There are so many kinds of pets, and everyone has their favorite. Many people have pets at home, and some even have pets in their classroom at school. Most people have dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, or even fish. Some people have more exotic pets like snakes, lizards, turtles, and birds. Always wash your hands after playing with your pet, especially before eating.
All pets carry germs, but some carry more than others.
Birds in the parrot family, snakes, lizards, and turtles have germs on them that cause salmonella. Salmonella can make you very sick if you eat the germs. While they don't make your pet sick at all, they can make you feel very sick if you eat even a few of the salmonella germs. If you have any of these animals as pets, you should be very careful about washing your hands. You should make sure that you keep cages and bedding for your pet clean.