Guinea Pig Vitamin C Overdose

Guinea Pig Vitamin C Overdose

Guinea Pigs & Vitamin C Supplementation: What You Should Know

Problems associated with inadequate vitamin C

Since guinea pigs are unable to produce their own vitamin C, it's important that they get it in their diet! Guinea pigs deficient in vitamin C may have:

• Poor hair coat
• Swellings or sores around the mouth/lips
• Delayed wound healing
• Poor appetite
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty moving or enlarged joints

The average guinea pig needs between 10 and 30 mg/kg daily for good health. A guinea pig who is currently deficient in vitamin C can receive up to 50 mg/kg/day. It is wise to routinely provide extra vitamin C to an ill guinea pig. Excess vitamin C is excreted through the urine and not absorbed by the body. Long-term supplementation of over 100 mg per day should be discussed with your veterinarian.

How should I provide vitamin C?

• Formulated pellets
• Fresh veggies and fruit
• Over-the-counter Vitamin C supplements/chewable tablets

Premium guinea pig pellets, such as those produced by Oxbow, are fortified with good amounts of vitamin C. However, the vitamins degrade with time, which is why you should try to feed an entire bag of guinea pig pellets within 90 days of opening it.

Chewable flavored C tablets are available in 100 mg sizes, which can be quartered into 25 mg pieces and fed directly to your guinea pig. Some people have good luck with liquid vitamin C, which can be found at some health food stores. Avoid multi-vitamin supplements and do not add vitamin C to the water.

Tips for getting your piggy to take a chewable vitamin C tablet:

• Break the tablet in half to release the aroma. Leave the tablet so your guinea pig gets the idea that it is something he should try or offer to your guinea pig by holding the broken tablet in your hand.
• Break up the tablet or crush the tablet and roll in a piece of romaine lettuce.
• Cut a groove in an apple, grape or carrot and slide the tablet through the juice.
• Add a crushed tablet to 1 tablespoon of water and immediately syringe feed.

Below is a table with vitamin C content of selected fruits and vegetables, which you can use as a guide for selecting appropriate foods for your guinea pig.

Vitamin C content of selected foods and their appropriateness for guinea pig diets
Food Item	Weight or Volume of Food	Vitamin C in weight or volume of food	Amount needed to provide 25mg/day
Guava	1 cup = 165mg	377mg	1.1 tbsp
Red Peppers	1 cup chopped = 149g	190mg	2.1 tbsp chopped
Kale	1 cup chopped = 67g	80.4mg	5 tbsp (1/3 cup)
Tendergreen	1 cup chopped = 150g	195mg	2.1 tbsp chopped
Parsley	1 cup = 60g	79.8mg	5 tbsp (1/3 cup)
Broccoli	1 cup chopped = 91g	81.2mg	5 tbsp (1/3 cup)
Broccoli flowerets	1 cup = 71g	66.2mg	6 tbsp (between 1/3 and ½ cup)
Broccoli leaves	1 oz = 28g	26.1 mg	2 tbsp
Broccoli stalks	1 oz = 28g	26.1 mg	2 tbsp
Lambsquarter	1 oz = 28g	22.4mg	2.2 tbsp
Cauliflower	1 floweret = 13g	6.0mg	About 4 flowerets
Strawberry	Avg berry = 18g	10.6mg	About 2.5 average berries
Kiwi	1 cup = 17 g	164mg	2.4 tbsp
Green pepper	1 cup chopped = 149g	120mg	3.4 tbsp chopped
Mustard greens	1 cup = 56g	39.2mg	½-3/4 cup
Cooked broccoli	1 cup = 156g	101.2mg	cup
Cooked Brussels sprouts	1 cup = 156g	96.7mg	Just over cup
Kohlrabi	1 cup = 135g	89.1mg	Just over ½ cup
Papaya	1 cup = 140g	86.5mg	Just under 1/3 cup
Snap peas	1 cup = 98g	58.8mg	Just under ½ cup
Turnip greens	1 cup = 55g	39.5mg	Just under ½ cup
Red cabbage	1 cup = 70g	39.9mg	Just under ½ cup
Orange	Avg orange = 131g	69.7mg	Between 1/4 and ½ avg orange
Cooked kale	1 cup cooked = 130g	53.3 mg	About ½ cup
Peas	1 cup = 58mg	58mg	About 1/2 cup
Clementines	Avg Clementine = 74g	36.1mg	Almost ½ average Clementine
Cantaloupe	1 cup balls = 177g	65mg	Betwee1/4 and ½ cup of melon balls
Pineapple	1 cup chunks = 165g	78.9mg	1/3 cup of chunks
Dill weed	5 sprigs = 1g	0.9mg	154 sprigs
Dried tarragon	1 oz = 28g	14mg	About 4 tbsp
Dried basil	1 oz = 28g	17.1mg	About 3 tbsp
Dried oregano	1 oz = 28g	14mg	About 4 tbsp
Lemon	Avg lemon = 58g	30.7mg	80% of average lemon
Dried cilantro	1 tbsp = 2g	9.9mg	2.5 tbsp
Chinese cabbage (pak choi or bak choi)	1 cup shredded = 70.0g	31.5mg	Over ½ cup
Beet greens	1 cup = 38g	11.4mg	Over 2 cups
Starfruit (carambola)	Avg fruit = 91g	31.3mg	Over ½ of an average starfruit
Collard greens	1 cup = 36g	12.7mg	2 cups
Watercress	1 cup chopped = 34g	14.6mg	About 1 and ½ cups
Grapefruit	Avg fruit = 120g	38.5mg	Just under grapefruit

Blue = excellent choice for supplementing guinea pig diet
Green = good choice for supplementing guinea pig diet
Orange = fair choice for supplementing guinea pig diet
Maroon = poor choice for supplementing guinea pig diet

Guinea Pig Vitamin C Overdose

Source: https://www.mariposavet.com/guinea-pigs-vitamin-c-supplementation-know/#:~:text=It%20is%20wise%20to%20routinely,be%20discussed%20with%20your%20veterinarian.