To Stay healthy and happy a chinchilla needs some interaction with you outside it's cage. Before you let your new pet out of its cage for its evening romp. You Must hand train it. Whats the use of having a pet you cannot handle and has you running all over the room trying to catch it and in doing so, probably terrifying the poor thing half to death. See our pages on training a chinchilla.
In between times you are getting it hand trained get the room it will be having free 'run' time made chinproof!
Remove any breakable objects and block off access to spaces behind refrigerators, ovens, gaps in bath, anywhere they can be trapped. Chinchillas, like all rodents deceive how thin they are under all the fur and can squeeze into gaps you would never imagine possible. While the chinchilla is exploring, watch it carefully to make sure it doesn't gnaw on electrical cords--or your furniture! A playpen is ideal for containing a full grown chinchilla and allows you interaction with your pet. Make sure you have covered to the top. Chinchillas can jump or climb really high.
A hallway usually doesn't have many danger points - beware of someone opening the door though as chinchilla make make a quick escape. Also beware staircase rails. Many a chinchilla has lost it's life to getting through the gap and falling a great height.
Some cases of constipation or very loose droppings:
are due to wrong feeding or in worst case scenario chewing on plastic or other hazards around your home. If it has chewed on something toxic, childrens toys are often chewable plastic. this may cause a blockage in digestive tract.
on the other hand of course:
Too many treats etc: Please consider the size of the treat you are giving as regards the size of a chinchillas stomach. A thumbnail sized piece of apple is a rough guide for size of treat you feed your chinchillas.
Wrong feeding often results in dark urine. Apple branch bark can cause this so watch out for this as a possibility. Removing the branches for a few days will determine if indeed it is the bark causing it. Just cut back on the branches, or remove the bark in future.
If worried about urine or if chinchilla making a squeeking noise when passing droppings, droppings are extremely small or non existant? Please consult a vet who can have a visual and also do a physically examination on the chinchilla where we cannot.