<P> Chinchillas live active lives and can recover well from physical injury . Treating any bone fractures or wounds in chinchillas is done much in the same way as with any other animal . In treating wounds, they should be cleaned and ointments used for simple wounds . If a wound is dressed then it may be necessary to put the animal into a neck collar to prevent licking at the wound . </P> <P> Fractures are problematic because chinchillas will want to sit on their hind legs and eat with their front paws, so many types of injuries will disturb their natural eating behavior . An animal with a cast may be comforted by hand feeding . </P> <P> If a limb fracture does not heal properly a vet may recommend an amputation . Chinchillas are able to live happily in captivity if an injury results in the need for amputation of an arm or leg . </P> <P> Chinchilla breeders sometimes report seeing their animals have convulsions . Typically this happens only irregularly and then only for a few seconds, and not more than a few minutes at the most . Convulsions are a symptom that can have many causes, including a brain problem such as hemorrhaging, a vitamin or dietary element deficiency in the diet, or some kind of nervous system injury . If convulsions are observed after chinchillas mate then it is not unlikely that they are related to a circulatory problem . </P>

Where does the last name chinchilla come from