6/19 - Xander | AMPS 375, +6 270

[Brianna & Xander]

6/18/25

Haven't had any chance to even pop back in here to respond to comments since I made my post yesterday, but I'll respond to those in the comments here!

His numbers are sky high and I'm not sure if that's stress or a skin infection or both. The worst spot from yesterday isn't weepy or red anymore, so I think we managed to get him away from it just in time. There were a couple little spots on the opposite side that he'd already been getting at before the wrap was removed, and those are crusted over. He had the cone on all night and up until just a few minutes ago and hated it with the passion of a thousand desert suns. I haven't really been able to do anything because even at my desk he just wanted to be cuddled for comfort. Last night I ordered a potentially promising soft cone (and it turns out it's one of the ones @Staci & Ivy recommended in her comment, though I hadn't known that when I ordered it, but seems like a good sign!) I just put it on him a few minutes ago and he's not moving enough to tell if he likes it better. I'm hoping he will. It's very possible he'll get out of it, but I guess at worst we'll have to do the hard cone overnight and only have the soft one on during the day when I can monitor him.

The vet prescribed an ointment (Animax, which I afterward saw was a corticosteroid... not sure why they'd prescribe that to a diabetic cat, but... ) I don't think () that whatever it is is bad enough that it'll need to be used in large quantities or for long. His numbers are already high anyway, might as well help whatever this is go away sooner so the stress can go down too. I'm really hoping that if we give him breaks from the wrap by switching to the soft cone routinely that this won't happen again. If it does, I dunno what I'll do, because nothing has worked but the bandage wrap.

He still didn't want to jump onto his perch but when I put him up he stayed there and even turned around to look out the window, so hopefully he's at least a little more comfortable. I feel so guilty. It'll be the first time today that he hasn't been trying to meld into me for comfort.

 

[Brianna & Xander]

Poor boy Xander. We're sending lots and lots of PAWsitive thoughts and of course healing vines

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Poor Xander. Hope he heals up soon.

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Thank you, Karolina & Laurie!

 

[Brianna & Xander]

Oh Brianna I’m soooo sorry you had such an awful day and poor Xander.
The first thing I wanna suggest is a soft cone.

Those hard cones from the vet are absolutely the worst thing in the whole world. They’re just uncomfortable and they’re hard and I don’t see anything good about them.
When Ivy broke her leg two years ago she had to have a cone on 24/7, I think it was for like 2 months.

This is what I bought (yes all of them)

https://a.co/d/gy2MpI3
https://a.co/d/7fK9qOs
https://a.co/d/cL64Lm4

I must’ve bought six soft cones and rotated them depending on the time of day, or overnight, etc.
We had to keep her from licking her leg which had stitches and we didn’t need it getting infected.
It was critical that she wasn’t able to lick the leg at the surgery site.
In fact, now when I go to the vet, I take the soft come with me and sometimes they’re able to use that.

As for the Libre’s, well, it seems like sometimes when one goes downhill the rest do too.
It’s just a bad situation that you had and everything sort of spiraled

I’m so sorry I know it must’ve been so very upsetting.
I wish I could give you a big hug in person

Tomorrow will be a better day and you’ll get through this.
Some days just suck

Yeah, I reeeeeally didn't want to put him in a hard cone. It was the only thing we were able to get so quickly. But also, I had tried some soft cones (along the lines of the first two links) and he got out of them instantaneously in the past. So I knew they wouldn't work and it needed to be something effective. After how miserable he was all day, though, I ended up ordering that last one you sent (before I even saw the comment, so that's a good sign!) Hopefully he won't be able to get out of it but it'll be more comfortable.

Awww, how did poor Ivy break her leg?! What happened?

It does seem like if one in a batch goes bad they all do, doesn't it?! Are you having more problems with them getting stuck than you used to? It never used to happen at all and all of a sudden now it's like every single one. My routine hasn't changed, so it seems like it must be something about the Libres or the applicator. They're too expensive to be so unreliable. Grr.

It was definitely one of those big awful spirally days, one thing after another. Thank you so much for the links and the advice and the hug!! I'd love a hug!!

 

[Brianna & Xander]

Oh man, I'm so sorry that all of that happened ( and YES, it is a lot!!.) Nothing like your hard earned $$$$ flying out the Libre window! ACK!! Have you considered a shirt for him? I I've had success with a harness, and also with a shirt. I'll find the links for you. I thought our guy would go berserk if we put anything on him to cover the libre, but he has done shockingly well. Now I shave enough to put the libre on plus a patch (using skin tac first and letting it dry until it's tacky), then I put the little plastic cover on that I see you know about, then a libre patch, then the shirt goes on. The shirt seems most comfortable for him. He's become much less sketchy/jumpy with the shirt on and he's a lot more lovey dovey, too. Must be acting sort of like a thunder shirt. I think that the important thing is that the legs area is one big opening for both front legs. It fits snugly around his middle and holds his sensor on really well.

View attachment 562


https://www.amazon.com/Small-Dogs-F...p_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_pr_pd_hp_d_atf_rp_2_i&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XCWG4D1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

Are you using vet skin glue? Skin tac works better and is removable with rubbing alcohol. It takes zero fur off when you remove the sensor.

Hi Molly! Thank you so much for the kind words and for the advice!

We have tried shirts (and harnesses, and Thundershirts, etc etc) in the past and he gets out of every single one in seconds (except the Thundershirt, which just made him even more miserable than the hard cone did). We got some bandage wrap as an interim solution when we were desperate to at least keep it covered for a day or two and it ended up being the thing that worked the best. Up until he started getting itchy, it was perfect. It never seemed to bother him because it was right behind his front legs - no restricted movement and didn't take up much space. I'm hoping that we'll be able to go back to the wraps but regularly take them off for a bit of time to air out with the soft cone on and then put a new one on.

Nope, absolutely no glue! We just use Skin Tac and then we even use Brava spray (super gentle, used to remove sticky sensors from sensitive preemie skin in the NICU apparently) to remove the sensors when we replace them.

 

[Seth&Bell]

Oh no so sorry, I missed he had a skin infection! When I had to cone Bell for her anal gland ruptures it hurt my soulllll. The worst feeling in the world because they don't understand it. Ugh, I feel your pain. The soft ones were better than the hard cone, which Bell HATED. While my soft cones were shipping I made one out of cardboard that did ok for awhile. Hang in there! Heal up fast, Xander!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Yeah, I reeeeeally didn't want to put him in a hard cone. It was the only thing we were able to get so quickly. But also, I had tried some soft cones (along the lines of the first two links) and he got out of them instantaneously in the past. So I knew they wouldn't work and it needed to be something effective. After how miserable he was all day, though, I ended up ordering that last one you sent (before I even saw the comment, so that's a good sign!) Hopefully he won't be able to get out of it but it'll be more comfortable.

Awww, how did poor Ivy break her leg?! What happened?

It does seem like if one in a batch goes bad they all do, doesn't it?! Are you having more problems with them getting stuck than you used to? It never used to happen at all and all of a sudden now it's like every single one. My routine hasn't changed, so it seems like it must be something about the Libres or the applicator. They're too expensive to be so unreliable. Grr.

It was definitely one of those big awful spirally days, one thing after another. Thank you so much for the links and the advice and the hug!! I'd love a hug!!

Oh poor baby. He’s had such a tough few days.
I’m glad you got the soft cone and I hope it’s better for him.
Ivy hated all the cones but it went on for soooo long that she had to wear one.
I was so upset the hospital sent us home with that hard cone. There was no way she was gonna wear that awful thing.

These hospitals need to have better options to send you home with. I would have paid anything at that point.

Ivy broke her leg when she tried to jump on my (higher mattress) bed. She had always done it with no problem.
But this one day I think her neuropathy was not good, and she must have not had the strength she needed to make the jump up.
So she missed and slid down and her back leg got caught in the bed frame and broke

I immediately knew it was bad and took her to the hospital. It was a nightmare. It was Memorial Day weekend and no surgeons working.
We had to wait 3 days until they could do surgery. They put her in a splint and sent her home (many hours later).
It was a sh$@ show of 3 days. A true nightmare.
After the surgery, she had to be restricted percent. No steps, no furniture. No jumping. No climbing. Supervised when out of her room.

I had to lock her in a room with no furniture. Alas, her “condo” was born.
Her room has lots of towels and blankets, her bed, litter boxes, food and water.

I had to “create” a litter box out of a mat (no walls to climb over).
Bought a flat cat bed. No rim.
Ordered what felt like 100 soft cones. Sent back 50.
It was a verreryyyy long summer. I couldn’t leave her alone. I transitioned to working from home to be here with her 24/7.

So, that was our nightmare of the broken leg.

I bought pet steps for next to my bed but she wouldn’t go up them until about 6 months ago (about 1.5 years after her accident). PTSD I’m sure.

We’ve since altered the bed frame so she can never slip down again. I bought very thick towels and stuffed them to fill the space around the bed/frame. So, we won’t have that happen again.

The things that you never think of. Until they happen

Anyway, I haven’t noticed any issues with the Libre getting stuck lately (anti jinx).
But I have had it in the past get stuck.
(Contact Abbott and ask for replacements)

I hope Xander heals quickly and feels better with the soft cone. Give your sweet boy kisses from me please. And a big hug for you, too

 

[Madeline & Butch]

I am sorry to hear about Xander skin infection. Sending hugs and healing vines for Xander

 

[Seth&Bell]

Oh my, Staci, I never heard the story there. So sorry you both had to go through that… what an absolute nightmare, I can’t imagine especially knowing how in tune you are with her. She’s a tough cookie for sure

 

[Seth&Bell]

Also, A+ meme work in Bell’s 6/17 thread, Brianna. *chef’s kiss*

 

[Brianna & Xander]

Oh no so sorry, I missed he had a skin infection! When I had to cone Bell for her anal gland ruptures it hurt my soulllll. The worst feeling in the world because they don't understand it. Ugh, I feel your pain. The soft ones were better than the hard cone, which Bell HATED. While my soft cones were shipping I made one out of cardboard that did ok for awhile. Hang in there! Heal up fast, Xander!

I'm not even sure that it was (he may have just licked it raw but didn't reach that point yet, not really sure). It really is the worst thing when they don't know what's going on and you can't explain it! I actually stumbled across your posts about Bell when doing research on Animax and oh my GOD that poor girl! That looks 100x worse than anything Xander's going through. I don't know how you did it.

 

[Brianna & Xander]

Oh poor baby. He’s had such a tough few days.
I’m glad you got the soft cone and I hope it’s better for him.
Ivy hated all the cones but it went on for soooo long that she had to wear one.
I was so upset the hospital sent us home with that hard cone. There was no way she was gonna wear that awful thing.

These hospitals need to have better options to send you home with. I would have paid anything at that point.

Ivy broke her leg when she tried to jump on my (higher mattress) bed. She had always done it with no problem.
But this one day I think her neuropathy was not good, and she must have not had the strength she needed to make the jump up.
So she missed and slid down and her back leg got caught in the bed frame and broke

I immediately knew it was bad and took her to the hospital. It was a nightmare. It was Memorial Day weekend and no surgeons working.
We had to wait 3 days until they could do surgery. They put her in a splint and sent her home (many hours later).
It was a sh$@ show of 3 days. A true nightmare.
After the surgery, she had to be restricted percent. No steps, no furniture. No jumping. No climbing. Supervised when out of her room.

I had to lock her in a room with no furniture. Alas, her “condo” was born.
Her room has lots of towels and blankets, her bed, litter boxes, food and water.

I had to “create” a litter box out of a mat (no walls to climb over).
Bought a flat cat bed. No rim.
Ordered what felt like 100 soft cones. Sent back 50.
It was a verreryyyy long summer. I couldn’t leave her alone. I transitioned to working from home to be here with her 24/7.

So, that was our nightmare of the broken leg.

I bought pet steps for next to my bed but she wouldn’t go up them until about 6 months ago (about 1.5 years after her accident). PTSD I’m sure.

We’ve since altered the bed frame so she can never slip down again. I bought very thick towels and stuffed them to fill the space around the bed/frame. So, we won’t have that happen again.

The things that you never think of. Until they happen

Anyway, I haven’t noticed any issues with the Libre getting stuck lately (anti jinx).
But I have had it in the past get stuck.
(Contact Abbott and ask for replacements)

I hope Xander heals quickly and feels better with the soft cone. Give your sweet boy kisses from me please. And a big hug for you, too

Oh my god, Staci! What an ordeal for both of you!! That's so awful, I can't even imagine! Her poor little leg

It really sounds like everything that could go wrong did (Memorial Day weeked/no surgeons, waiting, the cone, having to set up a whole new universe for her to be in, etc)

"Nightmare" seems like an understatement! She is so lucky to have you though! I already knew you did so much for her but you've gone miles above and beyond even that. I commend you for your resilience! I think all of us here would do anything for our babies but like you said, some of these things you don't even think of until something happens.

My partner definitely wants me to ask for replacements but I'm a little nervous about it being 2 at once and they don't actually have an option for "applicator failed" on their form, just "didn't stick for 14 days." And I'd basically rather crawl in a hole filled with spiders than call. But we'll see.

Kisses and hugs received and sent back for you and Ivy!!

 

[Brianna & Xander]

I am sorry to hear about Xander skin infection. Sending hugs and healing vines for Xander

Thank you, Madeline! Hope you both have a relaxing night.

 

[Brianna & Xander]

Also, A+ meme work in Bell’s 6/17 thread, Brianna. *chef’s kiss*

lol I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Oh my god, Staci! What an ordeal for both of you!! That's so awful, I can't even imagine! Her poor little leg

It really sounds like everything that could go wrong did (Memorial Day weeked/no surgeons, waiting, the cone, having to set up a whole new universe for her to be in, etc)

"Nightmare" seems like an understatement! She is so lucky to have you though! I already knew you did so much for her but you've gone miles above and beyond even that. I commend you for your resilience! I think all of us here would do anything for our babies but like you said, some of these things you don't even think of until something happens.

My partner definitely wants me to ask for replacements but I'm a little nervous about it being 2 at once and they don't actually have an option for "applicator failed" on their form, just "didn't stick for 14 days." And I'd basically rather crawl in a hole filled with spiders than call. But we'll see.

Kisses and hugs received and sent back for you and Ivy!!

Yeah, it was bad
I’m so thankful she survived that chapter

So you could use their didn’t stick option I suppose (online) and if they ask for it back say you don’t have it. See what happens.

Then wait a few weeks and report the other one, don’t do it at same time (see how it goes with the first one)

Or, just call. I used to call all the time. (They aren’t the brightest bulbs on the phone and they can’t seem to think on their own).
They just read a script which always made me want to poke my eyeballs out

Definitely don’t crawl in a hole with spiders, that sounds even worse than dealing with the morons on the phone.

Hopefully it was just a bad fluke, and you won’t encounter another episode like that with simultaneous application failures.

It could have just been your complete overwhelming stress that took over.

With myself, I think a lot of times it’s operator error when things go wrong.
It’s because I’m completely stressed and not thinking clearly

Here’s hoping today is better for both you and Xander