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Post by dee517 on Feb 23, 2016 16:39:42 GMT -5
Zoey is going to be eight years old this year and is in pretty good shape for her age. Last night she was not in her usual place at bedtime. She usually just comes when I call "Tone time." This didn't worry me all that much. I found her without much trouble. When I picked her up she was limp. I talked to her, I shouted at her, I rubbed her all over. She didn't respond at all. No matter what I did she would not wake up. I could hear her heart and she was warm. She just wouldn't wake up! It finally dawned on me that she was in the death sleep. I held the tone spoon under her nose and the little tongue came out the licking began and she opened her eyes. I was sure close to panic before she smelled the tone. It has been so long since we have experienced that deep sleep that I had forgotten that ferrets like to do that to us once in awhile.
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Post by smokeyoshi on Feb 23, 2016 20:48:43 GMT -5
I'd like to say that after 25 ferrets I'm used to it, but no, not so much. If it only lasted a few seconds it wouldn't be a problem, but when it goes on for 30 seconds or more you do start to freak. I've never asked, in all my years on ferret groups, if anyone has ever seen it in any other pets, but I've never seen anyone mention it. As far as I know, it's uniquely ferret. One more thing that makes them special.
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Post by huronna on Feb 24, 2016 8:10:26 GMT -5
That is enough to make ones hair turn white....is that why mine is now?
I think that is the scariest thing, even though all experiences ferret owners know about it and probably have experienced it, when it happens again, your heart just about drops to the floor.
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Post by dee517 on Feb 24, 2016 21:04:23 GMT -5
You are so right! Why do I always fall for this. I should know after 19 years of being owned by ferrets that they do that deep sleep thing and it takes what seems like forever to wake them up. I know I will always have that heart drop feeling. I think it is because I love them so much.
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Post by smokeyoshi on Feb 29, 2016 20:39:09 GMT -5
You are right too, Dee. It is because we love them so much, and none of us really know why. It just is. I don't panic so much if I find them in a safe place like curled up in a bed. I figure they can have strokes (pretty sure Prissy had one or two) but if they're flacid and alive and in bed, give it a few minutes. I sleep pretty heavily myself. We found Moe the morning after we last saw him and he was already going stiff. So warm and limp, wait a couple minutes before freaking, lol.
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Post by dee517 on Mar 1, 2016 15:19:10 GMT -5
I know you are right and I should by now not panic. When I think even for a second that one of my precious little ones is in danger the fear grips me so fast. We have had ferrets for such a long time I should not have that awful reaction any more. I still do. You are right it is because we love them so much. I still remember when my first ferret did that. It must have been at least three minutes before she woke up. I carried from her room all over the house rubbing her and shouting at her to wake up. When she did she just looked at me like "What do you want? I was sleeping."
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Post by smokeyoshi on Mar 1, 2016 20:01:04 GMT -5
totally understand. it's funny how some ferrets do it and some don't.
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Post by huronna on Mar 2, 2016 9:33:05 GMT -5
Scout doesn't go into that dead sleep yet.....but since he is deaf, I have to rattle the cage or the drawer or where ever he is, because he doesn't hear when I call. I did try that flash light, but that doesn't help if he is sound asleep.
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Post by dee517 on Mar 2, 2016 11:40:33 GMT -5
Like Scout, Zeus is deaf I have to poke him with the yardstick if he is sleeping and I need to wake him up before calling him with the flash light. I don't know what I would do if he went into the death sleep and I could not reach him. I think some things would get broken. Yes, I would break up furniture or anything else if I had to.
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