Unresponsive, then fine...

[kendra]

I just got home, Chimney was in his hammock and not moving. I came over and talked to him, gently petted him, opened the cage, nothing made him move, started to take down the hammock (at this point freaking out- he's just started tolerating being touched, opening the cage generally at least gets some response from him). He finally got out of the hammock and to the other side of the cage.

I took him out and have him in a carrier now, he seems alright now (and none too happy being in the carrier). He was unresponsive for quite a long time- I don't know if I should take him to the vet, and if I do what should I be sure they look at/for?

It's 68 degrees, he was sleeping in his tube when I left the house 3 hours ago and was acting perfectly normal. Could he have been just sleeping really deeply? Could he have had a seizure or something?

Thank you in advance!

 

[kendra]

If it helps at all, he's on Oxbow pellets, hay. There's been no change in eating, drinking, poops look fine, haven't noticed a change in pee either

 

[tunes]

He may have been sleeping really deeply. The other thing that may have possible is a bit of a hypoglycemic episode. I would just watch him.

If he's acting normally now, I would just keep an eye on him. If he does it again, then you might want to consider a vet check.

 

[kendra]

ok, thank you Tunes! If it is a hypoglycemic episode is there anything specific to look for, or just watch for this happening again, changes in eating, changes in poops?

 

[tunes]

Most times you see hypoglycemia with exercise, but a drop in blood sugar can occur for other reasons as well. I don't know that you will see anything specific, although in the case of a seizure resulting from hypoglycemia, you would see shaking, twitching, possibly falling over, and sometimes unresponsiveness for a short period of time.

If I am worried about a chin, I always monitor them for a change in eating, drinking, and defecating, behavior, and weight. If all things are normal, then it may have just been a one time thing or a fluke.

 

[kendra]

ok, cool thanks! Just wanting to cover my bases. I'm putting some white fleece in the cage instead of the shavings to keep a better eye on droppings and such.

 

[AZChins]

I've had this happen with chins that are so deeply asleep that picking them up and taking them out of the cage doesn't wake them up. I'm glad that he's alright...

 

[addictedtochins]

I have heard that chins can sleep with their eyes open. That could be part of what was happening

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I have a couple of chins that sleep VERY soundly with their eyes open. One is 12 years old and still does it. It certainly scares the heck out of me even after all these years

 

[CJR]

To me, it sounds like he was sleeping with his eyes open. Both of my girls do that, but the one sinks into such a deep sleep that nothing will wake her until I touch her whiskers - then she's like OMG WHAT.