iceburg lettuce

Question
thanks for all the info on the iceburg, i had read it in quite a few places and been told but as you have assured must be chinese whispers but now i know different. yes she is drinking slowly not as much as she was before the op but a small amount. i am still feeding her fresh veggies to her in water for my own peace of mind. also i forgot to ask you as well, because she has such a large wound and stiches i have separated her from her sister since being home thursday so she can rest up a bit. they live in a c&c cage and i have put a grid through the middle. when do you think it will be ok to put her back with her sister and will she still recognise her or will it be like a new introdution ? her sister has been smelling her through the grid and making a few rumbling noises ??
many thanks
michelle xxx

Answer
I would her by herself until the stitches are out. Her sister is smelling the "things" that are in an operating room like Betadine, Alcohol, strange tapes and bandages and maybe a little of the anesthesia. Because she doesn't recognize what these smells are she may try to attack her as she doesn't have the 'scent of the pack'. We humans recognize things with our eyes and ears, animals go by smell. And sis doessn't smell the way she used to.

Drinking smaller amounts of water may have to do with her not wanting her tummy to be too full as it causes discomfort. I don't know if you've ever had surgery on your belly but the least little bit of stretch or gas causes pain. She will feel much better after the sutures are removed and she's able to move around more comfortably.  If she has the disolving sutures she's going to be uncomfortable until they've disolved and her muscles and nerves around them have recovered.

It typically takes six weeks for a human to heal enough to begin normal daily function, with some limitations of course. In animals it's just about the same.  So let her have her peace and quiet until she's showing evidence of being her old self again.

I'm so glad to hear she's doing as well as she is. You've been a good nurse!