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