Chinchillas need the same caging as most ferrets and other rodents. Preferably a large wire cage with the bars close together. Wire bottom cages are not recommended for chinchillas. Their feet can get caught in the wire bottom cages resulting in broken legs. Use Carefresh or kiln dried pine shavings as a substrate. Avoid cedar at all costs as it can cause respiratory distress. The food dishes should be attached to the side. The cage should have plenty of toys and hide boxes that are replaceable and chewable. Use upside-down water bottles filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Chinchillas are very sensitive to the heat. Temperatures
above 80 degrees Fahrenheit are dangerous.
Chinchillas must be kept dry. Keeping a chinchilla’s coat clean is important, so it must have regular dust baths in order to keep out dirt. Chinchilla dust is available in most pet stores; it's best to put it in a large bowl that's big enough for the chinchilla to roll around in. It's a good idea to allow your chinchilla to "bathe" daily. Be sure to remove the bowl after your chinchilla is done "bathing" to prevent eye irritations.
Chinchillas are not capable of digesting sugar. Too much sugar can lead to diarrhea and even diabetes. As a result it is important to feed them a diet that does not have sugar in it.
A good diet consists of chinchilla pellets mixed with guinea pig pellets, and timothy hay. The guinea pig and chinchilla pellets have plenty of vitamin C, which is a very important part of a chinchilla's diet. The timothy hay provides needed 'ruffage' as well as bedding material for them, as they like to use it to make nests.
Normally chinchillas are healthy animals but there are circumstances under which they can have health problems. It is very important that you find a veterinarian in your area that is experienced with chinchillas.
Of course one of the best methods for keeping a chinchilla healthy is to avoid certain things that can harm them. Their diet is critical in sustaining good health; poor diet is a common cause of health afflictions. Try to avoid sugary foods, as they can't digest sugar too well. Many chinchilla owners will give their chinchilla a raisin or two daily as a treat. What is important to remember is that a raisin is a treat and is not part of the normal diet.
A common health problem is diarrhea. This can be the result of too many treats like raisins. If this happens then try decreasing the amount of treats that they receive. There is also the possibility that it could be caused by something else in their diet. If decreasing or eliminating treats does not help and it does not appear to be a diet problem then you should seek professional help.
Another common health problem concerns teeth. Chinchilla teeth should be deep yellow or orange. This is normal and is not the result of tooth decay. A chinchilla with white teeth is sick and need immediate veterinary attention.
Because chinchilla teeth grow continuously like any other rodent they must have a way to file them down to keep them from growing too long. Many people report that pumice stones are of great help. Pumice stones can usually be acquired from body shop stores. You must make sure that a chinchilla's pumice stone has no dyes or chemicals, it should say "all natural" on the label. If your chinchilla starts drooling or has watery eyes it needs to be taken to the veterinarian. This is where it's critical for a veterinarian to be fully knowledgeable of chinchilla care and treatment. Should the teeth need to be operated on, chinchillas need very specific anesthetic amounts.