Not getting enough Vitamin C

[deb12]

Okay having a big problem with Peppermint, she will not take in a lot of the vitamin C foods. What can I do to help, plus she doesn't popcorn or run around a lot? I have a feeling it is vitamin C that she needs for that type of play. Please help with some advice.

Thank you
deb12

[emokid]

Hey. With my guinea pigs I put a half of a childrens chewable orange flavoured vitamin C tablet in my guinea pigs water, its so simple just drop it in and like 2 hours later shake the water bottle up to distribute the dissolved tablet evenly.

[deb12]

That's a great idea, I never thought about it!!!!


Thanks,
deb12

[Treen]

You shouldn't put vitamins in their water. It's a completely ineffective method as vitamin c doesn't last long in water, plus has a tendency to make the water taste funny which may stop them drinking as much water as they may otherwise. It's also an inaccurate method of administration to add anything to their water, as if they do need something adding in as you don't know how much they will drink and you don't want them having to too much or too little of it.

If you have a good quality pellet with vitamin c added, and give a good range of veggies, they should be getting all the vitamin c they need. I only ever supplement in times of illness when they need an extra boost. Keep offering all the veggies that are hight in vitamin c (have a look at this list for more ideas for veggies high in vitamin c http://www.guinealynx.info/nutrition.html#order-c), and if you feel she needs a boost because she's not eating her veggies, then Oxbow make some chewable vitamin c tablets, that apparently many will eat straight out of the packet.

Has Peppermint got a piggy friend? Often solo pigs don't popcorn around as much as they are social animals who prefer to play with their own kind. Here's a good link http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm. They are also more likely to try different foods when they have a chum - there's nothing to make a guinea pig try something quite like seeing another piggy eating it and wanting to pinch it from them!

[deb12]

I have been thinking about getting Peppermint a friend, but have had a lot of trouble finding another rescue in Ontario. I have been waiting to hear back from the OSPCA on a pregnant mother, but they fear the babies may have health problems because of the way to owner had treated her!!!!


I have tried almost everything, but the pal, so I guess that's the next step. If anyone finds a female posting looking to be adopted around Toronto area it would be great!!Thank you for your help Treen!!!

Thanks,

deb12

[tashagurl]

good luck on finding your piggy friend

[kennethlhm]

try to feed more of her favorite vege & fruit
when finish the vege/fruit then only give her the pellet so tht she got no choice

[Jennie&Steve]

I give my guinea pig fresh Parsley every day to supplment her Vitamin C. She absolutely loves it. If I let her out of her cage and then sit on the floor by the refridgerator, she'll climb into my lap and squeak until I give it to her. It's cheap, too. At your regular grocery store you can usually get a big bundle of it for around 50 cents!

[tashagurl]

Yeah i give mine parsley too. Even though it it cheap, i have five so they go through about two to three bundles a day.Its kind of anoying to go to the store so often so i planted like five parsley plants in my garden. It helps a little.

[Merrill]

That's a lot of parsley. I have two pigs and they don't go through it very fast, as all they need is about 2-3 sprigs a day. Well atleast that's what it advised on Guinea Lynx.

[DaCourt]

Have you tried Green Bell Peppers? My oldest, Scooby, eats it like candy. It's very high in Vit. C. If I am giving veggies and I don't have bell peppers, he waits until I put the bowl down and then he starts to eat. But He KNOWS when the bell peppers are coming. He is usually standing at the side of the cage crying for it as he shakes the cage.