From:
Vicki Montgomery
Date: 2008-06-09 12:23:38 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Ferret death sleep,,
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Susan;
I dont think anyone knows why ferrets sometimes sleep so hard it takes a lot of effort to wake them up other than when age and/or illness is related to their need for sleep. My ferrets don't all seem to sleep that deeply (or do I just not notice all of the deep sleeps going on). Also my deaf boy does seem to deep sleep more than the hearing ferrets or do I just notice him more often because I pick up him more often while he's in that deep sleep?
Different animals even within the same species have different personal sleep needs or desires. In addition to very young or old age and illness, other factors can determine length of sleep times. Light cycles/exposure and boredom can cause a person or animal to sleep more, along with exhaustion, depression, drugs/medications, and diet.
Also, the length of time the animal is asleep can/will determine how deeply they are sleeping and how much effort is needed to awaken them.
Then there are combination effects... for instance if the animal is exhausted and in stage 4 (deep sleep) s/he should be harder to awaken than if recently well rested and just began the journey to dreamland through stage 1...
When you fall asleep you do not just immediately go into a shutdown mode and that's it until you awaken. Parts of the brain "relax" and slow down, ie the frontal lobes of your brain go to sleep first, then other parts follow etc. For waking, the process is reversed with back brain and central brain functions restored and so on until your frontal lobes again are alert.
If you are suddenly awakened while in a deep stage of sleep your frontal lobes did not have a chance to awaken properly and you are left feeling sluggish and groggy... sometimes a 5 or 10 minute nap can fix that problem by allowing your frontal lobes to "awaken".
I do not know if the same applies for ferrets, but I do assume that it does. And if so then while they are in deep sleep they will be harder to awaken. More stages to pass through to return to consciousness.
Another factor that could play a part in their being hard to wake up is that they will/do sleep in bundles/piles/groups. So a ferret is accustomed to sleeping while being stepped on, pushed over and pushed up as other ferrets come and go and wiggle in their sleep so I believe they are more likely to sleep in spite of us trying to awaken them.
Have you ever awakened a ferret and got a really dirty look from him/her or imagined that you have? They sure don't seem to like to be awakened... I don't either... so I get it. LOL
Gerald had a valid suggestion also... that they feel safe, unthreatened; and so they fall into deep restful sleeps.
Bottom line is my opinion is that ferrets have the same issues we do of what causes exhaustion and what factors influence sleep...
Hope that helped.
Vicki
Vicki Montgomery Tricks and Treats Rescue Greater Houston/Galveston Texas 713-472-6599 ferretfrenzy@yahoo.com tricksandtreatsrescue@yahoo.com
"Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace." ~ Dr. Albert Schweitzer
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