If you currently have Guinea Pigs or have ever looked into getting Guinea Pigs, you may be feeling overwhelmed about meeting their Vitamin C requirements.
How much Vitamin C does a Guinea Pig need each day and why is it so important? What happens if my Guinea Pig isn't getting enough Vitamin C? How do I even know if my Guinea Pig is getting enough?
Trust me, I’ve been there too! So, to put your mind at ease I’ve put together everything you need to know about your piggies Vitamin C intake..
Vitamin C is the most important part of a Guinea Pigs diet, as they aren’t able to make their own (like humans). When Guinea Pigs don’t have enough Vitamin C in their diets, they can become very ill with scurvy. Most Guinea Pigs typically need 10–20 mg of Vitamin C per day. Pregnant, nursing, young, and ill guinea pigs will need more. If you feed a good selection of vegetables high in Vitamin C along with a premium quality Guinea Pig pellet, you will likely meet the Vitamin C needs of an average piggy.
Signs of a Vitamin C deficiency + Scurvy:
Weak and lacking energy
Difficulty walking due to swollen joints
Spots or subcutaneous bleeding may be noticed just under the surface of the skin
Small wounds may bleed excessively or not heal as rapidly as normal
Internal bleeding may also be present, including in the muscles, the membranes around the skull, the brain and in the intestines
Rough fur coat
Loss of appetite with concurrent weight loss
Diarrhea
Death, if left untreated
How to supplement extra Vitamin C
Oxbow makes a Vitamin C tablet that is great for maintaining a healthy Vitamin C intake when accompanied by a complete diet. However, in the event that a Guinea Pig is deficient, chewable flavored C tables are available in 100mg sizes which can be quartered into 25mg pieces and be fed directly to your piggies. Many people have also had success with liquid Vitamin C (such as the brand “Child’s Life”) which can be found online and in health food stores. Avoid multi-vitamin supplements and do not add Vitamin C to the water.
Fruits & Vegetables high in Vitamin C and appropriate feeding frequency
Yellow and green bell peppers – 1 or 2 slices, once per day
Red and orange bell peppers – 1 or 2 slices, 2-3 times per week
Tomato – 1 or 2 slices, or one cherry tomato, once per week
Spinach – 2 or 3 small leaves, once per week
Cauliflower – 2 small florets and 2 small leaves, twice per week
Celery – 1 or 2 slices, with leaves, twice per week
Cucumber – 1 or two slices, 3 times per week
Lettuce – 1 or 2 leaves, daily
Zucchini – 5 or 6 slices (100g), daily
Broccoli – 1 floret with stem and leaf, twice per week
Carrot – 2 or 3 slices, three times per week
Squash/Pumpkin - 1 or 2 small chunks, twice per week
Apple – 1 piece, once per week
Pear – 1 piece, once per week
Strawberry – 1 small strawberry, once per week (include the leaves!)
Banana – 1 small piece (15g), once per week
Watermelon – 1 slice, three times per week (seeds removed!)
Raspberry – 1 small raspberry, twice per week
Kiwi – 2 slices, once per week
Orange – 1 orange segment, once per week
Grapes – 2 small grapes, once per week
Cherry – 1 cherry, twice per week (pit removed!)
Blueberry – 1 or two blueberries, once per week
Pineapple – 1 chunk, once per week
Peach – 1 slice, once per week
Apricot – 1 small apricot, twice per week
NOTE: this list is not meant to be fed entirely per day or even per week - especially fruit due to its high sugar content. Pick a handful of fresh vegetables to feed daily and only 1-2 fruits to feed one day a week.