Vitamin C for guinea pigs: how much and from what

Why do guinea pigs need vitamin C?

Guinea pigs cannot make vitamin C themselves, unlike rabbits, dogs or cats, so every milligram has to come from food. Burgess explains that vitamin C builds collagen for skin, joints, teeth and blood vessels, supports the immune system and helps wounds heal. Without enough, guinea pigs develop scurvy, which Woodgreen describes as a serious and painful condition. They also store very little, so it has to arrive daily.

How much vitamin C does a guinea pig need a day?

A healthy adult needs 10 to 30 mg a day, according to Burgess and the University of Florida's vet school. Pregnant, nursing or sick guinea pigs need more, 30 to 50 mg a day. VCA gives the whole range as 10 to 50 mg and says your vet can tell you what your own guinea pig needs, which matters most for older or unwell animals. We aim for the top of the healthy range from food every day, because vitamin C in veg and pellets fades with storage.

Which vegetables are highest in vitamin C for guinea pigs?

Bell peppers top the list, followed by parsley, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and mustard greens. The figures below come from the USDA nutrient data shown on the Guinea Lynx food chart, which gives values per 10 calories of each food; we have converted them to per 100 g (3.5 oz) so you can compare like with like. Real values vary with freshness and variety.

Calcium is in the table for a reason. Guinea pigs prone to bladder stones do better on lower-calcium greens, the Guinea Lynx chart notes, and the RSPCA puts kale, spinach and broccoli in its "small amounts a few times a week" group because they are high in calcium or sugar. That is why peppers, which are high in vitamin C and low in calcium, are the only top-scoring veg we would feed every day. Our guides to bell peppers, kale, parsley and broccoli give exact portions.

What does a day's vitamin C look like?

Burgess gives these everyday portions as good vitamin C additions to a guinea pig's daily greens: a small bunch of parsley, a couple of dandelion leaves, half a curly kale leaf, one small broccoli floret, or an eighth of a bell pepper. You do not need all of them. Using the USDA figures above, our working for one adult looks like this:

So one strip of red or yellow pepper a day, plus fresh pellets and a mix of other greens, covers a healthy guinea pig with room to spare. The portion weights here are our estimates for typical pieces; weigh once on a kitchen scale and you will know what a strip looks like.

Which fruits are high in vitamin C for guinea pigs?

Strawberries, kiwi, papaya and orange are all rich in vitamin C, but they are sugary, so they are treats, not a supply. Woodgreen says fruit should be given only once or twice a week, and VCA says small amounts because of the sugar. Sources disagree on citrus: VCA lists orange as an occasional fruit, while the RSPCA puts citrus on its avoid list. We take the careful view and treat orange as a rare extra at most. See our pages on strawberries and oranges for portions.

Do guinea pig pellets have enough vitamin C?

Good guinea pig pellets have vitamin C added, but it fades fast. Woodgreen says the vitamin C in an opened bag halves within three months. The University of Florida and VCA say to use pellets within 90 days of the date they were made, and PDSA says to store them somewhere cool, dry and dark and use them within three months of buying.

• Buy pellets made for guinea pigs, never rabbit or mixed small-animal food.
• Check the bag lists vitamin C and has a recent made-on or best-before date.
• Buy small bags you will finish within about three months.
• Keep the bag sealed, cool and out of sunlight.
• Give a fresh daily portion: PDSA suggests about one tablespoon per guinea pig, and Woodgreen about 20 g (0.7 oz), an eggcup's worth.
• Throw away yesterday's leftovers rather than topping the bowl up, as the RSPCA advises.

Fresh veg fades too. Burgess notes that vitamin C in vegetables has a half-life of about 10 days after harvest, so buy little and often and keep greens in the fridge. Our guinea pig diet guide explains how hay, pellets and veg fit together, and our safe food list covers everything else.

Should I give my guinea pig vitamin C supplements?

Usually not. PDSA says supplements are rarely needed when a guinea pig eats a balanced diet with daily vitamin C-rich greens, and VCA agrees. Where a vet does advise extra vitamin C, for example during illness, pregnancy or old age, Chewy's vet-reviewed guide says chewable tablets made for guinea pigs are more reliable than water additives.

Avoid adding drops to the water bottle. PDSA and Burgess both say vitamin C breaks down quickly in water, within a few hours in light, and the taste can stop some guinea pigs drinking. Skip general multivitamins too: Chewy's guide warns they can cause problems from too much vitamin A and D.

What are the signs of vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs?

The signs of scurvy are often vague at first, which is why it is easy to miss. Burgess, VCA and Chewy's vet-reviewed guide list:

• Low energy, moving less or sitting hunched.
• Stiff walking, limping or swollen joints and feet.
• Signs of pain, such as not wanting to move or be touched.
• A rough, thin or scruffy coat.
• Bleeding or sore gums, or loose teeth.
• Small bleeds under the skin, or cuts that bleed a lot or heal slowly.
• Eating less, losing weight or diarrhoea.
• Discharge from the eyes or nose.

Chewy's vet-reviewed guide says effects can appear within about two to three weeks of too little vitamin C. Ring your vet promptly: Burgess advises seeing a vet straight away, and vets can treat scurvy with vitamin C by mouth or injection, pain relief and fluids. Do not try to fix it at home with extra fruit, because other illnesses look similar. Our guinea pig health guide covers other signs to watch, and our complete guinea pig care guide covers daily needs.