Is my hamster a risk during pregnancy or am I being crazy?

[Olinguita]

I've just completely freaked myself out by reading an article about how hamsters and rodents can have an infection called LCVM which they can catch from wild mice, which can pose a danger to pregnant women and cause a risk of stillbirth and birth defects. I have a hamster at home and am now really worried!
It's my first pregnancy and I'm 9wks along.
I'm a huge animal lover and have always had a pet or two at home. I got the hamster before I fell pregnant. TTC was taking FOREVER and I had got to a point where I felt like it was never going to happen, so I got a pet to cheer myself up. What do you know, two weeks after the little critter arrives from the animal shelter I get my BFP.
I feel really guilty and stressed out about the whole thing now - can anyone offer any words of wisdom?
I've read all the NHS pregnancy guidelines and following them to the letter. I knew cat litter was a risk and I'm aware reptiles are a no-no if you are pregnant but hamster? I had no idea. Help??

Well surely he’s fine if he’s not been running around with wild mice! Or does he go out and get up to mischief at night

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Well surely he’s fine if he’s not been running around with wild mice! Or does he go out and get up to mischief at night

LOL imagining the little guy having a rave with local mice when husband and I are asleep! Pretty sure Mr Hamster is secure in his cage ;)

That’s pretty much what I was picturing too I’m sure he’s fine and there’s no risk but maybe clean him out with gloves on if you’re really worried!

Similar thing happened to us- was trying again for our first after a miscarriage last year and was all depressed that it hadn’t happened around Christmas time- so we put ourselves on a waiting list to get a puppy. Two weeks later- BFP!

I wouldn't worry about this at all. You'd have bigger issues if you had mice! My cat is a house cat so the litter isn't an issue but if my husband isn't home and my daughter finds the neighbours' cat's poo on the lawn I clean it up making sure not to touch it and washing my hands very well afterwards. I would handle reptiles and did in my first pregnancy (had a snake to clean out at my volunteer job) - I always wash my hands well after touching a reptile as I know they are a salmonella risk.

Just make sure you wear gloves if your cleaning the cage out 😀

Never heard of this one either! Is there a way your hamster could have caught it? Like if it’s in your house all the time how could it get it? Or can they have it from the pet shops? It must be rare as I’ve never seen it mentioned on anything before?

I've been mucking out my animals in the yard throughout my pregnancy, plus dealing with pest infestations on my poor chickens, and I'm due on Friday. All is fine. I just wear a mask and gloves when handling poo or anything else that poses a risk, and then wash up thoroughly afterwards.

Thank you so much for the replies! I feel much better now!

@Olinguita

I've just completely freaked myself out by reading an article about how hamsters and rodents can have an infection called LCVM which they can catch from wild mice, which can pose a danger to pregnant women and cause a risk of stillbirth and birth defects. I have a hamster at home and am now really worried! It's my first pregnancy and I'm 9wks along. I'm a huge animal lover and have always had a pet or two at home. I got the hamster before I fell pregnant. TTC was taking FOREVER and I had got to a point where I felt like it was never going to happen, so I got a pet to cheer myself up. What do you know, two weeks after the little critter arrives from the animal shelter I get my BFP. I feel really guilty and stressed out about the whole thing now - can anyone offer any words of wisdom? I've read all the NHS pregnancy guidelines and following them to the letter. I knew cat litter was a risk and I'm aware reptiles are a no-no if you are pregnant but hamster? I had no idea. Help??

Where is your hamster going to meet a wild mouse?

@RootyT00t not in my flat that's for sure ;) however he came from an animal shelter and was handed in by randomers in a cardboard box so I guess I was wondering about whether he'd been living in sketchy conditions. But probably a bit of a stretch that he would have been in contact with mice...

[quote Olinguita]@RootyT00t not in my flat that's for sure ;) however he came from an animal shelter and was handed in by randomers in a cardboard box so I guess I was wondering about whether he'd been living in sketchy conditions. But probably a bit of a stretch that he would have been in contact with mice...[/quote]
We had a one the other week. Bold as brass sitting against my bathroom door waving. Friendly wee thing. Still no idea how he got in.

Mice have got bold! We were besieged by one (it really was just one! The others are somewhere else in the block) in our flat last summer. Bastard climbed up our curtains while we were trying to sleep, then the next night got into my handbag and ate a blister of multivitamins

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Mice have got bold! We were besieged by one (it really was just one! The others are somewhere else in the block) in our flat last summer. Bastard climbed up our curtains while we were trying to sleep, then the next night got into my handbag and ate a blister of multivitamins

Omg don't say that.

I've only just stopped looking at the floor everywhere I go in the house

@SmidgenofaPigeon that is some nerve from those mice! Round here it's the foxes that have an attitude problem but * touch wood * no sign of mice yet!

Between the risk of LCVM from my guineas, salmonella from my snake and toxoplasmosis from my cat I truly ran the gauntlet when pregnant! I didn't worry, I'd caught none of these in the previous 35+ years so doubt pregnancy was going to increase my risk. Just be sensible and you'll be fine (and no, my midwife never suggested I got rid of any of them regardless how many times my mother brought it up!)

Oh I love my foxes 😂 they visit outside every night but they are very well behaved. Incidentally, Moussalini as we called him ended up as a fox’s dinner in the end because after weeks of sporadic besieging he did eventually meet a quick dispatch. I was sorry for it and admired his bravery but he was really putting us on edge, gnawing at doors and trying to get into the spice cupboard.

I’m sure your hamster hasn’t had any contact with mice!

Think of all the farmers' wives throughout history who had multiple children. Think of the barn mice and the farm cats and the muddy sheepdogs wandering around the farmhouse.

Wear gloves when cleaning the cage. Don't stress.