Editor in Chief: Alicia Colletti

General Manager: Alicia Colletti

VP: Alicia Colletti

Art Director: Alicia Colletti

Copy Chief: Alicia Colletti

Executive Editor: Alicia Colletti

Assistant Editor: Alicia Colletti

Creative Director: Alicia Colletti

Managing Editor: Alicia Colletti

Photo Director: Alicia Colletti

Production Manager: Alicia Colletti

Senior Web Producer: Alicia Colletti

Senior Web Editor: Alicia Colletti

Interactive Designer: Alicia Colletti

Masthead

Table of ContentsIn Every Issue:

Reader-Write-Ins: Pages 7-8

Favorite Photos: Pages 10-11; 14

Q&A: Page 30

In This Issue:

Exercising for you and your pet: Pages 15

Halloween Candy: Page 19

The Cat Burglar: Page 21

Dock Diving 101: Pages 26-28

http://www.pawpringmagazine.weebly.com

Letter from the EditorI’ve always been a pet person; the type to go to a party and make friends with the dog or the one the cat cuddles up on. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to save all of the animals in the world; they all deserved homes and happiness and love. While realistically I now know that I cannot, in fact, save them all, I can do something to make the lives of pets more enjoyable. Some people, unlike me, didn’t grow up in a house full of animals. I had birds, dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles- I’ve just about had it all, but not everyone has, in my opinion, been so lucky. For the people who are new pet parents, I hope this magazine brings you knowledge and confidence in raising your new family member. For the people who are a bit more experienced, I hope this magazine can increase your knowledge and help you think outside of the box. My goal for PawPrint is to inspire people. I want to inspire people to open their homes to pets and to make their pets’ lives as full as they make ours.

In this issue, you will find photos and stories from pet parents, just like you. They may be comical, serious or inspiring, but they’re real life stories and photos. You’ll also read an article about a hot up-and-coming trend for dogs called dock diving; what it is, why it’s beneficial. But wait- there’s more! This issue also features an exclusive article on the importance of exercising with your dog.

I hope you enjoy PawPrint as much as I do. I hope you learn, get inspired and get creative.

Wishing you and your pet health and happiness, Alicia M. Colletti Alicia M. Colletti Editor-in-Chief

5

Reader-Write-Ins

“My guinea pig, Maisey, is probably the best pet I’ve ever had. She enjoys eating carrots and she loves running around the house with me. Maisey is usually very good about following me from room to room and staying within sight, however one day she got a little adventurous. I put Maisey on the bed so that I could fold a load of laundry and next thing I know, she’s launching herself off of the bed in full ‘flying squirrel’ mode. Fortunately I was able to catch her before any real damage was done, but I think we’ll stick to staying on the floor from now on.”- Jodi and Maisey

“Last year for Christmas, I decided to try to get creative with my gifts to my parents. I’m an only child so my parents and I consider our dog, Binx, my little brother. I thought it would be a good idea to have someone take a picture of Binx and me while it was snowing and turn it into an ornament for our tree, since they don’t have one for both of us. I found a photographer easier than expected, but what I didn’t expect was Binx’s reaction to the snow. Binx is getting pretty old and hasn’t shown much interest in snow for the last couple of winters, but the one day I need him to pose for me all he wanted to do was play! He spent the first twenty minutes running around and trying to eat snowflakes while I chased him and tried to get him to pose. It took a while, but we finally got a great picture!”- Brandi and Binx

Reader-Write-Ins

“My husband decided to surprise me for our 5th wedding anniversary by getting profession-al pictures of our daughter, Maggie, and our dog, Ginger. He got them to pose a couple dif-ferent ways and had some printed and framed for me. This one was my favorite!”- Rebecca

“My wife and I are new parents to a beautiful baby boy named Mason. Our dog, Chance, is now taking his ‘guard dog’ role vey seriously.” -Brian

“I left my husband home with our son while I went food shopping. This is the picture he sent me to let me know that all was well at home.”- Ali

FAVORITE

Cookie, age 3

Cabo, Cuervo, Citron; age 6 weeks

Ginger, age 4 months

PHOTOS

Nala, age 4Specks, age 2

Nala, age 9

FAVORITE PHOTOSJim, age 38 with Kahn, age 17

Our favorite writers...

Exercise for you and your pup! Health plays a very important role in both you and your dogs lives. That terrible, sickly feeling most people feel when unhealthy also affects your dog in the same way. Keep-ing your pet healthy through daily exercise and maintaining a proper diet are key ways to keep your dog happy. Devan Barker, a veterinary technician student, says that keeping your dog healthy is one of the most important things you can do for them. An unhealthy dog can lead to numerous problems such as bad behavior, diseases and even death, Devan explains. Learning ways to keep your dog healthy is a must for any owner. Just like humans, each dog needs a certain amount of exercise each day. The only catch is that each breed of dog needs a different amount exercise. Devan explains that dog breeds that are known for herding and sporting, such as cocker spaniels and boarder collies, need a lot more exercise than other breeds. These types of dogs were bred to herd and fetch animals that were hunted so they naturally need more exercise. They should get at least 60 to 90 minutes of high intensity exer-cise a day.

Each breed of dog needs a different amount of exer-

cise... Other breed types, the toy and brachycephalic dogs, such as a poodle or a bulldog, still need exercise but not nearly the amount that the sporting breeds need. Due to their squished faces, bulldogs aren’t able to breath as well as most other breeds which can cause overheating if they get too much exercise.Devan says something to keep in mind before taking your dog for a walk is the weather. They can suffer from outside dan-gers just as much as humans can. Devan has seen numerous cases of heat stroke from people not realizing that dogs need to be cooled. Another major problem people forget is that if the ground is too cold, dogs can get frostbite which can lead to detrimental problems, however if the ground is too hot it can burn their paws. Keeping these things in mind, there are plenty of things dog owners can do to keep their pup active. First, there’s

just plain old walking. Just a short 30-minute walk makes all the difference when it comes to your dog’s health (and yours, too!). Along with walking, Devan also suggests running. It not only keeps your dog healthy but it also helps to calm them down. Swimming is another great exercise you can do with your dog. Swimming helps with all the muscles in your dog’s body. This will keep your dog lean and energized. This is the best form of exercise for older dogs; it relieves stress from joints and helps relax muscles. Just remember, if it’s too cold for you to swim, it’s too cold for your pup to swim, too. An exercising tip for all dog owners is to research the breed. Find out how much exercise they need. Find out if there are any health concerns to keep an eye out for that exercise could help with. Your dog will thank you for it!

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By Victora Kloss

PawPrint Check out the new PawPrint App! This app will provide a list of local shelters based on your exact location, suggest fun ways to exercise with your pet, provide extra favorite photos and

videos and much more!

The PawPrint App is available for anyone with a smartphone for $3.99. Free with a subscription to PawPrint Magazine.

Forget ghosts and goblins: food poisoning is the scariest thing dogs encounter during the Halloween holiday. Petplan pet insurance found that pets are 32% more likely to suffer food poisoning during Halloween week versus any other time of the year. Among the top tox-ins? Chocolate!

Chocolate is poisonous to pets...

So Rover raids the Halloween haul. How’s a pet parent to know if he’s in danger of food poisoning? Petplan’s veterinarians have put together the following step-by-step plan to help pet parents if they find themselves in this situation on Halloween.

Chocolate is poisonous to pets because it contains toxic theobromine, and different types of chocolate affect pets differently because they have varying levels of theobromine. Baking chocolate has the highest concen-tration, and is therefore the most toxic – followed by dark, milk and then white chocolate.

If a dog eats chocolate, pet parents need to know three things: how much theobromine the chocolate contains, how much your dog ate and how much he weighs. If your dog ingests close to 20mg of theobromine per pound of body weight, he’s in the danger zone for food poisoning.

Milligrams of theobromine per ounce:Baking chocolate – 450mg/ozDark chocolate – 160mg/ozMilk chocolate – 64mg/ozWhite chocolate – 1mg/ozHere’s how to do the math: Multiply the ounces of chocolate ingested by the milligrams of theobromine per ounce and divide that by the weight of the dog in pounds. The closer the resulting number is to 20, the worse the toxic effects will haunt him. For example:

A 25-lb. dog who eats 3 ounces of milk chocolate:3oz x 64mg/oz = 192/25lbs = 7.7mg/lb (non-toxic level of theobromine)

A 25-lb. dog who eats 3 ounces of dark chocolate:3oz x 160mg/oz = 480/25lbs = 19.2mg/lb (dangerous level of theobromine)

What to do next: A number close to 20 indicates a toxic level of theobromine that can terrorize a pet’s health. Get to the vet or an emergency clinic immediately! If the number is well below 20, your pet’s tummy may turn on him, but you don’t need to be spooked. Call the

vet for tips on how to treat signs of trouble.

What to do when the dog eats Halloween Candy...

By Modern Dog

Our favorite writers...

19

This cat does more than merely fetch. London film editor Rachel Meyrick says her 2-year-old Sia-mese Cwtch (pronounced “kutsch,” which means “cuddle” in Welsh) has always had a gift for retrieving. But shortly after Meyrick and her Texas-born husband, photographer Ray Lewis, 43, had a baby last year, their kitty turned into a klepto.

“Since my daughter Dinah was born in December it’s been crazy,” says Meyrick, 38. Cwtch has scoured backyards and possibly even ducked through open windows to filch and drag home four teddy bears, a stuffed rabbit, a dinosaur, a dolphin and an elephant—so many toys that the couple put up signs (and a Web site) offering to return them to

their rightful owners. So far, none have been claimed. “It’s a genuine, care-taking behavior,” says British animal psychologist Roger Mug-ford. “The cat is sharing the success of hunting and treating humans as though they are members of a feline

fraternity.”

The Cat Burglar By Pete Norman

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DOCK DIVING 101Todays Top Tails

A typical day for a dog owner usually involves a few walks here and there, maybe a trip to the park or playing in the yard. But now there’s a new trend keeping dogs and dog parents active: dock diving. Dock diving is an aquatic sport for dogs that is broken into three events:• Big Air— This is a long jump event in which the handler (pet parent) stands on the end of a 40-foot-long dock with a toy in his/her hand. The dog has to sit and stay on the far end of the dock- the end away from the water. On the handler’s signal, the dog runs toward the water and the handler throws the toy as far as they can into the water. The dog jumps into the water to retrieve the toy. This is judged based on the distance the dog jumps from the dock. • Speed Retrieve— This is a timed event in which the toy is anchored at the far end of the pool approx-imately 2 inches above the water. The dog runs and jumps off the dock and swims to retrieve the toy. The time starts when the dog leaves the dock and stops when the toy is removed from its anchor. This is the newest of the three events and is judged by time.• Extreme Vertical— This is a height measuring event. The toy is anchored above the water about 8 feet away from the dock. The toy starts at 4 feet 6 inches above the water and is increased by 2 inches after every jump. The dog who can get the toy at the highest incre-ment wins. The world record for this event is 8 feet 10 inches above the water.According to Brian Faust, the VP of Keystone Dock Dogs, dock diving is the largest growing aquatic dog sport in the world and has been for the last few years. Regardless of its growing popularity, dock diving has been slightly controversial and has experienced some negative feedback. “These dogs are athletes. Any athlete can expe-rience an injury. The dogs are no different, and unfor-tunately some people feel like dock diving is something that shouldn’t happen. But as an owner to two dock diving dogs, the benefits outweigh the possibility of injury,” Faust said. The benefits can be mental, behav-ioral, and physical. “The dog may not sit-stay and that’s one big thing these dogs have to be trained to do.” Faust and his wife, Angela, the handler, are the proud pet parents to three dogs. Two of the three are dock divers, and one of them, Cooper, is one of the top 10 dock diving dogs in the world. Cooper is an extreme vertical jumper with a personal best of 7 feet 6 inches. Faust is a teacher who spends his free time as the vice president of Keystone Dock Dogs. As the VP, he helps run the practices for the dogs, attends meetings, assists the president with his duties, and supervises the volun-

teers at events.

“These dogs are ath-letes. Any athlete can expe-rience an injury. The dogs

are no different.”

Faust has met an abundance of people through dock diving and enjoys being able to share his love of the sport with people who are also part of the dock div-ing community. One of those people is Angie Jones. 27

Jones, like Faust, is a board member at Keystone Dock Dogs. Jones got involved with Dock Dogs in 2004 with her chocolate lab, Nestlè. Nestlè started dock div-ing at the age of 2 and retired in June 2015 at the age of 13. “The sport has been great for strengthening the bond I have with Nestlè. His lengthy career has taken me all over the country to compete. I contribute his longevity in the sport to treating him like an athlete, making good nutrition and exercise a priority,” Jones stated, “Back when I started, the sport wasn’t as preva-lent as it is now.” In addition to enhancing the bond between Jones and Nestlè, dock diving has given Nestlè the opportunity to make a name for himself. After his first year, Nestlè set a world record in the extreme vertical event. He went on to win the event at the Great Out-door Games in 2005. Nestlè qualified and competed in the world championships every year from 2006-2010. In 2012, Dock Dogs expanded the world cham-pionship format to include all divisions, including the

“legends division.” This division gave dogs 10-years-old and older the ability to compete. Nestlè earned invites to compete as a legend in 2012 and 2013 when he was 10-and 11-years-old. “Nestlè was an iron dog, which means that he competed in all three events. He was an original dog in all three events, meaning he competed in each event the first year it was introduced,” Jones explained. “Nestlè and I are in the Dock Dogs Hall of Fame.” While dock diving still remains a controversial subject for some people, the dock diving world is ex-panding rapidly. Pet parents are seeing the benefits this sport can bring to their pets causing an abundance of people to join the sport. Dock diving clubs are starting to pop up in more cities. “Dock diving is a great way for a person to bond with their pet. For anyone who wants their dog to be more active, or maybe wants to wear their dog out a bit,

dock diving is the way to go.”

Ask the VetQ: Ken’s dog Blackie has been losing weight and has blow-out diarrhea. He has been tested for several types of bacte-ria, fecal tests, and just had exploratory surgery for biopsy. Dr. Brown says Blackie has – Lymphangiecpasia. I have been trying to find it with no luck. Do you have any suggestions or ideas about where to look for some good information on this? Rita A: Lymphangiectasia is dilation of the lymphatics of the small intestine. Leakage of lymph or rupture of lymphatics leads to loss of protein-rich lymph into the small intestine and protein-losing enteropathy (causes protein loss and weight loss). It can be idiopathic (unknown cause) or sec-ondary to lymphatic obstruction most commonly caused by disease of the small bowel. Diagnosis is by biopsy. Low-fat diets reduce lymphatic flow and loss. Medium chain tri-glyceride oil should be added to the diet. Anti-inflammatory doses of prednisone can be used also to reduce inflamma-tion within the intestinal wall. Prognosis is guarded.

Q: My cat was in a fight a couple of weeks ago. She had a cut under her arm (her armpit for lack of a better descriptor). I noticed tonight that the cut has swelled significantly and even has a very bad smell with it. I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do for her at home and/or if I should just take her to the vet first thing in the morning? A: Yes, there are things you can do at home but also you should take her to the vet tomorrow….she may have an abscess (hopefully your cat is current on her Rabies vacc…if not, you’ll need to talk to your vet about that tomor-row as well).An abscess occurs after a puncture wound introduces bacteria under the skin, which then gets infected and be-comes, basically, a pocket of pus. Most of the time, abscesses need to be lanced, though sometimes they rupture themselves when they become “ripe” enough. One thing you can do at home is to attempt to apply warm com-presses to the area (and if your cat won’t let you, don’t do it….it’s not worth getting bitten or scratched and these are painful until they either get lanced or rupture).Try to apply a warm compress 5 minutes or so 3 times daily.. it’s possible the abscess may rupture when you ap-ply the pressure to it, and if that happens, just clean it up with the warm compress as best you can. You can even try to gently squeeze the swelling to encourage drainage (again, depending how painful or not it is). It would be a good idea to wear latex gloves and do this in a non-carpeted area.Your cat should see the vet to have the wound examined, and discuss treatment options. Most likely your cat will need antibiotics, and again, possible treatment of the abscess (lance, flush, and possible drains placed into the wound). Don’t feed your cat in the AM before you take in her as she may need sedation or anesthesia to treat the abscess properly.