The Joy of Chinchiilas
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION TO CHINCHILLA OWNERSHIP
History and Background of Chinchillas
Should You Own a Chinchilla?
What Types of Chinchillas Are
Available?
Chinchilla Colors
2. THINGS
TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A CHINCHILLA
Where Do You Get a Chinchilla?
What Are Your Plans for the
Chinchillas?
What should it cost?
How many should you buy?
Should You Buy a Male or a Female?
What Age is Best?
How Do You Choose a Healthy
Chinchilla?
Don't buy the animal if...
3. EQUIPMENT
AND SUPPLIES
The Cage
Making a Cage
Where to get the Materials for
a Cage
Cleaning the cage
Water Bottles
The Bath
Food Dishes
4. NUTRITION
Vitamins
Grains
Aflatoxins and mycotoxins --
are you feeding your animals poison?
Other miscellaneous nutrients
5. HANDLING
A CHINCHILLA
Catching a chinchilla
Traveling with or without your
chinchilla
6. CHINCHILLA
HEALTH
Health Norms
Basic practices for good health
Problems of the Digestive system
Constipation Problems
Intestinal prolapse
Impaction
Seizure Problems
Other Health Issues
Psychological needs
First Aid kit for Chinchillas
Feeding Sick Animals
Hemotological Levels for Chinchillas
Blood Chemistries
7. DIARRHEA
Problems of Diarrhea
Infectious Diseases
Treatment of Animals with Diarrhea
8. TOOTH
PROBLEMS
Problems of the Teeth
9. SHOWING
YOUR CHINCHILLA
Who sponsors the show?
Preparation for the Show
Traveling
Handling animals at the show
10 MATERNITY
AND GERIATRICS
Breeding
Pregnancy
Other things that can go wrong
C-Section
Pediatrics
Sexing a chinchilla
Geriatric care
Grieving
11. QUESTIONS
STILL OPEN
Rodent classification/DNA
Cardiac problems
Giardia and other parasites
Diabetes
Vitamin C
REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING
APPENDIX