Chapter

                                          1 - INTRODUCTION TO CHINCHILLA OWNERSHIP

                                                Should You Own a Chinchilla?
                                                What Types of Chinchillas Are Available?
                                                Chinchilla  Colours

                                          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?

                                          3 - EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

                                               The Cage
                                               Making a Cage
                                               Where to get the Makings for a Cage
                                               Cleaning the cage
                                               Water Bottles
                                               The Bath
                                               Food Dishes

                                          4 - NUTRITION

                                               Basic rules for feeding a chinchilla
                                               Vitamins
                                               Grains
                                               Aflatoxins and mycotoxins
                                               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
                                               Impaction
                                               Seizure Problems
                                               Other Health issues
                                               Heart Disease
                                               Shock
                                               Pneumonia
                                               Heat Stroke
                                               Broken Bones
                                               Liver Failure
                                               Blister Beetle poisoning
                                               Ears
                                               Eyes
                                               Ringworm
                                               Psychological needs
                                               Fur Chewing
                                               Exercise
                                               First Aid kit for Chinchillas
                                               Feeding a Sick Chinchilla
                                               Hematologic levels for chinchillas

                                          7 - DIARRHEA

                                                Problems of Diarrhea

                                          8 - TOOTH PROBLEMS

                                                Problems of the Teeth

                                          9 - SHOWING YOUR CHINCHILLA

                                               Who sponsors the show?
                                               Preparation for the Show
                                               Traveling to the show
                                               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 Parisites
                                                Diabetes
                                                Vitamin C
                                                Reference

                                          REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING
                                          Available Published Literature Searches
                                          Internet Resources
                                          Appendix A