Depending on one's family lifestyle, the responsibility of taking care of a dog or cat may be too time consuming.

Left with the desire for a pet but time constraints that aren't conducive to a cat or dog, some people think getting a "pocket pet," reptile or other exotic animal might seem like the right solution.

"Pocket pets" are small animals, often rodents that can fit into one's pocket, such as hamsters, hedgehogs, mice, rats and gerbils. Though they are slightly larger, guinea pigs also fall under the pocket pet category.

Other exotic pets that people often turn to for companionship include baby chickens, baby ducks and reptiles such as snakes, lizards, iguanas and turtles.

"If you have kids under 5, you should be extremely careful if you elect to have exotic pets in your home," said Dr. Sharman Hoppes, an assistant clinical professor at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

"Reptiles, pocket pets, baby chicks and ducks are not always in the best health when we acquire them, making these animals more prone to be shedding salmonella."

According to the Texas Department of Health Web site, salmonella is a bacteria that is passed from the feces of people or animals to other people or animals.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after exposure.

Because of the risk of contracting a salmonella infection from an exotic pet, it is important to make sure animals are healthy when they are acquired and that they remain healthy.

Making sure pets maintain good health and are well cared for and fed can help reduce the risk of the animal carrying an infection, and lessen the chances of contracting an illness from an exotic pet.

To further reduce the chance of infection, Hoppes recommends the following.

-- Always wash hands after handling an animal -- this applies to adults and children.

-- Children should be under constant supervision when handling pets.

-- Keep animals out of the bathroom (Don't let an animal soak in the sink or bathtub).

-- Don't let the animal have free roam of the house; it can be dangerous for adults and children.

-- Teach children to avoid approaching exotic animals outdoors and to avoid bringing exotic animals found outdoors into the home.