Finding a Vet

When you decide to get a chinchilla, make sure you find a competent vet who will be able to see to your chinchilla’s basic needs, as well as serious needs that could arise unexpectedly. An experienced vet can make the difference of life and death in your chinchilla, and so picking a vet that is knowledgable in chinchillas is a must! Here are few things to ask when trying to find a vet…

• Does this vet currently work on exotic animals, including chinchillas?
• Is the vet equipped to perform the procedures, including surgeries on chins?
• Is this vet certified with their local veterinary association?
• What is this vet’s payment methods?
• What is the average price for a checkup on a chin?
• What are the vets normal hours during a week?
• Who does this vet recommend their customers to for exotic emergencies if the vet office is not a 24 hour center? (get a number to call in case of emergency!)

Remember, call around to many vet offices and make sure that the vet you pick you feel confident in. If you want to, ask the vet for a recommendation on their experience with exotics. My vets have included the Washington State University Teaching Hospital, Ponti Vet Clinic, and currently, our vet is loacted in Idaho, at Kootenai Animal Hospital. I love having these facilities for normal check ups and emergencies. We may have to drive 20 miles and cross the state border, but having a competent vet is worth it! So shop around, and pick the vet that YOU feel comfortable having your chinchilla seen by, even if its further than you would PREFER!