Supplements

Item# HHOBGTN
200 count.
$14.25

Why should I feed additional Vitamin C when my pellets contain Vitamin C?

• Feed Freshness: Oxbow's guinea pig feeds contain stabilized Vitamin C in levels that more than meet the daily recommended Vitamin C requirement. Using a mono-phosphate ester of Vitamin C maintains shelf life for a guaranteed 12 months after the manufacture date.

 

Not all guinea pig pellets are created equal however. Many brands use ascorbic acid as a Vitamin C source, with a shelf life of only 3 months after manufacture. Look at the ingredient listing -- if feeding a brand containing only ascorbic acid, it would be advisable to supplement with additional Vitamin C.

 

• Stress: Guinea pigs that are under stress require a higher daily amount of Vitamin C. Many top exotic veterinarians will recommend 100 mg/day after surgery or when a guinea pig is recovering from an illness.

 

Some stressful situations where guinea pigs may require additional Vitamin C include:

Illness
Recovering from surgery
Introduction of new animals in the household
Weaning
Pregnancy
Dental procedures
Moving to a new home
Rescue animals

 

• Group Housing: When more than one guinea pig lives in a cage, it may be difficult to determine how much food each animal is eating. One guinea pig may not eat for a week and the owner may not realize this because the food bowl is still being emptied.

 

• Picky Eaters: Guinea pigs are particular eaters. They may sometimes go for a period of time when all they want is the nice new hay that was just delivered from Oxbow Pet Products. They may decide that the hay just tastes better. While this is wonderful for high fiber intake, it is not good for Vitamin C consumption since hay does not contain Vitamin C. Giving an Oxbow Vitamin C Tablet a couple times a week is a good insurance policy for picky eaters.

 

• Playful Guinea Pigs: If your guinea pig is one that loves to jump and run around the cage at the slightest hint of enjoyment, you have probably seen him/her dump the food bowl and scatter pellets everywhere. (Some guinea pigs seem to do this on a daily basis. In this case, it is best to find a bowl that can be anchored to the cage to avoid being tipped.) When this happens, you may not know how many pellets are being eaten, or if an adequate daily amount of Vitamin C is being consumed. Offering an apple-flavored Vitamin C Tablet insures adequate supplementation.