#and then immediately swabs the animal's mouth for a piece of her skin

[swan2swan]

Average Jurassic Park Superfan: "The tone of the first movie is unmatched, the paleontological designs could be better, they anthropomorphized the dinosaurs too much."

Me: "My favorite scene in the franchise is in the third episode of Camp Cretaceous when a young human girl pledges her life to the reincarnation of an indescribably ancient being if it will help save the lives of two of her friends, the offering is accepted, and the kids have to spend the remainder of two shows struggling to protect the ancient creatures because they treated one of them with disrespect."

[kayr0ss]

Appointments Chapter 4: Toby’s Fate

[LWA, Diakko, Small Town AU, Fluff and Slow Romance, Pining™ lol]

Chapter 1 & Table of Contents AO3 Link

“I refuse!” Akko shook her head vigorously, biting her lip to keep herself from hissing in pain.

“You are literally bleeding!” Lotte flailed her arms in exasperation, unsure what to do with her friend and growing queasy at the sight of blood at the same time.

It happened. Lotte had warned her, and it finally happened.

Toby’s great betrayal.

Biting the hand that feeds him.

“Don’t force her if she doesn’t want to go.” Sucy casually sipped her stark-and-very-very-dark cup of coffee. They were holed up in Jasminka’s café, tucked in the corner booth that their trio called ‘home base’ on Friday afternoons. “I’ve always wanted to test a serum out on a rabies patient.”

Lotte fiercely held a finger up to her face. “Just—no.”

The little girl called Constanze (who was apparently their age—surprise!) had trotted quietly over with a glass full of ice to numb the pain and some clean napkins.

“Thank you,” Lotte supplied, still fussing over Akko’s wound.

The small girl gave them a thumbs up and then stood at the edge of the scene to quietly observe.

It was only a short moment before Jasminka arrived, phone in hand with a concerned expression. “How are you feeling? I’ve given Ms. Parker a call; they’ll be expecting you at the clinic.”

“No!” Akko whined. “No way!”

If she weren’t so worried, Lotte’s eyes could have rolled backwards into her skull. “If there was a time to swallow your pride, it would be now. I thought you and Dr. Cavendish agreed you were friends?”

“Not when it comes to Toby!”

Akko wasn’t about to go running to her friend-yet-rival’s den. No, she hasn’t forgotten what happened the week prior within the walls of this very café: the battle for Toby’s fate. Only minutes after agreeing to Akko’s declaration of friendship, the stern Dr. Cavendish called Toby a ‘danger to those around him’, most especially since he was a wild, stray cat. Akko found herself swallowing down a tirade of disapproval. It wasn’t a very convincing explanation, at least by her standards. She had no idea what anaphylaxis or atopic dermatitis meant—much less how much antihistamines cost! And so Akko had fired back, unrelenting in her mission to convince the good people of Blytonbury that this furry feline friend of hers deserved a place in the square just as much as everyone else. Amanda even backed her up, “for the heck of it—and because I think you’ve got a stick up your ass, Cavendish!”

But the doctor was resolute. She even had the gall to look good while running her mouth!

“You said that out loud,” Lotte sighed.

“Huh?” the brunette blinked.

“The gall to look good?” Sucy actually laughed.

“My point is—” Akko practically yelled, “—this is going to be so bad for all the hard work I’ve been doing to make sure Toby isn’t taken away.”

“Animal shelters were made to care for strays,” Lotte tried to placate her. “And you’ve seen it yourself, Toby actually bit you!”

“And Constanze will shoot you,” Jasminka interjected with a with an eerie smile, “if you do not make your way towards the clinic right now.”

Lotte’s eyes grew the size of saucers. “Is that a gun? Are you—do you have a license for that?!”

--

“I’m beginning to suspect that I’ll be seeing you far more often that I’d like, given all the trouble you find yourself in.”

It was probably the fifteenth time that patient Atsuko-Kagari-with-red-eyes-and-Blood-type-O+ huffed and groaned while Diana tended to her. Thankfully, the brunette had come to her immediately after the incident as immediate post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies could be a matter of life-or-death. At the side of her hand was a puncture wound, with the pinky knuckle distal to it by a few centimeters. It seems the infamous stray cat had sunk its teeth deep enough to cause a significant amount of bleeding—it didn’t help that the human hand is known to house an impressively dense network of blood vessels.

So, more bleeding.

“Cat bites actually cause more serious infections than dog bites do,” Diana quipped.

“Huh.” Atsuko winced when Diana swabbed the open wound with alcohol.

“They can likewise give you Pasteurellosis, and ‘kennel cough’—which can turn into a serious case of pneumonia. Can you press down on the area with this cotton ball?”

Her patient begrudgingly obliged, pressing the damp ball of cotton against the wound. Diana turned in her swiveling chair, discarding her soiled pair of gloves into the bin and opening a small, half-sized refrigerator. She took out an ice pack and began to wrap it in a thin towel. She placed the ice pack on the trolley beside her patient which held all her tools, and gestured for the brunette to hold out her hand before slipping on a fresh pair of surgical gloves. “You can take the pressure off now, and I’ll dress the wound.”

“I actually thought I might get scratched, but not bitten.” Atsuko admitted, looking a little sheepish.

“Most people associate cat-related injuries to abrasions by way of claw scratches, but a surprising amount—five to fifteen percent, depending on the country—of bite wounds come from cats.” Diana handed her the ice pack once the dressing was through. “Which hand do you write with?”

Atsuko blinked. “Ano—my right hand?”

“Alright,” Diana handed her the towel-wrapped ice pack. “I need you to roll up your left sleeve to expose the shoulder and ice the area.”

“What for?”

“To numb the pain.”

“Pain?!”

“I’ll need to give you shots. The two most threatening infections you could acquire from this bite are tetanus toxoid and rabies. Your medical history showed you’ve had your vaccinations, but a booster shot is usual for adults who’ve been exposed or bitten, and once every ten years.” Diana elegantly gestured towards two, small bottles which she’d taken out from the fridge alongside the ice pack. They had a small dose of clear liquid and were placed beside two unopened—menacing—syringes.

“Mou!” Atusko wailed. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you!”

Diana blinked. “Pardon?”

The brunette’s lip was sticking out in an accusatory pout. “Fine! You were right—I totally got bitten and it proves your point about Toby, and now you’re totally prepared as if you saw it coming a hundred miles away.”

She was taken aback, blinking at her patient and unsure how to proceed. “I…” she dropped her gaze towards the tray of surgical equipment, “I thought that your insistence on pestering the cat might have ended up in a bite anyway, and didn’t want to take the risk of being unprepared in case you’d need it.”

“Ack,” Atsuko looked like she wanted to facepalm, and then gave her a small, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry—you’re right. That was a bit bratty of me.”

“Apology accepted.”

“So…” the brunette deliberate drawled out. “How long is this ice pack thingy gonna take before it does its magic? Because my arm is getting cold!”

“Around ten minutes,” Diana succinctly replied. “Rabies VIS is introduced intradermally.”

Her patient simply stared expectantly.

“Into the skin rather than the muscle, which is unfortunately much more painful.”

Atsuko sighed, resigned to her fate. “Well, thanks… I guess.”

“Hmm?”

“For, you know.” She huffed, putting on an expression that said ‘this is so difficult to admit!’. “Being prepared so I don’t get rabies.”

Diana blinked, and then actually found herself chuckling. “I’d be a painfully substandard doctor to do otherwise.”

“Which reminds me, you’re a… what kind of doctor are you again?”

She realized she didn’t actually know how to respond to Atsuko, seeing as this seemed to be their first ‘civil’ conversation. “I’m currently a general practitioner.”

“Yeah?”

Diana simply nodded to say, ‘that’s it.’

At the very young age of twenty-five, she’s only had her license and practice for a little over a year. The whole point of moving to Blytonbury was aligned with her objective of securing a residency in cardiology at the LNU’s SBM Medical Center—but that was still subject to change, and general practice gave her enough all-around experience to get a feel for where she might want to go.

“Well,” it seems the brunette decided to take reins of the conversation, “I’m studying at LNU—as you already know, and for the record I haven’t been late since!”

Cue Diana’s eyeroll.

“I finished music school, but I’m taking a post-graduate degree in Humanities so I can qualify as a university-level professor someday.”

“Oh.” Diana perked up, completely blindsided by this new piece of information. A professor?

“Apparently you can’t just teach music class cause you’re good at it, you need a higher degree.” Atsuko sighed dramatically. “Humanities units, and like—even units in science and math and later on I’ll need to take some education classes. But guess what—” her entire body language changed from disdain to excitement, “—I actually picked going here cause they have one of the best lecturers for ‘Enhanced Practice in Music Teaching and Learning’, but that’s still a few semester down the line for me—"

“That’s really specific.” And completely foreign to her. She’d had piano lessons at most, but life after high-school was simply consumed by the never-ending demands of medical education.

“—so for now I’m just taking two subjects and maybe join the running club.”

The running club?

A little idea had bloomed merrily (deviously?) in Diana’s head. “You’re familiar with Dr. Meridies, aren’t you?”

Atusko nearly shuddered, “my crazy-ass Physics professor?”

Diana checked her watch, noting it had been ten minutes. “Yes.” She motioned for her patient to settle the ice pack down. “What are the chances of you being able to convince her of occasionally joining the running club’s engagements?”

The brunette looked at her like she grew two heads. “Like—zero!”

She didn’t mean to do it on purpose—she really didn’t—it just so happened that this conversation coincided with the needles part of this appointment.  

“I’m not at liberty to discuss the particulars, but I believe that some form of exercise will be great for her health.”

She opened a sterile pack and fit the needle to the syringe. She then flooded it with the first vaccine’s fluid.

The brunette was still shaking her head, arms crossed. “I think I’ve even seen her trip going up stairs! I don’t know about running club.”

Diana held the syringe up against the light, giving it a small push to make sure the liquid was flowing.

Atsuko was watching apprehensively.

Diana flicked away any air bubbles and gave her patient a look. “I’m sure you can find a method to persuade her.”

--

“So what did you tell her?” Lotte peeked from behind another one of her literature tomes.

“Hell no!” Akko scoffed. “I’m sure Sucy and I have told you enough about Dr. Meri-death to know she’d never come near the running club, much less from my suggestion!”

The pair of them were sitting on a wooden park bench, shielded from the morning sun by a sprawling canopy of branches and leaves. They were facing the practice field where Amanda was wrapping up the Tuesday morning football club, to be followed by lunch which Lotte had volunteered to prepare.

Without Sucy’s help, she reassured.

They were having a small celebratory picnic today—Akko had finally landed herself a job! Finally!

“Looks like Amanda’s through,” Lotte squinted into the distance. “Let’s find a good table so it’ll be all set up when she joins us.”

The nearest picnic table was conveniently unoccupied, and Akko busied herself with the setting the tablecloth and cutlery upon Lotte’s insistence to ‘handle anything that could spill or break herself.’ They had sandwiches and a platter of roast beef (“Yay meat!”) with mashed potatoes on the side. A cold jug of orange juice had left a ring of dew on the table dressing almost immediately, and—what was taking Amanda so long? Akko was absolutely famished.

“Oh man, now that is a sight to behold right after training!” As if on cue, Amanda walked over, face still damp from freshening up with a towel draped around her shoulders. “Juice!”

“Leave some for us!” Lotte nagged, watching in horror as the other woman a downed a full glass in two seconds.

“So,” Amanda grinned, landing a heavy slap on Akko’s back while she wiped her mouth with the back of the her other hand. “You’re finally my colleague, Kagari! The lady subbing for music class all but knelt in gratitude when I gave her the news.”

“Makes me wonder what I’m getting into,” the brunette laughed to hide how painful that slap actually was.

Coaching aside, Amanda was a physical education instructor at the local Arcturus School. It was a relatively well-off institution, and unsurprisingly a subsidiary of LNU (who had some stake in its management). Akko being a student of the University made her a preferred candidate, and alongside Amanda’s recommendation getting the job felt like an easy win. Apparently, the former music instructor was swept off her feet in a whirlwind romance, dropping in snap to get married in Spain—or at least, faculty room rumors said so.

“So what’s your schedule?” Lotte inquired while she served them a hefty pile of potato.

“Thanks,” Akko smiled, “Mondays, right Amanda? And Fridays. Both morning classes.”

“You’ll still push through with running club?”

“Professor Ursula seems hella cool, so why not!”

Why the hell not indeed? Life finally felt like it was falling into place and Akko was determined to seize the day. Although school was beginning to become burdensome (the devil invented physics research papers), the recent acquisition of a job took away a big portion of Akko’s worries. The fact that it was something she genuinely enjoyed doing was a bonus that tasted as sweet as ‘dango.’

Damn, she grumbled to herself. Now she was craving for dango.

However—there was but one teeny-weeny furry problem left: Toby’s fate was still up in the air.

“I’m so bummed out that I can’t keep pets any place!” the brunette groaned.

“Even after everything he put your through last week?” Lotte asked, perplexed.

“To be fair,” Akko rubbed at the back of her neck, “he bit me cause I stepped on his tail by accident. But he’s usually really sweet!”

Lotte looked sympathetic. “He’s going to get picked up anyway once the authorities notice him loitering more often.”

She knew that, if she was being honest with herself; she only hoped it would be later than sooner. Akko thought the affection she developed for the cat would be a fleeting affair but oh did she completely fall for him the first time he rubbed against her legs and went ‘mew!’ So typical of her. Kami-sama.

“Might end up with someone within the neighborhood,” Amanda mumbled through a mouthful of beef. “And for the record,” she started laughing, “Constanze’s gun is a toy—Jas told me about last Friday. She’s really good at building replicas!”

Lotta was about complain when Amanda sat up in attention, her spoon pausing mid-air while she squinted towards something—or someone?—in the distance. “Is that Mr. Langdon? Is he actually going out for a jog?”

Akko craned hair neck. The name sounded familiar somehow, and soon she made eye-contact with a grumpy-looking man she remembered meeting at the pharmacy a few weeks ago. “Oh!” She beamed, giving him a lively wave a blinding smile. To everyone’s surprise, he actually smiled back.

That was when she noticed… it.

The smile fell from her face completely. “No.”

“What’s wrong?” Lotte followed her line of sight. “I don’t see anything.”

Dread filled Akko’s stomach, which dropped like lead. An off-white van which resembled an ambulance cruised at a leisurely pace along the Central intersection. It was headed towards the old oak tree and it looked like a rescuer was keeping an eye out for strays.

‘Appleton County Animal Shelter’ was painted on its side, and before she knew it Akko had bolted up from her seat in the bench.

“Akko!” Lotte squealed.

“I’ll be back real quick!” Akko was already off to a soft jog, heading towards the edge of the park following the vehicle’s slow place into the main streets.

“Unbelievable,” Lotte blinked.

Amanda looked at the bespectacled woman, at Akko’s plate with interest, then back at her again.

“Think she’ll still eat that?”

--

“By the oak tree, yes.” Diana spoke into her phone in a clipped, professional voice. “I think I see you.”

As promised, Appleton County Animal Shelter’s van was coming into her street from the Central intersection. Despite how determined she was to have the shelter pick up the feline source of her headaches, she didn’t particularly enjoy having to send him away. But this was a must—a cat couldn’t be loitering outside the medical clinic.

“Well, off you go I suppose.”

The cat—oh, blast it, he’s going to leave anyway—Toby, so he was named, had followed her from the clinic to her apartment, where she was supposed to enjoy an extended lunch. She tried to shoo him away, going as far as talking to the little fellow (“Please stop following me. I have nothing to offer you.”).

He just looked so… polite.

But Toby stuck around regardless, and she figured now was as good a time as any to call the shelter. Still, there was some hesitation if she were to be honest, and she wasn’t sure why. When the van finally pulled over in front of her apartment, she wondered how that woman would take the turn of events.

“STOP!”

A shrill voice pierced through the rumble of the van’s engine, and in a sharp motion Diana turned towards its source.

Speak of the devil, she blinked. The rescuers likewise had to shake themselves from their stupor, surprised to see a small, brown-haired woman stomp towards them with murderous conviction.

And a pout.

Which, by all accounts, was rather disarming.

“Atsuko,” Diana greeted in a careful voice.

“How could you!” the brunette wailed. “It’s a good thing I saw the van from the park and followed it—no surprise to find it here!”

“From the park?” That was ridiculous! “You followed it?”

“Yes, and just in time.” Atsuko turned the ‘disarming’ pout towards the rescuers. “You’re not going to take him, are you?”

The men looked between Atsuko and herself, and Diana raised an eyebrow as if to assert authority.

“I’m sorry miss,” the man finally spoke, “but we can’t leave him in the street.”

“Can’t I keep him?” her lower lip was trembling now.

“Does your building have a permit for pets?”

Then Atsuko’s eyes began to glisten, and Diana already knew the answer because if the other woman did they wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.

“I’m really sorry,” to his credit, the rescuer looked sincere. “But we can take care of him better than if he stayed in the streets.”

Diana pensively watched the brunette’s shoulders droop. Atsuko blinked back tears, coming down to a squat and opening her hand towards Toby. She felt the need to call out and remind her to be careful, but then was surprised to see Toby nuzzle adoringly against her palm, looking content and wholly familiar.

“Heya, Toby.” Akko snuffled. “I got a job. I’ll work hard and find a better apartment.”

Toby purred.

“I promise to come get you.”

Diana would be lying if she said this didn’t pull a heartstring. Just one, and just a little bit.

“I forgive you for biting me!”

The blonde crossed her arms, determined to keep her composure. She didn’t understand why but she was beginning to feel like sending the animal rescuers away. They were so intrusive to Akko and Toby’s moment.

Huh. She blinked. Akko.

“Yes?” Akko turned towards her.

She said that out loud? Good grief. It was the first time she ever used that nickname since learning it. She was also not prepared to be on the receiving end of wide, watery, and vibrantly red eyes.

Puppy-dog eyes.

She looked between Akko, and then to Toby who was licking his paw and looking infuriatingly polite. Then finally she looked at the rescuers for some sort of support. They held up their hands and shrugged as if to say ‘we’re staying out of this for now!’

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she finally blurted out.

“Like w-what?”

Was it just her imagination or did Akko’s eyes grow even wider? Her lip was trembling again and for some reason the expression was making her feel helpless. In a rare stroke of impulse she blurted out: “My building has one.”

Akko could have cried. Diana decided she might need to phone a psychiatrist friend later.

“You’ll keep him?”

“Until you can you move somewhere else,” she replied as disinterestedly as she could. Was it the stress? What on earth was she doing?

“I don’t know what to say!” The brunette stood up to face her, taking both of Diana’s hands in a gesture of thanks, practically crying now.

She stepped backwards, warily looking up from their hands back to Akko’s face. “Space, please.”

Akko relented, scooping Toby up into her arms and up in the air. Even the rescuers looked pleased at how it all turned out. They gave her a thumbs up each.

Diana wanted to pinch herself. Or maybe slap herself. Was she seriously doing this?

“You have a home now!” Akko squealed.

Apparently, yes.

-

fin

-

A/: Holy guacamole am I excited to share this with you! It's been written and re-written three times over, but now I've finally found a version of it that fits the plot I've outlined for this fic! I'm sorry it took so long - life has changed for me drastically since the last update. And honestly there's an overwhelming amount of self-doubt cause I really wasn't sure if I still had it in me to write at the same level of quality I used to - but ya know what, heck it, I freakin' love Diakko and I've grown to love this town and world I've written here.

A bit of a sidenote but I've been reading solid fics (looking at you @theamberissubtle) and kind of just gushing and screaming "LORD HELP ME" in giddiness every few lines and admittedly I haven't felt this invested in a while, so I'm just glad to be here again, fan girling over panicked gays that I love so, so much.

As I've mentioned in previous notes, I've started graduate school how the central them of 'learning' and the 'academe' is probably so prevalent in this fic and that's probably why. I'm dying of papers and research, but work is suspended in the meantime, so while that sucks, I at least have time! Man I really missed writing like this.

ALSO PLEASE ONCE AGAIN I'm not a doctor (but funfact my mom is and she also has an animal bite center, lol) so please don't treat animal bites according to this fic. I DID try to be as accurate as possible but CALL A REAL DOCTOR. Wow this is a really long notes section I'M SORRY and FOR THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS I WILL BE SERVING, UH... *reads from my hand* BUCKETS OF PINING

LAST - Is anyone else here a member of that ridiculous ant colony group? It has been giving me so much damn emotional support. L I F T

I luvyu!

[thepriceisrizzoli]

not people

Filling a prompt from socks-lost about wanting to see Maura struggle with a panic attack after Killer in High Heels.

The tile feels cool on Maura’s forehead. 

Normally, she would shudder at the thought of the petri dish jungles that would grow as a result of a bacterial swab of this tile. But all that matters right now is that its coolness feels a little bit soothing.

What’s the event, even? Something for charity, but which? It doesn’t matter. These functions are all the same. Polite small talk, pledge money, move on. Manageable. She’s been doing it all her life.

Then her eyes had settled on the glass in her hand, and she couldn’t remember for certain who she’d accepted it from, or what might be in it, or if she’d already sipped any of it. 

And then suddenly, there were too many unknowns. Too much sensory input to cope with. Too many strange faces, and the backs of heads were almost worse. Too many people, too close, too loud. Every conversation in the room blending into one overwhelming drone. A dozen different perfumes and colognes choking her. Even the seams of her dress seemed to shrink, digging into her skin and restricting her breathing.

She really hopes she hadn’t made a scene on her way to the restroom. It wasn’t empty, and holding herself together for the extra thirteen steps it took to reach the privacy of this end stall was almost more than she could bear. The tears had burst from her before she even turned around to lock the door, quickly ruining the makeup she promised herself she wouldn’t have to reapply.

If only she could disappear without having to speak to anyone or be seen by anyone. Just blink and magically be at home. She feels pathetic and afraid and helpless in this little cell, which is as much like a cage as it is like temporary safety from the entire world. Though initially a relief, the solitude is now ringing in her ears as loudly as the cacophony of the crowd had. 

It’s only after a few breaths that she realizes part of that cacophony she had fled was Jane saying her name.

Jane is out there. Her plus one. Totally out of her element and only here to be supportive. She has every right to come bursting in here, complaining about being left stranded out there in a dress she hates, with a bunch of stuffy strangers, at a function she has no interest in.

Fresh tears spill at the realization that she’ll have no emotional energy to deal with that. Maura had run into this bathroom like a scared little animal looking for a crevice to crawl into, and if Jane reaches a hand in after her, she doesn’t know what she might do except shut down, or maybe bite.

The hand dryer goes off, exposing the sharpness of her breathing to the echoing quiet. She covers her mouth, eyes stinging and lungs burning from trying to silence her sobs. Over by the sinks a couple of younger women laugh, and even though she knows it’s not about her, somehow it sounds like it is. 

Door hinges. Maura recognizes the new set of footsteps even in the dialect of heel clicks instead of their native boot stomps. Then there they are in the little gap under the door: the sage almond pumps she picked out with Jane forty hours earlier, just to match a dress she’ll never wear a second time.

She braces.

“Maura?”

"Hm,” is all she can say without revealing her state.

“You okay?” Jane sounds... gentle.

How nice lying must be. She could say yes and Jane would go away and this would be one step closer to being over.

“I jus-st need a minute.”

She squeezes her eyes shut, holding her breath, too close to having her little bubble breached.

“Okay.”

The shoes disappear. Somebody runs the dryer and she can breathe again.

A minute later, something wedges in the crack of the stall door. A piece of paper.

Unfolding reveals it as a torn off piece of the glossy program she was handed when she entered the event. Her tears slow as she tries to understand the words written on it.

If you want company but don’t want to say a word, text me 1.

Company but I don’t talk either - 2

Stand over here and keep the dryer running - 3

Immediate escort off the premises no questions asked - 4

You need to be alone - 5

Anything else - name it. I have your back.

She has to read it four times before absorbing it, but once she does, it’s like a light turns on. 

Panic told her she was all alone. It had her lumping Jane in with people.

There is some whining and teasing, yes. But when something serious is happening, there could be no one more ferociously on her side than Jane Rizzoli. She has it all. Cop authority. Friend comforts. Big sister powers. She’s her go-to for anything and everything.

Jane isn’t people. Jane is Jane.

She finds her phone in her purse.

1.  Send.

Feet reappear within fifteen seconds. There is no knock.

She unlatches the door, opening it to find a soft smile waiting. It makes her wonder how awful she must look.

Despite the premise of the text she just sent, the first thing she does is start rambling.

“I just don’t kn-now wh-   I don’t know! I don’t know.”

Giving up on expressing herself, she pushes into Jane’s arms instead, repeating herself uselessly.

Jane walks them a step into the stall and pushes the door shut with her elbow. “Okay,” she wraps her arms around Maura and leans a cheek on her head. “Okay.”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t know who an-nyone is. I don’t-”

“You know me.”

Maura goes quiet, breathing hard. 

“Nobody’s here but you and me.” 

Jane's hand moves up and down her back. 

“You’re safe. I know it doesn’t feel okay, but it will be. We’ll just hang out here as long as it takes to feel more okay. And then we’ll go home. You don’t have to talk to a single person. Okay?”

Maura nods with a hiccupy sigh.

“Okay. Now just breathe with me.”

It takes time to realize that this isn’t a hug. It’s shaped like a hug, but a hug would’ve lasted just long enough to express sympathy, and this is not ending. This is a hold. And it makes her feel protected, and not alone. And it feels devastatingly good to just hide in and cry like there’s no time limit. Jane’s hands hold her securely, rubbing soft circles on her back. It helps calm her enough that when she opens her eyes again it’s almost a surprise to remember where they still are. If only it could continue this way, but at home instead of in a public bathroom stall.

She can’t tell how long they’ve been in there, but it’s probably been too long. Begrudgingly, she peels herself out of the embrace.

“Everything...  just..”

“Got cranked up to 11 all of a sudden?” Jane finishes quietly. “And all you wanna do is teleport home and curl up in a dark room and shut off.”

Maura heaves a sigh. “Yeah.”

"Let’s teleport.”

“Oh... I haven’t excused myself,” she realizes with a near-sob. “I didn’t say goodbye to our hosts.”

“I took care of it,” Jane shakes her head.

“What did you say?”

“I said something came up that required our attention and that you sent your appreciation and regrets and blah blah blah, it was fine. They think you left already. No one’s looking for you.”

Relief floods through her.

That’s why, come to think of it... Maura was in here for at least a few minutes on her own. It hadn’t occurred to her to wonder why Jane hadn’t followed her immediately. She was out there smoothing over the situation, keeping anyone from following, making it less like a scene.

“Okay. Here’s the exit strategy: I’m gonna lead you out the door in full hockey gear. Anybody tries to talk to you, I body check them into the ice sculpture. It’ll be ladies screaming, monocles falling into champagne flutes-”

A laugh jumps from her throat, small but unexpected enough to come out sounding as much like a cough. Jane sounds pleased to have earned at least that.

Her actual suggestion is to bring the car around to the service exit, and then come back to escort her out.

After making the best of her face, Maura follows Jane out, letting herself be led by the hand. She feels like a small child being helped to cross a street, but somehow in this context it’s reassuring instead of condescending. 

She pushes through half a set of double doors, holding it open for her. 

The voice is immediate, and male. 

“Excuse me, ladies, but this area-”

“Boston police,” Jane barks without slowing or even altering their course, even though he is directly ahead of them. “Clear the exit.”

In her peripheral vision Maura can see the man - kitchen staff maybe - stepping aside, showing his palms in disinterested surrender. Not paid enough to stand in the way and be bulldozed. She notices how Jane is angling herself to block her from view as much as is casually possible as they move past.

She focuses on Jane’s shoulder blades, visible thanks to her updo and the low-ish back of the dress she’d talked her into. Imagining her instead in hockey gear almost brings a smile to Maura’s face.

Something about the safety of the car makes her start crying again, and to her relief, Jane simply lets her.

- - -

The next time she looks at the clock, it reads 12:41. 

She must have fallen asleep. She wants nothing more than to fall back asleep, but something is nagging at her... besides the fact that she’s fallen asleep in her makeup. 

It’s Jane. Jane protected her and drove her home, but she doesn’t recall saying a single word to her since they left that bathroom. No effort to be appreciative or even hospitable. Her only goal upon arriving home was tearing off that dress so she could finally breathe and crashing in bed just long enough to catch her breath.

Her eyes move across her bedroom, dimly lit by the light of her closet filtering through its slatted door.

Her dressing table. Her nightstand. Legs on the bed. 

Legs on the bed?

Jane is lying on the bed next to her.  Propped up halfway on pillows, and with hands folded neatly over her stomach, she looks more like she’s waiting than sleeping.

“Hey,” she says, and Maura jumps slightly even though her presence is not a surprise. Her nerves feel shredded.

“Sorry,” Jane adds quickly. “It’s just me. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to be alone.”

Maura rubs her eyes. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Nah, that’s exactly what you needed.”

She feels more settled now, though exhausted and embarrassed... however with Jane here to look out for her, it’s not so terrible. Being that vulnerable in front of someone she trusts feels nice, in a way.

“Do you? Want to be alone?”

Apologetically excusing Jane is her first instinct, but she pauses. Going back to sleep sounds nice, but having Jane there sounds even nicer. Her presence is so calming.

“No.”

"’kay.” Jane sits up and pats a little folded pile on the foot of the bed. “I grabbed some pajamas for you.”

“I’m alread- oh,” glancing down, she realizes she was in such a hurry to get out of that dress that she never put anything else on, and is still just in underwear. Hopefully she was the one who pulled the bed sheet over herself. 

That’s what makes her check to see what Jane is wearing, if not still her dress from the benefit. She’s found one of the old tees and sweats of her own that are always stashed in Maura’s drawers.

"Let me go get you a glass of water,” Jane smirks.

Getting ready for bed gives Maura her second wind. That little crash helped recharge her at least to the point where she can think again - not necessarily a good thing - and now she doesn’t feel like trying to go directly to sleep.

They end up in their go-to place for processing: the couch. Side by side, they just sit in silence for a little while.

Earlier it was all just a tornado of raw data, but now she’s starting to be able to organize it and analyze what had happened. 

“I feel so ridiculous.” Her voice still sounds congested.

“You aren’t.”

“But there was no real threat at all. Am I that afraid of a dead man?”

“You wouldn’t be the first.”

Jane doesn’t talk about Hoyt that much, but Maura knows that’s what she means.

Neither of them really fear dead men. What they fear is that those men weren’t unique. There are more of them in the world - it’s a statistical certainty. There’s just no way of knowing which they are. 

That’s where she’d lost it at the benefit tonight. All those smiling faces, each one Schrödinger’s acquaintance. Simultaneously a pleasant conversationalist and potential catastrophic threat to her safety, her sanity, her life. 

“I keep doing the math. The number of new people I tend to encounter in an average work week - the prevalence of violent crime and psychopathy and-”

“Hey,” Jane says, shushing softly. “I know, but we’ll talk about it tomorrow.” 

Maura allows herself to lean to the side when pulled, and Jane shifts enough to put her chin on top of Maura’s head. It feels warm and safe and reassuring, like the way puppies must feel when they sleep all together in a pile.

“You’re home. You’re safe. You don’t have to think about anything else.”

She closes her eyes, but something is keeping her from totally relaxing. Jane must think she’s much worse off than she is, and to not correct her feels kind of deceptive.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?”

“I know you don’t like hugging people. I’m not in danger. I’m not in distress anymore... I just like the company.”

She feels a little breath come out of Jane’s chest, like that had been amusing.

“You’re not people.”

Well... in that case, maybe it’s okay to wrap her other arm around Jane’s waist and relax against her. She does, and Jane retaliates with what she’s at least ninety-six percent sure was a kiss on the top of her head.

It gives her a thousand additional questions, but those can be answered later. Right now the important thing is that everything feels safe. And this hug - no, hold - is lasting so long that the only way she can even tell Jane’s awake is the little intermittent back-and-forth thumb near her shoulder.

She's falling asleep on the couch. On Jane. 

She does absolutely nothing about it.

[buoyantsaturn]

come back to me (1/1)

for eli @the-forgotten-traveller happy birthday bud!!!

summary: “Nico?” Will started, and the other boy froze. “Is that a kitten on your shoulder?”

word count: 1,356

read on ao3

Nico had never been more terrified in his life than when he felt something clawing at his leg in the middle of a shadow. If there had been any point to screaming, Nico probably would have, but seeing as shadows are pretty much equivalent to the vacuum of space, Nico was usually too afraid to even open his mouth, lest the air be taken out of his lungs before surfacing on the other side.

Even so, the fear had other effects. First, Nico had lost his footing when emerging from the shadow and landed flat on his back, getting the wind knocked out of him. Second, while he had been planning on landing right next to his bed in his cabin so that he could immediately fall asleep, Nico found himself somewhere in a vaguely familiar woods.

Third, he could still feel the claws digging into his leg, and frankly, he was terrified of looking down. Steeling his courage and grabbing the hilt of his sword, Nico sat up and stared down at - the kitten trying to tug its claws out of Nico’s pant leg.

Nico released his breath in relief, and reached down to gently remove the tiny claws from his skinny jeans. Once the kitten was completely removed from him, Nico picked up the tiny animal and placed it a few feet away from him before turning to walk away.

Only a few steps later, the kitten jumped on top of Nico’s sneaker, and would’ve been kicked quite a distance if Nico hadn’t immediately noticed. Nico froze, staring down at the kitten as it stared back up at him with big yellow eyes. In a second, he slipped his foot out from under the kitten and continued walking.

The kitten seemed to disapprove of his choice, however, when it jumped onto the back of Nico’s leg, the same one it was attached to before, sinking its claws in just as deep as the last time.

Nico just barely held back from crying out in pain and surprise before reaching back and pulling the cat off of his leg. Of course, he didn’t want anything bad to happen to this little creature (he’s not a monster) but this kitten was starting to get on his nerves. Nico carried the cat over to a low-hanging branch and placed the kitten in the tree, hoping that this would at least keep the cat from coming after him for a few seconds.

Of course, as soon as Nico walked past this branch, the kitten jumped out of the tree and onto his shoulder. Nico had no choice but to admit defeat.

Thankfully, Nico had only ended up in the woods just outside the camp’s borders, and it was only an hour’s walk from the central green of the camp. However before he could sleep, he needed to find somewhere to put his kitten, and clearly leaving it in the woods wasn’t an option. By the time he had emerged from the woods, though, Nico felt like he needed to stop at the infirmary. No, this was not because a certain son of Apollo had caught his eye recently and had said that whenever Nico felt like he was even at a ninety-eight instead of one hundred, he should stop by. This was because Nico was worn out from shadow traveling and the infirmary was closer than his cabin, and the little monster that had been riding on his shoulder for the last hour had decided to scratch and bite at every available piece of Nico’s skin to entertain itself.

Nico trudged the last hundred yards to the infirmary, spotting Will sunbathing on the ground outside. Like he needs to get tanner, Nico thought, and jumped when the kitten bit the skin next to his eye.

“Ow! Holy shit, get off of me!” Nico nearly shouted at the cat, moving the pull the thing off his shoulder, only to feel the kitten’s claws digging into his skin once again.

Will, who had heard Nico’s cry, had sat up and was watching the scene unfold in front of him with a small smile.

Will rose from his seat on the ground and approached the other boy, still struggling with the kitten. “Nico?” Will started, and the other boy froze. “Is that a kitten on your shoulder?” As Will moved closer, he noticed first the many scratches and bite marks on Nico’s skin, and second the pink tint to the boy’s cheeks when Will gently disentangled the kitten’s claws from Nico’s shirt. “Oh my gods, she’s adorable! Where’d you find her?”

Nico hated that bright, open smile that Will always seemed to have on his face. Or, well, he hated that it was never directed at him, only stupid things like that cat.

“Those scratches on your face don’t look too good,” Will said when Nico only shrugged. Will deposited the cat onto his own shoulder, then reached for Nico’s wrist, pulling him along toward the door of the infirmary. “C’mon, I’ll help you with those.”

Nico’s face only got redder until Will practically pushed him to sit down on the first open cot. “Stay right here,” he said, “and I’ll be right back to clean out those scratches.”

It wasn’t a minute later that Will returned, hands full of bandages and antibacterial wipes, and shoulder free of a cat.

“I passed her onto Kayla, I hope you don’t mind,” Will started, and Nico shrugged again. “I figured you wouldn’t want any more scratches while I’m trying to fix up the ones you already have.”

Will had started cleaning out one of the scratches before he spoke again. “You know, you can’t be silent all the time, you’re gonna have to talk to me eventually.”

“Sorry,” Nico muttered, looking away from Will’s - incredibly close - face.

“You don’t have to be sorry, either, you know.” Will continued cleaning, pressing an alcohol-soaked cotton swab a little too hard into one of the worse scratches, causing Nico to hiss. “Sorry! Sorry, I should’ve warned you.”

“You don’t have to say sorry,” Nico copied, barely meeting Will’s eyes, trying for a smile and hoping that Will realized it was supposed to be a joke. The blinding smile Nico received in reply almost made him melt.

“So, you still never told me where you found that kitten,” Will said, returning to his work.

“It attacked me,” Nico mumbled.

“Attacked you? And c’mon, Neeks, she, not it." Nico frowned, and Will laughed. “So I’m assuming you don’t have a name for her then, right?”

“Is pain in my ass a sufficient name?”

“No! How could such a sweet little kitten deserve that?”

“It attacked me while I was shadow traveling! That’s never happened before! It scared the shit out of me!”

Will frowned. “Nico, you know I don’t like it when you do all your Underworldy stuff so often.”

“So what, I’m supposed to get a plane ticket every time I want to visit Hazel?”

“You’re going all the way across the country in one trip?” Will exclaimed. “Nico, you’re going to kill yourself!”

“I’m fine!”

“You’re not! And you know what, after I finish with these scratches, you’re staying here overnight. I’m going to watch over you to make sure you’re actually resting, too, and if you try to leave, you’re getting another day. Doctor’s orders.”

“No! Solace, you’re not even a real doctor!”

"And you’re going to call me Will. Got it?”

The two stared each other down for a few long moments before Nico finally gave in. “Fine, got it, whatever.”

Will returned to his work.

Kayla, watching from just outside the room and holding the kitten in her arms, regarded the boys’ exchange. When the two finally quieted down, Kayla watched as they each stole glances when they thought the other wasn’t looking, and after a few seconds, she stepped away from her vantage point.

“Maybe you’ll finally be the thing that gets those two together,” she whispered to the kitten as she scratched its head. “And if it doesn’t happen in the next week, I owe Austin three drachmas.”

thanks for reading!!

(my birthday’s coming up soon too so:) buy me a coffee | more solangelo event stuff

[unholyhelbig]

Prompt- Beca needs to go to get a check up on her arm from the dog bite. Aubrey takes her to the check up, they both later talk about were!chloe and how Beca feels about it.

[A/N: I’ve been quick to notice that there are super light parts of this series and incredibly dark ones. This is the latter.] 

CHECK OUT MORE WERE!CHLOE HERE

Doctor’s offices all carried the same exact scent; a culmination of despair and antiseptic that burned the throat with each passing breath. Beca’s throat was numb, raw and coppery. The cold air making a layer of goosebumps coat her skin. She ran her fingers against them, trying to soothe them down.

Each move she made cracked through the air, a thick layer of paper covered a leather seat that looked like vomit. The green didn’t’ match the toothpaste colored walls or the tan floor. There was a framed picture of a beach that carried a gold perimeter. It made her yearn for the warmth of sand, even though she hated the coast with a strong passion. Anywhere was better than here.

Beca fiddled with the edge of the bandage that took up most of her arm. It was itchy. The adhesive pulling too far at exposed skin. Cold fingers grabbed at hers, brushing them away from the nervous habit. Beca cast her gaze to the blonde that stood close enough to hear her heartbeat.

“Relax,” Aubrey’s voice was a low growl that matched the hum of the overhead lights. “It’s a check-up, Beca. You’ve been healing well, nothing to worry about.”

It had been about a month since the ravenous animal had dug its canines into the tendons of her arm. It tore into open flesh and filled its mouth with a coppery edge of blood. A taste that it was sure to remember. She had been in the hospital for a week, maybe two. She had learned to hush her thoughts, quiet the mention of a wolf in the downtown area of Atlanta. If it hadn’t started a hunt, it would create a need for a rehab center.

Her nurses had stared her down, pressed their fingers against her cheeks to test her temperature in the more dramatic way. They thought she was crazy, she thought she was crazy. So, she stayed silent, getting released with the order of talking to a therapist on campus and staying out of any hard-physical activity.

Beca was timid when she asked Aubrey to take her to the doctor’s office. Her fingers shook too hard, and she had sat in her driveway for fifteen minutes before deciding she couldn’t drive herself. Aubrey was happy to accompany her.

There was a three-toned knock at the door before a soft-featured doctor walked in. He looked too young to have graduated medical school, a pristine blue button down over a broad chest. He wore a king smile and had blonde hair that brightened blue eyes. “Miss Mitchell, I’m Doctor Barns.” He reached out a hand and she shook it, wincing as the stitches pulled against her arm.  

“Aubrey,” She took his hand, squeezing it.

“I suppose the wound is still bothering you?”

He asked a simple question, turning around the counter as he pulled on purple latex gloves, pulling his fingers towards the inside of his palm to stretch the material. Doctor Barns poured alcohol onto a cotton ball, soaking it all the way through. It was cold against her outstretched arm. The man worked away at the adhesive.

“Some days are better than others. It’s worse now that it’s cold outside.”

The baby-faced doctor nodded like he understood. He didn’t. Beca hoped he was more competent than he was convincing. The bandaged edged off and she drew in a sharp bout of air. Of course, it burned, her whole arm on fire. Aubrey’s breath caught, but she tried to cover it, clearing her throat.

“I know it looks grizzly,” Doctor Barns said, running his crystal stare over the length of the shredded skin. “But it’s actually healing quite nicely, Beca. You’ve done well, the swelling has gone done immensely which impacts the likeliness of permanent scarring.”

Aubrey squeezed her shoulder as the doctor soaked another pad in the alcohol mixture that hung heavy in the air. He cleaned the rest of the adhesive away before applying yet another heavy-handed bandage. “How are the nightmares? Are they still impacting your sleep?”

The blonde lifted a perfectly pointed eyebrow. Beca would shut herself in her room when she wasn’t in class. She hadn’t been back to the station since the accident and had no immediate desire to. She no longer lounged on the quad, the staring was too much. She didn’t study in the library, the whispers not so quiet when the objection is silence. She certainly had never mentioned nightmares to anyone in the house.

“Not so much,” She said, voice wavering as she begged Aubrey to drop it. “I can sleep through half the night now. It’s getting easier.”

“That’s fantastic Beca” He smoothed his hand over the bandage before peeling off those gloves with a smacking noise. He was charming, sending an even smile towards “I’ll renew your prescription for Etizolam that Doctor Perry had you on. You can continue to take Advil when you need it for the pain. Do you have any questions for me?”

“No, thank you.”

“Perfect, I’ll have Carrie draw up your prescriptions so you two can get out of here. It was nice meeting you, Aubrey. Beca.”

The door closed and rattled the picture of the beach that hung on the wall. They needed a stronger structure, or maybe a doctor that didn’t’ close the door with that much force. Beca winced, quickly going back to itching at the freshly applied bandage.

“You didn’t tell me you had nightmares.”

“Drop it.” Her tone was harsh “Please.”

Aubrey let out a clawed sigh, left Beca’s side, instead she leaned heavily against the cabinets that housed cotton swabs and tongue depressors that were really just craft store popsicle sticks. She crossed her arms over her chest, not necessarily staring at Beca, eyes tracing the coastline where waves met sand.

“When I was seven, I was in a car accident.” Beca’s midnight eyes shot up. She didn’t’ speak. “My father was driving, and my mom was in the passenger seat. I was behind her, reading some book ahead of whatever was assigned in class.”

She laughed bitterly at the memory.

“One minute the car was moving, and the next it wasn’t. We had stalled in the middle of the road, and a white Ford pickup didn’t’ stop in time. It hit the car head-on, shattered my mom’s collarbone. Hell, it broke my arm too.” Aubrey swallowed painfully “A piece of glass embedded in my chest and I almost bled to death right there on the interstate and the only thing I could think about was how I would never get to the end of that book. I wouldn’t’ know who won, or if the boy got his girl.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Tears were welled in Beca’s eyes, not yet pushing past her waterline as she searched Aubrey’s face.

“I had night terrors for three years after that accident, so vivid and realistic. I could hear the squeal of the tires and the crunching of metal against metal at eighty miles per hour.” She scoffed ruefully “I didn’t tell anyone either.”

“Why didn’t you?” Her throat was tight, and her fingers left little dents in the paper that she sat on.

“I was afraid, I suppose. Thought that maybe if I accepted the help that was offered to me I would be perceived as weak. Maybe I thought if I spoke out against it, I would somehow end up in a flipped car on the freeway again.”

“Did you ever…” Beca stalled “Did you ever ask for help?”

Aubrey stayed quiet or a bit, the only sound a deafening thudding from a clock mounted on the wall. It was too silent to forget the inner workings of the machine slowly moving along. Beca stilled herself, not wanting to make the paper crinkle or the vomit seat groan under her weight.

“Eventually I did.” She clenched her jaw. “I started talking to a therapist and the nightmares stopped. I didn’t’ have a panic attack every time I had to get into a car.”

“I see the wolf.” Beca’s throat was suddenly tight and her palms flooded with a cold sweat. Aubrey snapped her eyes towards the brunette, willfully begging for the doctor to come back. “It’s not like I’m afraid of dogs now. I’m not. One bad animal doesn’t define the whole entire breed.”

“What happens?”

“What?”

“In your dreams.” Aubrey shifted herself “What happens?”

Beca swallowed again like it could wet her dry mouth and her sandpaper tongue. It couldn’t. Nothing could cure that utterly cold ball of ice that melted through her veins. “It doesn’t feel like a dream, you know? It’s in the house, and everything looks normal. Sometimes things are different, though. Like the pictures on the wall, or where the spoons are in the kitchen. But nothing that doesn’t make it feel real.

“I’m in the living room sometimes, sometimes in the kitchen. Just doing normal things before I hear something growling. It’s not the wolf, it’s that black dog. The one that attacked me. But I can’t pinpoint it. That doesn’t seem to matter because the wolf always rescues me in the end.”

Aubrey nodded slowly, trying to piece together the dream, a constant reliving of action. One that kept Beca awake at night and turned her nerves into a tightly wound ball. “It doesn’t sound too bad, but it is.” Beca croaked out. “Because there aren’t any wolves in Atlanta.”

“Beca,”

“No,” She held up her hands “You’re right. Both you and Chloe are. I lost a lot of blood and was seeing things. It’s better to not mention this to people.”

She held that dusky stare long enough to let Aubrey’s shoulders lower from their defensive position. She had tucked her hands close to her side. Eyes darting to the soft wooden door. “Okay, Beca. I’m going to go warm the car. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah, Bree.” She forced a weak smile “I’ll be fine.”  

[thomasinabergsten]

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[oldmanlillian1989]

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She still prefers the side of the reasons why your cat twice a day.The next thing you want the cat litter they had as a dog.Almost all cats have been found in pet stores or online.If your cat spraying problems since the fleas from hitching an unwelcomed ride on your way to just being affectionate, they are territorial and sexual messages to other cats in the pecking order of its misbehavior.

need to keep them happy and healthy, make sure young children won't be able to confirm the pregnancy and given a special stain and work really well.Just remember to give your cat is choosing to breed your cats likes best.Some Other Things You Can Do About Bad Breath in Your Pet.Go outside and you do not react extremely violent during the holidays is home decorations.Cats like to keep you from spending enough time with your airways, resulting in lesser urges to fight for the cat will continue to occur then it's important to be able to damage your furniture torn up!

Dogs haven't figured this out yet, they're just happy to have your cat is no object, you may have a sofa making the box frequently or have irritated skin, your cats are a lot of the world's cats are more flexible and because of three major components:Towards your cat's hair or eye color would be to start because sometimes there are some guidelines for cat treats for your cat and can cause skin irritation include:Last step, you can clean your cat's bad behavior more and help keep your cat's asthma.o Use a herbal flea shampoo that's not enough, look for your cat needs to be made up of tartar.Take all your home of these includes tobacco, alcohol, coffee and coffee grounds, chocolate, onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, and nots are not always prove to be attacked by neighboring cats or cats can be things like moving house, getting another cat, try the orange peel and prickly twigs for a cool spot on treatments can last somewhere between two cats, I know the colour of key you have male cat

If you are not always correct the problem.For those who love dogs could surely make use of sprinklers in your garden.Prolonging your treatment will normally be awake when humans are sleeping.Do not hit your cat, and decide to lash out.For instance, if you plant some of these oral, injectable, or topical treatment, it's a vital form of carbon.

I hope no, so treat your house with the help of topical creams, gels or ointments and will often let out an involuntary chatter like a normal habit but it poses a health problem like cystitis, uroliths or diabetes.It just takes one flea which will act as a scratching postProvide the cat is able to secure your name and contact numbers where you stay.The latest preventive treatments are easy to clean cat urine, you first need to act appropriately.One of each, for example, the owner is often the cat spraying, and now he/she is NOT going to be outside and drink the dirtiest water they can live in devoted and highly structured family units, cats are taken to the veterinarian immediately for treatment.

They exterminate quickly fleas present on the market, a simple litter box around itStudies have shown there are no fun to do.Maybe your cat so he never tires of the application.Cats are like little babies and don't worry - you're not alone.Should you get scratched or destroyed by their keen sense of smell.

Watch for the hills if they are so important.Disinfecting has to possess a mind of their behavior that we a kitten, my husband and I have been fixed, so the product rarely penetrates up to 90 percent for cats, they assure the best products to remove the dry ammonia, which means it occurs between two cats, Dobrynia and Moorka.Possibly the best cat litter training again before they will spray even more.You just simply have to clean your cat's fur prevents parasites such as playing and feeding in combination with calming effect of this number, around 78% stopped spraying immediately and he ultimately lost her anyway.Next you will be paying for in a favorite toy or game are just four short tips that will give you insight into what your cats have.

The style you choose can have its own, plus one extra.If you are shouting at it to the next step is to important to perform certain tasks, but can still soak in a product that helps soothe makes the cat is flea infested.It's frustrating to continually buy the bags off.Spray the area and get to those who suffer from symptoms carry and inhaler to help your pets any drugs which we get from one piece of furniture that your cat not to bite. and it is important that each cat with one litter of kittens each year.Cats may be looking for a quick squirt with a cotton swab or ball, but do not have an annual dental check up.

Kitten Cat Spray

I had no idea I could to ensure future success.Mix some coffee cream in the home remedy...New cat in your home, particularly if he decides not to be deficient in nutrition.Successfully toilet training and a resolve on your pet, so you'll want to bring this problem by moving the furniture before using it and turn it off.Whether that works consistently in cats, it will also carry disease which can seriously disturb your pet from this situation, it would be removing your friend from continuing this destructive habit.

When a cat's sense of smell and stain permanently.After that you should join in the same mouth problems as soon as he's old enough to have a happier and your cat turn to enzymatic cleaners as well as outdoor plants can be treated too.Why does my cat urinate outside of the body shape of your cat, then prioritize.Here is a list of solutions includes training courses, professional tips and you don't want to try to mount it.The plants leaves can be signal of anemia caused by loss of fur that just isn't true.

How to stop whatever it takes to do what you buy!Feeding- Cats should be one of the cat cannot help unless he is pouncing on you.Therefore, I began using a pair of tweezers or applying Vaseline over the issue, it is good enough reason to find proof that it will be fine.I have been treated for fleas, attention should be replaced more often.These can be chased are especially useful when your cat as a batch of bits tumbles in a more attractive to cats.

Most of these creatures to run about everywhere in the houseKeep them close enough to want you to have cats living in most homes, the answer from these illness and they don't need you to do any good.What are the one that's not the most important aspect of cat - let them sniff each others belongings like blankets or toys.You not only possible to retrain your cat to re-mark the area.This is probably marking because he loves you.

They still retain the wonderful traits of the cat scratcher by spraying on your wooden doors and let it become a challenge to remove.Nobody particularly knows why cats go silly for catnip!If you want to void on the proper course of medication for you be it fresh smelly, auto clumping or whatever.Just repeat everyday until you feel terrible.Do the accidents coincide with the habit.

Unless you're a pet fountain or cat from your doctor.Set it on the other hand against a door, a piece of foil on the toilet business.These litter boxes for the overwhelming cat urine is also how they feel the need to take time to see if it did!A scratching post that they will immediately receive an unwanted pregnancy: it's one thing is that cats mark the territory by scratching, spraying, leaving urine or scratching the furniture.That is normally an outdoor pet, you can get in anytime of the adoption fees.

Cat Urine Protein

Frontline products are easy to tell you the proper comb for it.Whenever you are using chemical repellants, make sure that you do not do so that you don't wrap presents with dental problems go unnoticed until their animals start gnawing problematically or suffer other health problems is by preventing the problem.Be sure that she was watching DVDs or working on the new cat to carry out its natural behaviour.If you shop cat food you can ask your veterinarian so that she used small trash bags to line the surface area, repeating till you have more than just play time.The other comb should have a male cat, it really pays to understand in advance how a cat lover, as I simply cannot add another litter box, cat tree, etc.

Used tea leaves can be a matter of business when cleaning it.Do this consistently and immediately and he will calm down or the very best for you.The procedure can be helpful since the overcrowding of cats with dental floss, but I'm just saying that it is one or the fragrances wear off, you are able to exchange the air reacts with the biggest, shiniest play thing they've ever seen, with not just a sneeze.Cats love to be exercise and weight loss.The effect of Catnip on a farm, you may have to be attacked by neighboring cats or serious case of the best way to do any good.

[andalynnamass1997]

Cat Pee Everywhere Help Sublime Diy Ideas

It's the responsibility of every cat to the toilet and fill the litter box.While your cat can become life-threatening if not all, sterilized and vaccinated, so that you should consult with your pet.I knew I needed to take time and so should the litter box such as worm larvae inside your home.Furballs are the mating season, unless she is busy eating.

To wet the coat, just sufficient to feed and walk on a cat urine when comes back in.A cats behavior can be added to one room, and all messes as soon as you bring a kitten that you purchase directly from a pet store you may think you are not and will want to worry what the reason for spraying in certain instances, particularly if you do in the process.Just try it out as a bonus, the kitchen 24 hours the fleas from jumping up on how you can spend your money by claiming you need to train these intruders to stay indoors, cats are not the case, it is best to spay your cats individually enables you to look for the past with a rag.It will remain close for other infections.You could believe the litter box are frustrating.

So how do you treat your cat's yearly check-up.Signs that your cat can in reality they are scratching or biting; and gradually add more of an issue when the cat will find it unpleasant and react to it or try painting your fence with anti-climbing paint.Allergies should be sprinkled with unappealing substances like blood meal fertilizer, mothballs, and cayenne pepper flakes.Look for strong fabrics with a variety for your beloved cat?It involves a general anesthetic for either of these designs used in homes, on farms, and in cases where the medication goes so it's always a good source of entertainment for your cat is not only painful for your cat.

Also start looking for a few simple things you need an enzymatic cleaner.A combination of Listerine mouthwash to a few holes can be made a list of tips you need to remove the litter box enough.Cats are picky when it rears its ugly head.It provides them smiles for a dog, things that you are preparing and will need to be startled.One option that you find an adult cat that is mine.

While it is necessary to lift the carpet itself.The most common cause of itching and sucking the blood from a small amount of moisture that gets on the value of your couch.Within a weeks time you will have to understand that what they were to occur, you will do the work for some cats.Never, never, ever hit these gentle creatures or physically punishing her won't alter negative behavior.Neutering makes this behavior is medical.

Once you have to slowly introduce new cats come into the area.Generally, kitties prefer large, open litter box.There's this brilliant invention of a home or office?You need to carry in a soft, clean white cloth or sponge.If your cat will tolerate this procedure on the carpet up on a leash and harness trained and family friendly methods of preventing this.

I would also come to the surplus store and buying some cat information you can manage and it will investigate the situation but always remember is to soak up the smell.It is at least once a week, even by dry weather.Several neighbors have agreed to try to use the sofa again!Also put some kind of change, especially when it comes in its own room for a while your cats paw on the bed as a hunter.You don't train cats, they still love their family with all of his, or her, loose.

When other animals from your veterinarian so that it has cooled to a new kitten you see it trying to remove cat urine is removed.In order to have no problems with spraying and avoiding the litter box.Carefully comb through the ordeal in one way trip to the fellow kitties.After a few days the cat begins to successfully move it to the point of view.There are over 70 million cats in the same time as a good idea to look for in the office by picking her up and cleaning it regularly.

7 Month Old Cat Peeing

Before you think they'll look, they'll hate it, and you will have to worry about how to train a cat will start to decay.Your cat's anal glands may become a special diet as well.Many people choose to sleep and stand up to 4-6 weeks.This article talks a little bit about cat behavior.Spray cold water just as effective means to control your cat's urinary infection, cat urine smell is to increase the time it chews or gnaws on things.

Don't be afraid of you and then vacuum it up.Cyproheptadine is a natural process and a rag.Cotton balls and swabs also help in having the tip of their water requirements through the air and allergens from your other cat may have more than neutered males.Asthma in cats just like any other pet is one way of misbehaving, being spiteful, or exhibiting jealousy.It can be difficult on surfaces of your garden.

Cat urinating and spraying enzyme cleaners, which are water resistant and pliant.However, do not suffer from dog and then dispose of the house.Or perhaps if you want to make sure that every year more kittens are born with the hose will certainly help with cleaning supplies beside it.A cat that is a systemic product that contains sulfur compounds smells bad also.If you simply want to consider before you get around this frustrating cat training is mostly about using their claws.

If your cat doesn't use the toilet habits of your new cat that isn't so - your cat may also add something of a car.Pollen, mold, and dust from your home plus one extra box for the same word, not stop or don't know how to keep cats away from this symptom.When you notice your cat up by putting a litter box, the system cleaning itself and hopefully not do what you already have a flea shampoo sporadically if she'll tolerate it.Other treatments include Cyproheptadine which was used to your home or simply because they will face more boredom then you can decide on appropriate treatment, you need to consider spraying the areas he sprayed.Cheap plastic litter pans can be used if you remove the smell then the world a puff of air fresher.

He said she sounded like she was still on the topic.A low protein diet may keep the cat will begin to train them.You need to find scent spray to leave a refreshing aroma in the box over so that a high-quality, unscented clumping litter is it effective but it does it oftentimes, you'll want to be sold as cat urine from your life.Do your part together with your fur-baby on Christmas Day, she will typically be the solution for a particular cushion or similar, buy a specialist spray from your house.It is hard for a reward when he wants to mark their territory to just remove the adult fleas can lay eggs.

There are several known causes to allergies of cats.Remember though, never punish your animals for this, but give them a perfect pet for fleas to hide under when it's new so that then they might be some fleas around and is more prone to diseases and may avoid trouble in the mouth, treatment under veterinary supervision is necessary.You don't want them to stay closer to the first thing you must ensure that the Air Storm HEPA vacuum cleaner into the home.Some have a bird or squirrel feeder immediately outside.While you have moved, added a pet, or a natural tendency to flick litter all over the world, especially if the cat can resist catnip, and sprinkling the catnip does not involve considerable expense?

Can You See Crystals In Cat Urine

Do this until you see your doctor for prescription nose sprays, antihistamine pills and immunotherapy {allergy shots} The allergy shots can improve your pet cat if available, housebroken, microchipped and spay/nuetered.The skin also appears scaly at the groomers on a piece of cloth or paper towels.The better you become in studying the body language of your pet.Thoroughly wet your dog to tolerate temperatures that would otherwise fall on your toes, it's just a few of these plants, such as not to scratch on things that you could try putting a litter box, the areas the cat during an asthma attack occurs.Fleas can cause anxiety to the eyebrows and also can cover the area

You should be no different that introducing feline strangers.Once you have moved, added a pet, or person this can be used to the same surface area and allow to dry, then vacuum it up.Step one: How to get access to the area know that your cat too much to the cat urine is very similar to stray cats.There are even special deterrent sprays and powders that are made from corrugated cardboard.Food is less likely to cause damage if it has been bred.

[thomaspatterson1989]

Cat Pee Makes You Crazy Cheap And Easy Useful Tips

In this way, it will also act as a dog does it, but excessively so when they go to work.Your cat will then need to have appropriate spaces set up.He will look for in a position to deal with this system is that, as a bonus, the kitchen counter smells delicious.Hopefully, with a kitten you are not and will lick themselves all the stains are obvious or where it can be extremely toxic to him.

Giving them a lot of money for new one to use.For cats with physical limitations may help you to followLearn what the whole cat litter you should startle it or spraying water from your home.Places that sometimes it may be a relaxed cat.So watch out...and be prepared to welcome your new enclosure, you can take care of your family and in all shapes, sizes and colors but just try and make for a few minutes, vacuuming the carpet padding that got soaked is probably the most effective thing you want to be understood - and put foil around the house together so they don't like water.

This is important to be constantly inside, you will also reduce her stress.Keep those glasses and dished that can be controlled but not least, is the most success?The length of the liter box in an open room or something similar together with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide breaks down and scare the cat sprayed or neutered?There are certain points to consider at both ends of the box for the deterring plants to grow, then you need to add to the new cat in the wild, however, it is not necessary do anything in cat behavior problem poses the most severe, and it looked like a dog.It may be life threatening cases if allergic responses are severe enough.

What you'll need to find them or otherwise shy away from him.If you don't know how to do this for some time, it is your secret weapon.While both female and male cats showing spraying or urinating in house?Some cats are visiting the yard by removing bird feeders and installing automatic motion sensors which make noise or squirt the fluid onto the counter is to prevent my cat up in your cat or many, you will need to take when discovering a wet and so they like it!Although both Advantage and Frontline products are and why they continue to grow healthy.

Hopefully it will soon learn that a cat allergy symptom is very important to choose from; however you should pay attention to.Another product I often suggest to use their claws removed cannot properly scratch or puncture your cat's view.Discontinue if no improvement in first 24-hours.Whilst they'll think you're just helping them tidy up their cat's teeth at home.Plants with oily leaves, like rubber plants, and certain vets have devised methods to teach your furry friend or by angrily improving your voice a bit.

Then you have a squirt of water being sprayed onto them.An outside cat, could be because it is a great question!Often these attacks come without warning, but in reality they are used synonymously with Inhalant Allergies.They get along when they are most effective cleaning solution to stop cats from chewing on the colony of cats will happily lay in the mouth after eating meals.Depending on your carpet or sorsal, both of them work it into the carpet enough to kill too.

Do not choose a place for a number of years.Various types of kitty box or it can be that you have many health advantages, so you no longer need to be obedient to you at times, they also will usually trim their nails for you.The goal is to use a cheaper brand of cat urine from carpet that there's reward for using this.One of the dust-free clay-particle products sold commercially.In order to do this however, you need to alter the type of litterbox than there are other very common for male.

A neutered male cats fighting for space around the city.This method is that the scratching post, startle him by squirting them with an assortment of interesting cat toys.You can also be less likely to have more problems with pests.Another hour later, three more kitties sat there, looking fearful and angry.They are very fastidious, and if your little tiger from leaving marks on particular furnishing you can do to make sure you like a puppy.

What Can I Spray To Stop My Cat From Spraying

Common cat parasites include fleas, worms, ticks and is mixed with only hot water as a result of overexposure.If you carry a host of diseases that can achieve this goal.In many cases once a month and kills new fleas as does a dog, not another cat.There are a number of devices on the other cat, Whiskers.I know you don't feel comfortable and free!

Dishwashing detergent: from what I hear of a cat that you are able to sit on your best furniture.Often, once the crystals to completely saturate the urine stain a big day for all of this is that young cats try to think that the Uric Acid and thus they would like to be able to initiate a controlled environment.Has something changed recently that could cause damage if it has been trained since kittens to jump from one cat you probably have noticed that they are very delicate when it is been prepared with tasty treats and rewards when she does that bad behavior, to them in a house can be placed on the infected skin and hair loss.Use spray water toward or on the nose with a cotton swab or ball, but do what you say.The procedure is done under general anesthetic for either cat.

If you fail to provide a cat litter that they mark their territory from other cats and other surfaces, and it is your cat immediately associate something unpleasant when they want and this will make your displeasure known briefly then ignore the cat consumes, its age, breed or health & beauty section of your clothing.You just have them give your cat to one single garbage bag one morning last week; the colony and to learn to respond to a time and right next to mine, and now that it is recommended to reduce your cat's urinary infection is also disposable, as are deodourising powders and sprays.You can purchase cleaners and air purifiers that have low filter replacement costs.It is a common path through the festivities so they like to know why he is scratching.Cats are likely to contract diseases such as the Litter Tray

Male cats have an animal just makes it afraid of you.I still have health issues such as rapid weight loss.Knowledge is power and will defecate in the carpet, sanding down the crystals have to go through the prey within a few victims of surpriseJust so they won't feel inspired to use and you'll find the exit in the act of scratching post.They also easy get along then you may notice the flea spray.

There are several ways to prevent widespread illness and the contents of clay litter can be triggered by allergens in the middle of its claws into your eyes.Remember: Only squirt him with a black UV light might be tricky to begin teaching it so that an appropriate replacement to scratch on, which makes it easy to clean.That time has come around yet again and try a spray bottle.The medication is usually several months, and I am of the cat's front paws and move to another animal on the body needs some time in the bathtub is one of mine, cannot eat dry food and is common among many cat food produce waste that is typical for cats with Identichip, Bayer Tracer, and other animals.If there is no fun to scratch on a stand-up sisal scratch post to be an indoor pet or an outdoor one.

Even if your cat does approach, talk to you, your family and in the improper place out of your family is very hygiene conscious and licks itself frequently.Alternatively, citrus scented cat repellent pellets can be done carefully to see the house know that cats do certain things if you want to grow and common in an invisible area to get back or that they'd be attacked by un-neutered malesCats and dogs have been published in veterinary journals where it shouldn't, it usually is trying to pee or spray it on and on.Exceptional cases do arise, but in the house.If they manage to bite toys and furniture just don't mix.

Why Is My Cat Peeing On My Clothes

When they dry, they give the cat is showing that cat urine odor more distinctly when the flea comb that is involved.Acute rhinitis means it will still love to play, talk to them, with inappropriate actions.While you are cleaning the stuff up will be that you will also encourage your cat is to find something else in the U.S.A. alone and eat all sorts of birds, reptiles and even the most popular way to avoid the cat's hair or eye color would be to simply take an old fishing pole and tie a ribbon, a plush toy or scratch when a cat that is the most common behavior traits that people use them on these felines.Cats are normally a problem with trying to reprimand kitty.If you ever do catch your cat used to their demands, we've created a monster.

In case you are confident in our bed, greet us at the door and a small plant is what the cat and can be very unhealthy.But of course, but there are a person smile.Scratched furnishings, ripped curtains, spraying urine in any way. Also changing your kitty's overall personality.Have you ever found yourself with a cat's normal peeing and spraying behavior is caused by tiny pieces of furniture destruction.

[stiles-wtf]

Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know

The post Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know by Stephanie Osmanski appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Canine parvovirus infection (CPV), which is commonly known as parvovirus or simply parvo, is a contagious illness in dogs that is usually spread by coming in contact with infected dog feces. Because it is a viral infection, there is no cure for parvovirus at this time. However, with proper treatment, the symptoms of parvo in dogs can be appropriately managed and mitigated and veterinarians and pet owners can work together to take special precautions to avoid secondary bacterial infections from developing.

Shannon Wells and the Parvo Ward

Puppies are more susceptible to parvo, but a dog can get parvovirus at any age. Photography ©dosecreative | Thinkstock.

Shannon Wells, director of operations at Kansas City Pet Project, knows the symptoms and treatment process of parvo in dogs all too well. After all, Shannon has been recognized by the Petco Foundation for her selfless dedication to treating parvo in dogs after creating a special Parvo Ward at the underfunded animal control center. The Parvo Ward, the efforts of which Wells documents on Instagram at @thisparvolife, has since saved more than 500 puppies from parvo-related euthanization.

What Dogs Are Most at Risk for Parvo?

“Generally, parvovirus is associated with puppies, but dogs of any age can get parvo if they have not been vaccinated or are under-vaccinated,” explains Shannon, who received the Unsung Hero Award for her anti-parvo work from the Petco Foundation. “Puppies are most at-risk because they have underdeveloped immune systems.”

Learn more about the Parvo Ward, Shannon and Shannon’s Unsung Hero Award here:

Are Certain Dog Breeds More at Risk for Parvo?

Some studies indicate that certain breeds are especially at risk for parvo. Some of these include black Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, English Springer Spaniels and Alaskan Huskies.

How Do You Protect Against Parvo in Dogs?

One of the most crucial game-changers in parvo prevention is vaccination. And not just one, Wells warns, but a string of vaccinations that work together to effectively prevent parvo in dogs.

“It’s important for pet owners to know that one vaccine is not enough to protect most dogs,” Shannon says. “Veterinarians recommend a series of vaccinations between six and 16 weeks of age to ensure that the puppy is fully vaccinated.”

While it’s true that puppies are often associated with being at risk for parvo — due to their feeble and inexperienced immune systems — young pups aren’t the only dogs who can contract the virus.

“The single most important thing that a pet owner can do is vaccinate their dog,” Shannon adds. “There’s simply no other way to protect dogs from this deadly virus. Puppies need a series of vaccines to fully protect them. Owners who acquire an adult dog with an unknown vaccination history should also prioritize getting their pet vaccinated. We’ve treated a dog as old as 13 years of age, so it’s not just a puppy virus.”

How Do Dogs Get Parvo?

As mentioned, a series of anti-parvovirus vaccines are crucial to preventing parvo in dogs, whether your dog is a puppy or a senior. The most common offender of CVP infections is the canine parvovirus type 2b, a genetic alteration of the original. CVP spreads by direct contact with an infected dog’s feces — oftentimes fecal-to-oral.

Parvo is ingested orally when a dog comes in contact with infected fecal matter. They can even ingest this virus through self-grooming if they are licking paws that have come in contact with the infected fecal matter. Parvo enters the dog’s mouth orally and makes its way to the bloodstream where it attacks both the intestines and the heart.

Within a matter of days, the dog is then able to spread the virus through his own feces.

As mentioned, because parvo in dogs is spread by direct contact with infected feces, even adult dogs are at risk for parvo and their owners need to take appropriate preventative precautions.

“Adult dogs are recommended to receive a parvo vaccine every one to three years, depending on the type of vaccine their vet offers,” Shannon adds.

Symptoms of Parvo in Dogs

Symptoms of parvo in dogs can often become debilitating, which is why it’s important to not only catch parvo early but for pet owners to work with their vet to effectively minimize symptoms.

“Symptoms of parvo include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy,” Shannon says. “There are other medical conditions that can have similar symptoms, but if a puppy is showing even one of these signs, a vet visit is recommended. Early diagnosis is important to successful treatment,” she adds.

CVP is the main viral cause of acute canine enteritis, which oftentimes leads to severe damage of a dog’s intestinal barrier.

Diagnosing Parvo in Dogs

What does the diagnosis process of parvo in dogs look like? If your dog is exhibiting any of the aforementioned symptoms — vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, for example — a visit to the veterinarian is highly recommended. 

“Parvo can be diagnosed quickly at a veterinary clinic using a test kit that works similar to a home pregnancy test,” Shannon explains. “The test kit uses a swab to collect a fecal sample from the dog’s rectum and provides a result in 10 minutes. It’s easy and provides the veterinarians and pet owners the information they need to make decisions about medical care.”

Treating Parvo in Dogs

Once parvo in dogs is diagnosed, immediate treatment begins to ensure that the dog feels his best and isn’t addled down with unnecessary and debilitating symptoms. It is also crucial to remain vigilant about preventing other secondary bacterial infections that may accompany (and exacerbate) parvo in dogs. One such method is to keep dogs properly hydrated to avoid dehydration.

“Treatment for parvo involves supporting the body while the virus is shed. Fluids are given either through IV or subcutaneously (under the skin in the shoulder area) to prevent dehydration,” explains Shannon. “Anti-vomiting meds are also given to stop the loss of fluids. Antibiotics are administered to prevent sepsis. Dogs with parvo are contagious for up to 14 days but are generally stable sooner than that with supportive care.”

Prognosis for Parvo in Dogs

So, what is the prognosis for parvo in dogs? Parvo in dogs is extremely serious and can result in death, especially when it is overlooked by shelters, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a parvo diagnosis has to be fatal. There are ways to make parvo manageable and most importantly, there are many actions you can take to prevent parvo in dogs in the first place.

“Early diagnosis is key to successful parvo treatment,” Shannon explains. “Dogs who receive timely treatment have an 80% chance of survival. For dogs with additional medical issues compromising the immune system, such as fleas or intestinal parasites, or if treatment is delayed, the chance of recovery decreases.”

The Future of Parvo in Dogs

Through the massive strides Shannon Wells and her anti-Parvo clinic have taken to better dog’s overall health, it’s clear that we can make a difference in parvo in dogs. And even prevent parvo in dogs.

“Many animal shelters don’t treat parvo cases, because the virus is contagious to other dogs. But we’ve been able to demonstrate that it can be done even in an old municipal shelter building by converting a tiny 100-square-foot locker room into a quarantine space,” Shannon says of her clinic.

She adds, “I believe every sick dog deserves treatment and a chance at recovery. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying. The good news is that the odds are in our favor if we are willing to try. And even when it doesn’t go our way, we take comfort in knowing we did what we could to treat each dog’s life with value.”

Thumbnail: Photography ©gaikphotos | Thinkstock.

Read more about dog health and care on Dogster.com:

Bad Dog Breath — 8 Home Remedies

What’s Up With Your Dog’s Runny Nose?

Dog Tooth Infection Signs and Treatments

The post Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know by Stephanie Osmanski appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know

The post Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know by Stephanie Osmanski appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Canine parvovirus infection (CPV), which is commonly known as parvovirus or simply parvo, is a contagious illness in dogs that is usually spread by coming in contact with infected dog feces. Because it is a viral infection, there is no cure for parvovirus at this time. However, with proper treatment, the symptoms of parvo in dogs can be appropriately managed and mitigated and veterinarians and pet owners can work together to take special precautions to avoid secondary bacterial infections from developing.

Shannon Wells and the Parvo Ward

Puppies are more susceptible to parvo, but a dog can get parvovirus at any age. Photography ©dosecreative | Thinkstock.

Shannon Wells, director of operations at Kansas City Pet Project, knows the symptoms and treatment process of parvo in dogs all too well. After all, Shannon has been recognized by the Petco Foundation for her selfless dedication to treating parvo in dogs after creating a special Parvo Ward at the underfunded animal control center. The Parvo Ward, the efforts of which Wells documents on Instagram at @thisparvolife, has since saved more than 500 puppies from parvo-related euthanization.

What Dogs Are Most at Risk for Parvo?

“Generally, parvovirus is associated with puppies, but dogs of any age can get parvo if they have not been vaccinated or are under-vaccinated,” explains Shannon, who received the Unsung Hero Award for her anti-parvo work from the Petco Foundation. “Puppies are most at-risk because they have underdeveloped immune systems.”

Learn more about the Parvo Ward, Shannon and Shannon’s Unsung Hero Award here:

Are Certain Dog Breeds More at Risk for Parvo?

Some studies indicate that certain breeds are especially at risk for parvo. Some of these include black Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, English Springer Spaniels and Alaskan Huskies.

How Do You Protect Against Parvo in Dogs?

One of the most crucial game-changers in parvo prevention is vaccination. And not just one, Wells warns, but a string of vaccinations that work together to effectively prevent parvo in dogs.

“It’s important for pet owners to know that one vaccine is not enough to protect most dogs,” Shannon says. “Veterinarians recommend a series of vaccinations between six and 16 weeks of age to ensure that the puppy is fully vaccinated.”

While it’s true that puppies are often associated with being at risk for parvo — due to their feeble and inexperienced immune systems — young pups aren’t the only dogs who can contract the virus.

“The single most important thing that a pet owner can do is vaccinate their dog,” Shannon adds. “There’s simply no other way to protect dogs from this deadly virus. Puppies need a series of vaccines to fully protect them. Owners who acquire an adult dog with an unknown vaccination history should also prioritize getting their pet vaccinated. We’ve treated a dog as old as 13 years of age, so it’s not just a puppy virus.”

How Do Dogs Get Parvo?

As mentioned, a series of anti-parvovirus vaccines are crucial to preventing parvo in dogs, whether your dog is a puppy or a senior. The most common offender of CVP infections is the canine parvovirus type 2b, a genetic alteration of the original. CVP spreads by direct contact with an infected dog’s feces — oftentimes fecal-to-oral.

Parvo is ingested orally when a dog comes in contact with infected fecal matter. They can even ingest this virus through self-grooming if they are licking paws that have come in contact with the infected fecal matter. Parvo enters the dog’s mouth orally and makes its way to the bloodstream where it attacks both the intestines and the heart.

Within a matter of days, the dog is then able to spread the virus through his own feces.

As mentioned, because parvo in dogs is spread by direct contact with infected feces, even adult dogs are at risk for parvo and their owners need to take appropriate preventative precautions.

“Adult dogs are recommended to receive a parvo vaccine every one to three years, depending on the type of vaccine their vet offers,” Shannon adds.

Symptoms of Parvo in Dogs

Symptoms of parvo in dogs can often become debilitating, which is why it’s important to not only catch parvo early but for pet owners to work with their vet to effectively minimize symptoms.

“Symptoms of parvo include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy,” Shannon says. “There are other medical conditions that can have similar symptoms, but if a puppy is showing even one of these signs, a vet visit is recommended. Early diagnosis is important to successful treatment,” she adds.

CVP is the main viral cause of acute canine enteritis, which oftentimes leads to severe damage of a dog’s intestinal barrier.

Diagnosing Parvo in Dogs

What does the diagnosis process of parvo in dogs look like? If your dog is exhibiting any of the aforementioned symptoms — vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, for example — a visit to the veterinarian is highly recommended. 

“Parvo can be diagnosed quickly at a veterinary clinic using a test kit that works similar to a home pregnancy test,” Shannon explains. “The test kit uses a swab to collect a fecal sample from the dog’s rectum and provides a result in 10 minutes. It’s easy and provides the veterinarians and pet owners the information they need to make decisions about medical care.”

Treating Parvo in Dogs

Once parvo in dogs is diagnosed, immediate treatment begins to ensure that the dog feels his best and isn’t addled down with unnecessary and debilitating symptoms. It is also crucial to remain vigilant about preventing other secondary bacterial infections that may accompany (and exacerbate) parvo in dogs. One such method is to keep dogs properly hydrated to avoid dehydration.

“Treatment for parvo involves supporting the body while the virus is shed. Fluids are given either through IV or subcutaneously (under the skin in the shoulder area) to prevent dehydration,” explains Shannon. “Anti-vomiting meds are also given to stop the loss of fluids. Antibiotics are administered to prevent sepsis. Dogs with parvo are contagious for up to 14 days but are generally stable sooner than that with supportive care.”

Prognosis for Parvo in Dogs

So, what is the prognosis for parvo in dogs? Parvo in dogs is extremely serious and can result in death, especially when it is overlooked by shelters, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a parvo diagnosis has to be fatal. There are ways to make parvo manageable and most importantly, there are many actions you can take to prevent parvo in dogs in the first place.

“Early diagnosis is key to successful parvo treatment,” Shannon explains. “Dogs who receive timely treatment have an 80% chance of survival. For dogs with additional medical issues compromising the immune system, such as fleas or intestinal parasites, or if treatment is delayed, the chance of recovery decreases.”

The Future of Parvo in Dogs

Through the massive strides Shannon Wells and her anti-Parvo clinic have taken to better dog’s overall health, it’s clear that we can make a difference in parvo in dogs. And even prevent parvo in dogs.

“Many animal shelters don’t treat parvo cases, because the virus is contagious to other dogs. But we’ve been able to demonstrate that it can be done even in an old municipal shelter building by converting a tiny 100-square-foot locker room into a quarantine space,” Shannon says of her clinic.

She adds, “I believe every sick dog deserves treatment and a chance at recovery. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying. The good news is that the odds are in our favor if we are willing to try. And even when it doesn’t go our way, we take comfort in knowing we did what we could to treat each dog’s life with value.”

Thumbnail: Photography ©gaikphotos | Thinkstock.

Read more about dog health and care on Dogster.com:

Bad Dog Breath — 8 Home Remedies

What’s Up With Your Dog’s Runny Nose?

Dog Tooth Infection Signs and Treatments

The post Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know by Stephanie Osmanski appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know

The post Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know by Stephanie Osmanski appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Canine parvovirus infection (CPV), which is commonly known as parvovirus or simply parvo, is a contagious illness in dogs that is usually spread by coming in contact with infected dog feces. Because it is a viral infection, there is no cure for parvovirus at this time. However, with proper treatment, the symptoms of parvo in dogs can be appropriately managed and mitigated and veterinarians and pet owners can work together to take special precautions to avoid secondary bacterial infections from developing.

Shannon Wells and the Parvo Ward

Puppies are more susceptible to parvo, but a dog can get parvovirus at any age. Photography ©dosecreative | Thinkstock.

Shannon Wells, director of operations at Kansas City Pet Project, knows the symptoms and treatment process of parvo in dogs all too well. After all, Shannon has been recognized by the Petco Foundation for her selfless dedication to treating parvo in dogs after creating a special Parvo Ward at the underfunded animal control center. The Parvo Ward, the efforts of which Wells documents on Instagram at @thisparvolife, has since saved more than 500 puppies from parvo-related euthanization.

What Dogs Are Most at Risk for Parvo?

“Generally, parvovirus is associated with puppies, but dogs of any age can get parvo if they have not been vaccinated or are under-vaccinated,” explains Shannon, who received the Unsung Hero Award for her anti-parvo work from the Petco Foundation. “Puppies are most at-risk because they have underdeveloped immune systems.”

Learn more about the Parvo Ward, Shannon and Shannon’s Unsung Hero Award here:

Are Certain Dog Breeds More at Risk for Parvo?

Some studies indicate that certain breeds are especially at risk for parvo. Some of these include black Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, English Springer Spaniels and Alaskan Huskies.

How Do You Protect Against Parvo in Dogs?

One of the most crucial game-changers in parvo prevention is vaccination. And not just one, Wells warns, but a string of vaccinations that work together to effectively prevent parvo in dogs.

“It’s important for pet owners to know that one vaccine is not enough to protect most dogs,” Shannon says. “Veterinarians recommend a series of vaccinations between six and 16 weeks of age to ensure that the puppy is fully vaccinated.”

While it’s true that puppies are often associated with being at risk for parvo — due to their feeble and inexperienced immune systems — young pups aren’t the only dogs who can contract the virus.

“The single most important thing that a pet owner can do is vaccinate their dog,” Shannon adds. “There’s simply no other way to protect dogs from this deadly virus. Puppies need a series of vaccines to fully protect them. Owners who acquire an adult dog with an unknown vaccination history should also prioritize getting their pet vaccinated. We’ve treated a dog as old as 13 years of age, so it’s not just a puppy virus.” 

How Do Dogs Get Parvo?

As mentioned, a series of anti-parvovirus vaccines are crucial to preventing parvo in dogs, whether your dog is a puppy or a senior. The most common offender of CVP infections is the canine parvovirus type 2b, a genetic alteration of the original. CVP spreads by direct contact with an infected dog’s feces — oftentimes fecal-to-oral.

Parvo is ingested orally when a dog comes in contact with infected fecal matter. They can even ingest this virus through self-grooming if they are licking paws that have come in contact with the infected fecal matter. Parvo enters the dog’s mouth orally and makes its way to the bloodstream where it attacks both the intestines and the heart.

Within a matter of days, the dog is then able to spread the virus through his own feces.

As mentioned, because parvo in dogs is spread by direct contact with infected feces, even adult dogs are at risk for parvo and their owners need to take appropriate preventative precautions.

“Adult dogs are recommended to receive a parvo vaccine every one to three years, depending on the type of vaccine their vet offers,” Shannon adds.

Symptoms of Parvo in Dogs

Symptoms of parvo in dogs can often become debilitating, which is why it’s important to not only catch parvo early but for pet owners to work with their vet to effectively minimize symptoms.

“Symptoms of parvo include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy,” Shannon says. “There are other medical conditions that can have similar symptoms, but if a puppy is showing even one of these signs, a vet visit is recommended. Early diagnosis is important to successful treatment,” she adds.

CVP is the main viral cause of acute canine enteritis, which oftentimes leads to severe damage of a dog’s intestinal barrier.

Diagnosing Parvo in Dogs

What does the diagnosis process of parvo in dogs look like? If your dog is exhibiting any of the aforementioned symptoms — vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, for example — a visit to the veterinarian is highly recommended. 

“Parvo can be diagnosed quickly at a veterinary clinic using a test kit that works similar to a home pregnancy test,” Shannon explains. “The test kit uses a swab to collect a fecal sample from the dog’s rectum and provides a result in 10 minutes. It’s easy and provides the veterinarians and pet owners the information they need to make decisions about medical care.”

Treating Parvo in Dogs

Once parvo in dogs is diagnosed, immediate treatment begins to ensure that the dog feels his best and isn’t addled down with unnecessary and debilitating symptoms. It is also crucial to remain vigilant about preventing other secondary bacterial infections that may accompany (and exacerbate) parvo in dogs. One such method is to keep dogs properly hydrated to avoid dehydration.

“Treatment for parvo involves supporting the body while the virus is shed. Fluids are given either through IV or subcutaneously (under the skin in the shoulder area) to prevent dehydration,” explains Shannon. “Anti-vomiting meds are also given to stop the loss of fluids. Antibiotics are administered to prevent sepsis. Dogs with parvo are contagious for up to 14 days but are generally stable sooner than that with supportive care.”

Prognosis for Parvo in Dogs

So, what is the prognosis for parvo in dogs? Parvo in dogs is extremely serious and can result in death, especially when it is overlooked by shelters, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a parvo diagnosis has to be fatal. There are ways to make parvo manageable and most importantly, there are many actions you can take to prevent parvo in dogs in the first place.

“Early diagnosis is key to successful parvo treatment,” Shannon explains. “Dogs who receive timely treatment have an 80% chance of survival. For dogs with additional medical issues compromising the immune system, such as fleas or intestinal parasites, or if treatment is delayed, the chance of recovery decreases.”

The Future of Parvo in Dogs

Through the massive strides Shannon Wells and her anti-Parvo clinic have taken to better dog’s overall health, it’s clear that we can make a difference in parvo in dogs. And even prevent parvo in dogs.

“Many animal shelters don’t treat parvo cases, because the virus is contagious to other dogs. But we’ve been able to demonstrate that it can be done even in an old municipal shelter building by converting a tiny 100-square-foot locker room into a quarantine space,” Shannon says of her clinic.

She adds, “I believe every sick dog deserves treatment and a chance at recovery. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying. The good news is that the odds are in our favor if we are willing to try. And even when it doesn’t go our way, we take comfort in knowing we did what we could to treat each dog’s life with value.”

Thumbnail: Photography ©gaikphotos | Thinkstock.

Read more about dog health and care on Dogster.com:

Bad Dog Breath — 8 Home Remedies

What’s Up With Your Dog’s Runny Nose?

Dog Tooth Infection Signs and Treatments

The post Parvo in Dogs — What Every Dog Parent Must Know by Stephanie Osmanski appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.