Regular veterinarians rarely know about chinchillas and many Exotic Pet Veterinarians do not know/or do not know enough about, chinchillas because they are fairly new to the pet world, when compaired to other animals. Sometimes you have to "shop around" until you find one (knowledgeable vet), that is willing to do the research and willing to take the extra time to learn. This is why I always strongly suggest finding the vet before you get your chin, and once you get one, take your little one in for a wellness check up as soon as you get him, so the vet will have something to compare to, should he get sick. Home medical logs are also very helpful. (Weight, food and water consumption, etc.)
The two books
"The Joy of Chinchillas" {researched, written and compiled by Betti Cogswell, RN, Lani Ritchey, and Roxane Beeman -the founders of The California Chinchilla Association. at
www.cachins.org under 'store'} and
"After 40 Years Alice Kline Talks About Chinchillas", {written by Alice Kline at
http://www.mutationchinchillas.com/ under General Store} both are a must for chinchilla owners and vets, to my way of thinking. When my vet left for Florida, I loaned my new vet copies, until he could get his own.
For those having a "Christmas Wish List" ... your little one would greatly appreciate it, if a copy of at least one of these would be at the top of your list. 
My little ones get a few nibbles of fresh banana almost every day. They look forward to it and grind their teeth in appreciation as they eat it.
At the point your little one is now, [little or no poos] I would suggest one almond, or slivers of almond = to one almond, (as a rule, I will not suggest nuts of any kind ... but when it comes to their digestive tract becoming blocked or shutting down, it is one thing that usually seems to work.) If he will not eat it on his own, I grind it up and mix it with critical care. The almond tends to stimulate the bowels. Once your little one's bowels shut down, he/she headed for the end of the road, if you can not get them going again.
Each of us use different methods and ingredients we give our chins. I don't give my chin canned anything ... caned food is processed and has preservatives in it. Also, any thing that gives humans gas will usually give chinchillas gas. Some of these are broccoli, beans, pumpkin and sweet potatoes. We each have to choose what we think is best for our little ones.
I'm hoping the apt on friday isn't too late. But they can't see him for x-rays till then.
A statement like this, by your vet's employee, makes me wonder ... any professional, knowing very much about chinchillas would know, once your chin's illness is obvious to you, it could be almost to late. Once you know your chin needs a vet ... as a general rule ...he should have been seen yesterday, not several days in the future. Chinchillas 'go down' to quick to have to wait. A knowledgeable vet should know this.
Jo Ann
