What does vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs look like?
Symptoms. A pig suffering from vitamin C deficiency may appear weak and lethargic, have difficulty moving, lose weight and stop eating, display a rough coat, or have diarrhea. Some pigs might have internal bleeding. You may also notice a small exterior wound bleeding excessively or not healing correctly.
Signs of Vitamin C deficiency include swollen joints, reluctance to move and evidence of joint discomfort, pain and lameness. If signs of a deficiency are noted they can be treated with a vitamin C supplementation, however some of these symptoms may persist for the rest of the guinea pig's life.
- Poor hair coat.
- Swellings or sores around the mouth/lips.
- Delayed wound healing.
- Poor appetite.
- Lethargy.
- Diarrhea.
- Difficulty moving or enlarged joints.
The most common and initial signs of scurvy in guinea pigs is a poor hair coat, poor ability to heal or fight infection, poor appetite, weight loss, and lethargy. Other common symptoms can include dental disease, bone weakness, body pain, and bloody diarrhea.
Ensure there is enough vitamin C in your pet's diet by feeding vegetables that are high in it such as fresh kale, parsley, red or green capsicum, spinach and broccoli. A small amount of fresh good quality guinea pig pellets (eg Oxbow, Vetafarm or Burgess) each day can provide adequate vitamin C.
For guinea pigs deficient in vitamin C, 30 mg per kilogram of body weight of vitamin C is needed until the signs of scurvy are gone. Usually, recovery takes about 1 week.
Because vitamin C usually degrades rather quickly, it is crucial to also offer your guinea pig vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruit on a daily basis. About 1/8 cup of pellets once a day—supplemented by hay and fresh vegetables as described below—will be enough.
All guinea pigs should receive a vitamin C tablet or liquid vitamin C directly by mouth every day, rather than in their drinking water, since the vitamin also breaks down rapidly in water and loses its potency.
Since vitamin C is important for so many different parts of the body, there are a whole range of symptoms that your piggie could develop if they don't have enough of it. You may see that they have a poor coat, ulcers on their skin or gums, diarrhoea, tooth problems, or swollen feet or joints.
Fresh greens/vegetables
Guinea pigs' need fresh greens and vegetables every day to help them get enough vitamin C (they can't produce it themselves). Our vets' advise one teacup of greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day, which can be split into morning and evening feeds.
Can I put vitamin C in my guinea pigs water?
For these reasons, adding vitamin C to guinea pig's drinking water is not recommended. The best way to supplement vitamin C is either through vitamin C tablets or liquids given directly to the guinea pig or through the fresh foods they eat. Abbott and Proctor and Gamble make flavored vitamin C liquids for children.
Your guinea pig may be dehydrated if you see any of these problems: thick sticky saliva, crusty eyes, poor appetite, small amounts of dark colored urine, or hard dry fecal pellets. In order to correct dehydration, extra water must be given to your guinea pig.
Guinea pigs that develop scurvy will often require supplementation with injectable vitamin C to increase the rate of recovery, as well as prevent further deterioration. They can then be maintained on an oral supplement while the diet is being improved.
Foods like carrots, kiwifruit, berries, and pineapple are also great as a source of Vitamin C and a tasty treat for your guinea pigs but only feed them a few times a week, not every day, as these foods have quite a high sugar content.
Feed fruits and other vegetables to your guinea pig as a treat. Cucumbers, guava, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberry, peas, tomatoes, and kiwi are good sources of Vitamin C for guinea pigs.
Excessive Vitamin C intake has been linked to the development of kidney and bladder stones, worsening arthritis symptoms and poor growth amongst young piggies.
Kale is packed with vitamin C and is in fact higher in this vitamin than most other vegetables with about the same amount per 100g as a kiwi fruit and twice as much as an orange. This nutrient is vital for guinea pigs as they can't make vitamin C but need to take it in their food.
Besides pellets, the second main source of vitamin C in guinea pig diets is fresh veg. Options that are particularly high in vitamin C include kale, parsley, spinach, salad peppers and broccoli (the florets not the stems). As a general guide, most of your guinea pig's veg portion should be leafy greens.
Fresh greens/vegetables
Guinea pigs' need fresh greens and vegetables every day to help them get enough vitamin C (they can't produce it themselves). Our vets' advise one teacup of greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day, which can be split into morning and evening feeds.
Vitamin C deficiency, also known as Scurvy, is a common disease in our pet guinea pigs. The average guinea pig requires 10-20 mg of vitamin C every day. An unhealthy guinea pig may need 100 mg of vitamin C daily so temporarily increase the dose if you suspect your guinea pig is becoming sick.
