Articles labeled: unhealthy pets

So much for that cage full of African Gambian rat we wanted to get for the kids to play with. They’re like real life Pokemon!

That iguana in your son’s bedroom isn’t just a reptile. It’s also a deadly-germ machine.

So says the American Academy of Pediatrics, which warns parents that many of the “easy” pets—the ones that don’t shed, don’t need to be walked, and don’t throw up on the sofa—pose serious health threats to young children. Sigh. And here I was so ready to convince my daughter that lizards are almost as cuddly as a Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

I’m not alone. In the past few years, more and more families have turned to nontraditional pets, largely because they’re considered easier to care for than cats and dogs. But they bring with them substantial health risks, particularly for children younger than 5.