My exotic veterinarian did a general exam and found Kulu to be in good health otherwise. She also did a fecal exam on Kulu today and determined the presence of coccidia, a parasitic microbe that does not usually present on this kind of exam. This is likely the cause of the problem.
We concluded that the disruption in his diet caused by sour hay as well as his change in pelleted diet, even from 8 week ago, could have been stressors that resulted in the parasite, which was already present, to take hold and cause these symptoms. Giardia was not found in the fecal exam although it still cannot be ruled out. Other types of microbiological parasites may be present as well but it is impossible to say.
Course of treatment is five days of Panacur, a de-worming agent concurrently with ten days of Albon. The panacur is said to coat the intestines and protect them from damage as well as kill parasites. Together these medications should treat giardia or other parasites that may not have been identified. I plan on giving the meds in the evening when he is active and his bowels are most active as well.
I plan on supplementing with plain unsweetened yogurt, syringe fed if necessary, two hours after the meds, to minimize complications caused by damage to the bowel's normal cultures. I am not sure how well it actually works but I want to give him the best treatment possible.
In the afternoons I will try to give critical care (not syringe fed) to help keep his bowels moving during the day when he is least active. I was warned that the symptoms could get worse before they get better and that as long as he was eating and not showing signs of dehydration he should get better and that it could take up to six days.
I am hoping these precautions will prevent him having a bad reaction to the meds that some chinchillas do get.
Also. At the clinic he also acted very tame and climbed on the doctor's shoulder. She had a hard time getting him off and the tech had no problems weighing him. He is a very nice pet and I don't want anything to happen to him.