From being careful about what you eat to watching how you exercise, there are so many things to think about when you’re pregnant! There’s something else you have to think about too. How you’re going to care for your hamster.

Rodents, like hamsters, can carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Not only can it make you sick, it can affect your unborn baby. It can cause severe birth defects and even miscarriage.

It’s best to have someone else in your home clean the cage. Keep the cage out of main living areas, and make sure you wash your hands after you’re done handling your pet.

The biggest risk of the virus comes from wild rodents, so make sure you call a pest specialist if you have mice running around in your home or outside. To learn more, click here, or call your veterinarian Fort Collins, CO.