This is a twofer. Can you spot the SND ferret in the picture? I would freak out if he became cold when he does this, but he's still a warm, goofy fuzz. Teddy is silver/DEW, partially deaf. I figure DFS is deep sleep that they need. If there is a correlation, then it is probably important that they get this sleep for the healing process. They may be incurably sick, but there body will still fight to maintain health. Probably not a nice thing to mess with them while they are SND. Not fair and if someone messed with me while I was sleeping like that, I'd not appreciate it.
I wish mine went into a deeper dead sleep. whenever ?I go to pick them up when they are sleeping they all spring to life! Except one time Foxy was in a dead sleep and I actually thought he was dead because he never does that. I was starting to tear up when I felt his heart beating! I about had a heart attack.
oh my gosh im so glad this is normal I remember when I first got my ferret home he fell asleep under HIS love seat (it used to be mine I swear) I screamed so hard when I found him like that and picked him and just flop nothing not even a twitch then my husband laid him flat on the floor and we saw his belly rise and fall I was still convinced he was sick lol
Danni, even when you KNOW about dead ferret sleep it's frightening! So I couldn't imagine finding one like that with never having heard about it
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
My mom recently came to visit for the first time in a couple years and wanted to squeeze the critters. I pulled Tadakichi out of a hammock and he was completely limp in a serious dead sleep, so I passed him over anyway . At first she looked shocked and disturbed, but then it gave way to "Ewww...I don't like this. How do you know he's alive??". I told her he'd be a lot colder if he wasn't, and he picked that moment to wake up and give her kisses...very reassuring!
Last Edit: Sept 13, 2012 3:21:44 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Sept 13, 2012 7:57:53 GMT -5
One of mine seems to manage to be slightly cooler to the touch when she dead sleeps.
Didn't realize I had never told my hubby about dead sleep. Then Momo did it while he was taking care of him for the weekend after his diagnosis. Scared the heck out of him. First time I leave him alone with the ferrets and one dies ;D ;D He was sure that wasn't going to go over well.
I remember one time with Boris. One of the very few times he ever did the dead sleep. It was about 2 weeks after losing Sinnead, he was depressed, and he was sick with his IBD. I went to get them out of the cage, only to find Vincent and Lucrezia curled up on TOP of the sleepy sack(which they NEVER did), with Boris inside. I pulled both of them out and put them on the floor. And pulled a totally limp, cool to the touch Boris out of the sleepy sack. You can see where this is headed. I stared for a moment, but couldn't see any respirations. One and only time I truly panicked and screamed for Cliff when I found him. Of course, my yell woke him up and he gave me a dirty look ;D
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
At least he can hear you.... ;D I can't think anything scarier than a DFS ferret who is already ill, they always give you a start and yes, I think it's a necessary part of their makeup. Those that have never found their ferret in a dead sleep may have been fortunate enough to just never have caught them. I can usually steel myself when checking my sickies, half expecting certain ones. I figure for the most part I'm "prepared" well almost....except maybe in the case of wee Lady Morgain (the only one of the UK crew that has ever been caught doing this) about 2 or 3 days after showing up on my doorstep. These were ferrets that are loud and about the instant the door to their quarantine room was opened. I had said Hi to the hobs, given everyone snuggles and went over to get Lady Morgain. I had basically made my peace with the hobs, my wee jill, she was a work in progress This little she-weasel was always hopping around and greeting me with teeth at this point (she had decided the quarantine cage was her territory and I was the intruder)...No Morgain. She has a gorgeous hanging cubby that I got in one of my orders from Rose that she's passionate about (it's her nest and I have to get some more), she was in there. There she was lying quietly I glanced at her food, still all there from the night before Touch the bottom of the nest....nothing Tentatively reach in (expecting teeth), nothing. Touch her...still nothing. Then I pick her up....absolutely nothing. I was holding a very limp, like dead weasel. I've been doing this game for years but I have to admit my heart stopped. Had the overseas flight been too long, too stressful, too long without food. Remember all my ferrets up until this point have been rescues and sickies. I checked for a heartbeat....and felt like a newb when I felt the ever so slight rise and fall of her chest. I actually got to snuggle my little girl...it was wonderful ;D but I could have done without the heartattack ciao
so tonight I was board. one of the kids, (can't tell who is who with the eyes closed), was sleeping. now this video was taken after I pestered him for 30 sec.
Last Edit: Sept 18, 2012 22:04:01 GMT -5 by Deleted
I'm so sorry but that's just way wrong ;D ;D Poor wee mite. He's going to wake up with such a headache. How these wee ones don't need a chiro is beyond me ;D ;D ciao