upon us, it is time to think 

about preparing our homes, vehicles, and ourselves for the drop in 

temperatures. If you have pets, you should also start thinking about 

how to protect them from the elements and from the potential health 

risks that accompany cold weather. Pets can develop dry, itchy, and 

flaky skin just like we can, so it is important to understand how to 

protect their skin. Perhaps more importantly, pets that go outdoors can 

be exposed to harmful chemicals such as antifreeze and ice-melting 

agents or can even develop hypothermia. 

Antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Just one lick can provide 

enough toxin to cause kidney failure and death. Do not let your 

pet roam free outside, and be sure to clean up any spills from your 

vehicle. If you suspect your pet may have licked up any antifreeze, seek 

emergency veterinary care immediately.

A common ailment that many of us experience during the weather 

is dry skin. Pets can develop this on their skin as well as on their foot 

pads and in between their toes. One way to combat this is to keep your 

home humidified to counteract the hot, dry air from our closed heating 

systems. Consider wiping paws off during and after walks to remove 

any potential ice, salt, and chemicals that can build up or stick to the fur 

or between toes and cause cracks in the paw pads or redness between 

the toes. You can place petroleum jelly or other protectants into the 

paw pads before and after walks. Booties are also a good alternative if 

your pet will tolerate them. 

Do not shave your pet’s hair during the cold weather months as this 

removes the thick undercoat that is meant to shield your pet from the 

elements. Resist bathing too frequently in the winter as this can dry out 

the skin even further. If you use ice melts, look for a pet-friendly product. 

Keep pets indoors at night and during the daytime with a warm 

comfortable bed, away from drafty windows and doors. If you must 

keep your pet outdoors for any length of time, ensure you have a 

well-insulated cat or dog house that is slightly larger than the pet (large 

enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lay down), ideally with 

a flap to cover the entrance, and sufficient dry bedding. Make sure they 

have access to a fresh, non-frozen water source at all times. Consider 

dressing the pet in a coat or sweater if he or she is of the short-haired 

variety. Do not leave pets unattended in vehicles, as the vehicle 

can become very cold quickly and actually can act as a refrigerator, 

effectively holding in the cold air. 

Pets can quickly develop hypothermia in freezing weather. If you think 

your pet has a low-body temperature, you should seek veterinary care 

for them immediately. If you are going to warm your pet, use caution 

with warm rice packs, electric blankets, heating pads, and hot water 

blankets as they can cause burns. Do not leave any animal unattended 

when warming. Always monitor for signs of discomfort and increased 

redness or heat to the skin while warming your pet because of the risk 

of causing burns. 

Follow these tips to help keep your pet warm, safe, and healthy 

during the cold weather months!

Cold Weather Care for Our Pets

>> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE

Tips for Safely Handling Amphibians and Reptiles:

1. Always wash your hands after handling amphibians and reptiles or touching 

items that come into contact with them such as tanks, toys, and tank water. 

2. Thoroughly clean all surfaces amphibians and reptiles touch.

3. Wash amphibians and reptiles outside when possible, in a separate bin or 

buckets, NOT in your kitchen sink or bathtub. 

4. Keep amphibians and reptiles out of the kitchen or anywhere food is prepared 

or consumed. 

5. Don’t allow amphibians or reptiles to freely roam throughout the house.

6. Don’t kiss or snuggle your amphibians or reptiles regardless of how much you 

love them or how cute they may be. 

7. Don’t buy turtles less than 4” in length.

8. Don’t catch wild amphibians and reptiles. Only purchase these pets from 

reputable breeders and sources. 

9. Keep tanks and terrariums out of children’s bedrooms, especially if the kids are 

less than 5 years old. 

10. Never allow unsupervised play with amphibians or reptiles. 

Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/features/

salmonellafrogturtle/index.html
P3

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The Military Pet Education (milPetED) Mobile application is the one 

place Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees need to go to obtain 

animal health information, tips, and resources. 

Routine preventive care is essential to keeping your pet healthy and 

promoting longevity. As many people know, it is important to feed 

pets a healthy diet appropriate for their life-stage and to provide them 

with routine exercise to help maintain physical and mental fitness. 

However, addressing your pet’s overall health and wellness starts with 

a thorough annual veterinary exam, which should include several tests 

for preventing disease and identifying possible parasites. 

Heartworm disease, first discovered in the United States in 1847, 

was largely believed to exist only in the warm tropical climate of 

the Southeast. Over the last 50 years, Heartworm disease has slowly 

spread across the continent and has been diagnosed in all 50 states. 

This disease is spread when an infected mosquito bites your pet and 

deposits the heartworm larvae (microfilaria) under his/her skin. Over a 

6-month period, the larvae mature and migrate to the blood vessels 

near the heart where they can grow up to 12 inches in length. If left 

untreated, the worms will eventually cause lung disease and lead 

to heart failure. It is essential to have your pet tested for Heartworm 

disease yearly and administer an approved heartworm preventative 

every 30 days or as recommended by manufacturer. Heartworm 

preventatives kill the microfilaria that mosquitoes deposit under 

the skin, and many preventatives are also effective against intestinal 

parasites. Cats can also be infected with heartworms. Annual testing is 

not required for cats, but monthly heartworm preventatives are strongly 

advised. Regardless of your geographical location, the American 

Heartworm SocietyTM recommends year-round heartworm prevention 

for both dogs and cats.

Pets can be infected with both external and internal parasites. The 

most common external parasites include fleas and ticks. Fleas can make 

your pet miserable and can also result in an infestation in your home! 

In addition to being a nuisance, fleas can transmit diseases to people 

(murine typhus, cat scratch disease, plague). Ticks can also transmit 

serious diseases to you and your pet, including Lyme disease, Ehrlichia 

spp., Babesia spp., Tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. There 

are many products available for flea and tick prevention. Talk with your 

veterinarian to determine which product will work best for your pet. 

Common internal parasites include hookworms, round-worms, and 

whipworms, which are intestinal parasites and can cause diarrhea, 

weight loss, and a dull hair coat in pets. Some intestinal parasites, 

including roundworms and hookworms, can be transmitted from 

animals to people, especially young children. Your veterinarian can 

examine and treat your pet for both external and internal parasites. 

Vaccines are categorized as core and non-core. Core vaccines are 

recommended for pets of all ages and lifestyles. The core vaccines 

for dogs are rabies virus, distemper virus, parvovirus, and hepatitis 

adenovirus. The core vaccines for cats are panleukopenia virus (feline 

parvovirus), calicivirus, herpes virus, and rabies.

Non-core vaccines for pets are available and administered based 

on geographic location and lifestyle. Talk with your veterinarian to 

determine if your dog should receive the Bordetella (kennel cough), 

influenza, Leptospira, or Lyme disease vaccines. Your veterinarian can 

also help you determine if you should vaccinate your cat against Feline 

Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. While all of these 

diseases cause pets to be extremely sick and are sometimes fatal, all are 

easily prevented with a series of vaccines. Your veterinarian will create 

the proper vaccination schedule for your pet based on local laws and 

your pet’s age, risk factors, previous immunizations, and lifestyle. 

Oral health is often overlooked in our pets. Many signs of dental disease 

can be easily noted and can include a fractured tooth, bad breath, or 

difficulty eating. However, some signs of oral pain are easily hidden. 

Dental care starts at home and can be achieved by routinely brushing 

your pet’s teeth. Be sure to use toothpaste that is specifically designed 

for pets, as human toothpaste can be toxic. Gradually introduce your 

pet to teeth brushing until you are brushing each day. Regular teeth 

brushing can remove plaque and prevent tartar. Once tartar has built 

up on the teeth, a dental cleaning by a veterinary professional under 

general anesthesia is required to remove it. Many pets require a yearly 

dental cleaning to remove tartar buildup and extract any diseased 

teeth. In addition to routine care at home, discuss options for dental 

treatment with your veterinarian. 

There are several aspects of veterinary medicine to consider when 

discussing your pet’s complete health with your veterinarian. 

Addressing preventive measures including annual exams, vaccines, 

parasite control, and oral health will improve your pet’s overall health 

and wellness while reducing the risk of disease, making for a happier 

and healthier pet.

> Article contributed by CPT Aidan Wolfe, DVM, Branch Chief, Oklahoma Branch Veterinary Services

Veterinary Preventive Care

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Locate your local Veterinary Treatment

Facility at https://tiny.army.mil/r/JG66r/VTFs

Goal of publication:

• Veterinary Connections is a quarterly publication written by Army Veterinary Service personnel and published by the Army Public Health 

Center to inform and educate Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees about Animal Health, Food Safety, and One Health.

• One Health refers to the intersection and overlap between animals, humans, and the environment. 

• Army Veterinary Service personnel serve around the world supporting the Department of Defense as proponents for Animal Health and 

Food Protection.

Veterinary

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698

Goal of publication:

• Veterinary Connections is a quarterly publication written by Army Veterinary Service personnel and published by the Army Public Health 

Center to inform and educate Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees about Animal Health, Food Safety, and One Health.

• One Health refers to the intersection and overlap between animals, humans, and the environment. 

• Army Veterinary Service personnel serve around the world supporting the Department of Defense as proponents for Animal Health and 

Food Protection.

Veterinary

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

TA-349-0118 1-800-222-9698

Keeping Your Food Safe Before and After a Power Outage

Food and water are critical for our survival and ensuring food safety can 

be challenging at times. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend keeping meat, 

poultry, fish, and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 °F and frozen food at 

or below 0 °F. 

However, what happens when there’s a power outage due to flood, fire, 

national disaster, high winds, snow, or ice? Determining what is safe and 

what needs to be discarded can mean the difference between being 

at risk for a foodborne illness or not. Following the proper guidance on 

how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help 

minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne 

illness.

If you are affected by a power outage, the first factor to consider is how 

to keep food cold or frozen. According to the USDA, minimizing how 

often you open the refrigerator will help maintain cold temperatures 

for about 4 hours when left unopened and for an unopened full freezer 

approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full). 

There are certain foods that are considered safe in the event of a power 

outage: hard cheeses, butter, margarine, various fresh fruits (uncut) and 

fruit juices, jelly, peanut butter, non-dairy bakery items, and some fresh 

vegetables (uncut) are considered safe. 

According to FDA and USDA, the temperature danger zone range is 

when temperatures are between 40 °F and 140 °F. In this zone, bacteria 

grow most rapidly (doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes). 

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, 

Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter can grow at dangerous 

levels between these temperatures and can cause foodborne illness.

Any perishable food items (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and 

leftovers) that have been exposed to temperatures above 40 °F for 

2 hours or more should be discarded. You cannot rely on the visual 

appearance or odor of a food item to determine food safety and you 

should never taste food to determine if the food is safe or not.

Food items that are maintained at 40 °F or below or still contain ice 

crystals can be refrozen. However, careful physical examination of each 

item should be accomplished to determine if the items truly fall into this 

category. 

Here are a few tips for taking 

food temperatures to determine 

if food items are at a safe 

temperature or should be 

thrown away. The use of an 

“Instant Read” bimetallic-coil 

thermometer quickly measures 

the food temperatures in about 

15 to 20 seconds. 

• For liquid items, stir product 

before taking temperature. 

• Always stick the sensing tip 

into the center and/or thickest 

part of the food. 

• Take the temperature of a 

product in several 

places, 

especially in 

irregularly 

shaped items. 

• Make sure entire 

sensing area is completely submerged in the food. 

• For flexible packages or soft bulk dispensers, fold the package around 

the sensing tip of the thermometer. Do not poke a hole in the 

package. 

• For individual packages, such as small milk cartons, open one 

package and insert the thermometer. 

• For frozen foods, stick the sensing area between packages or tightly 

packed boxes. 

• Do not rest the stem or probe on a bone because this may give an 

inaccurate reading.

For a full list of refrigerated foods that are safe or should be discarded, 

please visit the USDA’s website on Keeping Food Safe During an 

Emergency at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/foodsafety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/emergencypreparedness/keeping-food-safe-during-an-emergency/CT_Index .

> Article contributed by CW4 Tony Hemphill, Veterinary Services and Public Health Sanitation Directorate, Army Public Health Center