Getting a Puppy.

To start our adoption process, go to

http://www.kushinda-ridgebacks.org

Be sure you have a fenced in yard!
Read through our Breeder/New Owner Contract and Health Guarantee for Pet Quality Puppy/Dog on our Relevant Documents page.
Download and read our "eduactionally interactive" New Puppy/Dog Owner's Interview/Application Form on our Relevant Documents page.
At this time, please feel free to browse about our Kushinda Web Site, most all of your questions can be answered by doing so!
Then please email Kushinda@pobox.com with Subject: "Kushinda 2012 Summer Puppy" and let us know in your email what qualities you are looking for:
- a male/female puppy,
- show/pet quality,
- ridged/ridgeless (We appreciate all Ridgebacks at Kushinda, so we do not kill ridgeless pups as other so-called breeders do),
- where you are located, and
- your phone number?
IF you are seriously interested in adopting a Kushinda Puppy/Dog, please go ahead and attach your completed Interview/Application Form to your email to set up a telephone appointment to discuss the adoption (i.e., your fenced in yard, Interview Sheet, family lifestyle) and to schedule your meet-and-greet, beginning July 24th in Chambersburg, PA!

Please note that our Adoption Process has been used for nearly 30 years and serves both your well fare in obtaining that “perfect” puppy/dog and the well being of our Kushinda puppy/dog. We use your answers to identify a match with an available puppy/dog. Consider your investment in spending the effort to follow our recommendations as part of your continued research endeavor in finding your first/next Rhodesian Ridgeback. Our goal is to place one puppy/dog, one time, with one owner, for one entire lifetime. Your cooperation is very much appreciated! Remember, you are initating a life changing event with your new/next Kushinda Ridgeback and we will be there 7/24 to address all of your questions throughout your Kushinda Ridgeback’s lifetime! Yes, when your 12 year old Kushinda Ridgeback throws up in your kitchen in the middle of the night, we expect you to contact us - as we will be there throughout those geriatric years as well. Once we have your completed your completed New Puppy/Dog Owner's Interview/Application Form you will be encouraged to join our Yahoo! Kushnda List to meet previous/current Kushinda Ridgeback Owners. Best wishes in your search! Kimma & Kammi

We also have a year old black nosed, ridgeless Male pup, named Hans who is looking for a knowledgeable Ridgeback person to spend time with him! He'd enjoy the companion of another dog to play with as well. Please visit our Available Young Ridgebacks page for more information.

First Aid Kit for New Puppy

vKushinda Ridgeback First Aid Kit

(Effective: 10.30.01 Created by: Kammi Kai Hefner Edited: Ver 1.1 07.04.02)

These items are essential for your Ridgeback’s First Aid Kit. There are many other supplies you may wish to have as well, but these are what we ask that you obtain at a minimum. These items can be purchased at Wal-Mart in the human section:

Benedryl – 25gm capsules

Pepto Bismol – liquid ONLY (tablets DO NOT work with dogs)

Metamucil – unflavored powder

Rice – long grain enriched rice (white)

Several cans of canned dog food.

Condition: Hives

Many dogs, in general are susceptible to insect bytes and bee stings. When bitten they react by breaking out in to hives. Sometimes hives can be caused by a reaction to a vaccination. The hives can be visibly seen with the naked eye and can occur anywhere on the dog’s body (eye lids, mouth, dew flaps, legs, back, stomach, hip, tail, etc.) at any time after being bitten or stung.

You will notice hives when the dog seems to have small raised places (little bumps) through out his coat, yet there is no foreign body causing the skin to rise up. It is literally the skin tissue that is raised up. You may also notice the hives increasing in radius size – from pea-size up to egg-size. The hive will not only take up surface area on the dog’s body, but they will also be raised up off the dog’s body in height. The hives may also seem to spread and cover a larger area of the dog (i.e., they may start on the front leg and spread up the neck and across the back in a matter of 15 minutes). Yes, you can literally see them grow in some cases.

The age of the dog does not seem to factor in to predicting how severely your dog will react to a byte or sting. I have seen many youngsters get hives and just a few older dogs. This may be attributed to the fact that older dogs have learned from previous unpleasant experiences not to chase and byte at flying bees, hornets, yellow jackets, or wasps. So be prepared no matter how old your dog is …

Hives that you see on the outside of your dog’s body have more than likely developed on the inside as well. What we worry most about is the respiratory system getting shut down. In severe cases the air way could become closed.

Our goal is to prevent this and provide you with enough guidance that you can immediately treat this condition. However, this is no way is a substitute for taking your dog to your closest veterinarian if you feel necessary.

In most of the cases I have seen (including my Chinese Shar-Pei), I was able to treat the hives with Benedryl at home. In the other cases I also administered 4cc of Dexamethasone. When we are lure coursing on some field out in the middle of no where there may not be the luxury of finding a veterinary in a timely fashion. As you can imagine I carry Dexamethasone in the van.

Being Prepared for: Hives

Buy a bottle of 100 pills ($4.96 at Wal-Mart) of Benedryl (or Wal-Mart’s Equate brand – Allergy Medication) to treat hives. Use zip lock bags to create 10 small bags that you will distribute around the puppy’s environment. Such as the glove compartment in all of your vehicles, your briefcase, your purse, the kitchen junk drawer, the tool box in the garage, silverware drawer, etc.

Immediate Treatment: Benedryl

You will use Benedryl (or Wal-Mart’s Equate brand – Allergy Medication) to treat hives.

Note the time you first see hives (i.e., 10/30/2001 3:07:00 PM).

Immediately give your dog two (2) Benedryl pills. You will have the Benedryl stashed all over the house! You will not have time to run and get it. And yes, your children need to know where at least two (2) of these pills are that they can get to in an emergency.

Put your dog in its crate so you can monitor their condition.

Notify your vet that your dog has hives, find out if they are open (until when), what Drs are on duty, etc.

Call Kimma H:(717) 267-2030 C:(717) 860-7778 or

Kammi H:(304) 825-6105 C:(304) 216-3617 and let us know what’s up?

45 minutes later, if you have not seen the size or frequency of the hives either stop, decrease, or slow down, give your dog another two (2) Benedryl pills and head for your vets.

If you are more than hour from your vet, you should load up and head for the vet immediately after giving the first two pills. This way you will be there in time, in the event you need veterinary intervention.

Immediate Treatment: Benedryl

You may find that your dog does not seem to be in any immediate danger, yet you can still see the hives. There are two ways to approach this:

1) In four hour intervals …

Implementation Notes:

Do not worry that you may give too much Benedryl. In a real emergency I have given as many as four (4) pills at the onset and 45 minutes later four (4) more pills. I could literally see the dog’s eyes disappearing behind the hives and I did not want to risk it.

Do not worry that your children give out the Benedryl when your dog really did not actually have hives. Better safe than sorry. Two Benedryl pills will not hurt your dog,

How do I get my dog to take the Benedryl pills? Wrap them in cream cheese, Cheez Wiz, or their favorite treat.

=====================================================================

Condition: Upset Stomach and/or Diarrhea

By the time you pick up your Kushinda puppy/dog, they will have already experienced the wonderful taste of Pepto Bismol. You should schedule at least three more three day training sessions. At this time add a Tablespoon of Pepto to their food. When you really need to treat them you do not want pink liquid hanging from your kitchen ceiling because they shook their head at the distaste of the Pepto. So we train them early on to accept this foreign taste.

Being Prepared for: Upset Stomach and/or Diarrhea

Buy a bottle of Pepto Bismol liquid. You may use a generic brand.

=====================================================================

Condition: Upset Stomach and/or Diarrhea

Condition: Projectile Vomiting

If you ever suspect your dog has eaten a towel or piece of one. Please remember to give them Metamucil in their food for three/four days. Give about 2 heaping Tablespoons full.

Call us if you need do this treatment.

The Metamucil will attach to the fiber of the towel and help to move it through the intestine.

Condition:

Nu Vet pet tabs

All Kushinda Ridgebacks are on NuVet.

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Alfalfa
Alpha Amylase
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Blue Green Algae
Brewers Yeast
Cats Claw (Uno de Gato)
Desiccated Liver
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Oyster Shell
Papain
Pine Bark (Proanthocyanidid)
Potassium
Selenium
Shark Cartilage
Taurine
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Whey Protein
Zinc
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L Methionine - Improves skin and coat, reduces fatigue, prevents excess fat buildup in the liver.Back to List
Oyster Shell - Rich source of calcium required by the structural framework of the bones. It also aids in the proper functioning of the heart, nerves and muscles.Back to List
Papain - aids in protein digestion, and helps to cleanse the tissues and intestinal walls of all waste matter.Back to List
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Shark Cartilage - Anti-inflammatory healing agent that has also been shown to be effective in hip dysplasia, arthritis and my shrink tumors by impeding the formation of blood vessels to the tumor.Back to List
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Whey Protein - Builds and maintains muscle mass. Boosts the immune system which protects against viruses and bacteria.Back to List
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Kushinda Ridgeback Puppy Watch & Care

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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