Vitamin C

victoriaca83 · #1 06-23-04, 10:07 am

Right now I am using Vitamin C drops in the water, from what I've heard that's not the best thing to do. The pet stores in my area don't sell anything but that. Does anybody know where I can get something else, maybe on the internet. What are other options to the drops in the water? Are there tablets or drops that go straight in their mouth not in the water? I've never seen any other choices.

**ChadWPB** · #2 06-23-04, 10:34 am

Never add Vitamin C to a pig's water. The Vitamin C degrades in a few hours and there is no sure way to ensure the pigs are getting what they need. In addition it affects the taste of the water and pigs may not like it, so they drink less.

Get some liquid C and syringe feed it to them, but if you're feeding plenty of fresh veggies, supplementation may not even be necessary. Oxbow also sells an apple flavored chewable C tablet for pigs.

**CaliGirl** · #3 06-23-04, 10:51 am

I have 2 water bottles in my guinea pigs cage, one for plain water and the other with the drops. I get my drops at the petco by my house. My guinea pig seems to like it.

**ChadWPB** · #4 06-23-04, 10:56 am

Adding C to the water is a waste of your money, as Vit. C suspended in water is unstable and degrades (breaks down) in 8-12 hours.

Don't bother with the drops, or if you can syringe feed your pigs the recommended daily amount that would ensure they're getting fresh C.

**alessa** · #5 06-23-04, 07:17 pm

Just get veggies! The ones they like are so cheap too.

**andreaspiggies** · #6 06-23-04, 08:54 pm

A guinea pig breeder in my area told me that she adds powdered "tang" to the guinea pigs water, has anyone ever heard of this? I wouldn't think it would be very good for them, with all of the sugar and such in the tang, what do you think?

**ChadWPB** · #7 06-23-04, 09:04 pm

Dump the Tang! Pigs get fat enough, you wouldn't want to add refined sugars to the problem. Notto mention whatever other chemicals they put in it.

What do you expect anyway, listening to a breeder's advice?

**andreaspiggies** · #8 06-23-04, 09:52 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChadWPB

Dump the Tang! Pigs get fat enough, you wouldn't want to add refined sugars to the problem. Notto mention whatever other chemicals they put in it.

What do you expect anyway, listening to a breeder's advice?

No, no, I didn't say that i was going to, I said that I didn't think it sounded very healthy!

**KmKrazy9** · #9 06-23-04, 10:19 pm

I think that carrots are supposed to have a lot of Vit. C ( ithink that is the one. Might want to ask some one though.) Also I give my piggy an orange slice every now and then.

**kennethlhm** · #10 06-24-04, 09:18 am

vitamin drops r not recommended. i feed them fresh vege & fruit everyday.

**piggielover92** · #11 06-24-04, 12:41 pm

Oranges are a GREAT supply of vit. C! I give my piggies a slice or 2 of an orange a day and they love it!!!

**ChadWPB** · #12 06-24-04, 03:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by KmKrazy9

I think that carrots are supposed to have a lot of Vit. C ( ithink that is the one. Might want to ask some one though.) Also I give my piggy an orange slice every now and then.

Careful with carrots, as they have a lot of fat-soluble vitamins thatcan build up to toxic levels. A baby carrot per piggie is fine. I split up a medium to large carrot for my six pigs.

My pigs don't care for oranges, but bell peppers, especially red bell peppers are loaded with C.

After I got my boar Snuggles neutered, I made sure he had plenty of extra peppers.

rhollowell · #13 06-24-04, 07:43 pm

I was really concerned about that too. I read that you can use human chewable tablets from anywhere, I get them at Wal-mart. We have 3 little piggies and our little girl abby loves them like treats, the 2 boys finally will eat them if you put them on top of their food. They only need 1/4 of a tab a day so they are not too expensive. I started by crumbling them on thier food and then started leaving them in larger chuncks to see if they were getting any of them and when I refilled their food sure enough they were gone so now I leave them in whole (1/4) tabs and they eat them when I am not looking. For some reason the 2 boys won't take them from my hand like treats like the little girl does. Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by victoriaca83

Right now I am using Vitamin C drops in the water, from what I've heard that's not the best thing to do. The pet stores in my area don't sell anything but that. Does anybody know where I can get something else, maybe on the internet. What are other options to the drops in the water? Are there tablets or drops that go straight in their mouth not in the water? I've never seen any other choices.

**Dinochick** · #14 06-26-04, 10:39 pm

When I took Teebo to the Vet the other day HE suggested that I put Tang in his water, and he's a vet, so I took his advice and Teebo LOVES it!!! Just goes nuts!. I also have a plane water bottle for him incase he wants something diffrent, but he really likes the Tang.

rhollowell · #15 06-27-04, 10:26 am

That sounds like a great idea but I wonder if they would get too much since it is sweet, do you have to watch it to make sure it doesn't give them [font='Times New Roman']Diarhea?[/font]

**Dinochick** · #16 06-27-04, 11:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhollowell

That sounds like a great idea but I wonder if they would get too much since it is sweet, do you have to watch it to make sure it doesn't give them [font='Times New Roman']Diarhea?[/font]

He has been drinking it for a week now and hasn't had any noticable changes.

**cornhill** · #17 06-27-04, 12:55 pm

vit

Quote:

Originally Posted by victoriaca83

Right now I am using Vitamin C drops in the water, from what I've heard that's not the best thing to do. The pet stores in my area don't sell anything but that. Does anybody know where I can get something else, maybe on the internet. What are other options to the drops in the water? Are there tablets or drops that go straight in their mouth not in the water? I've never seen any other choices.

I just emailed my vet about that same Question. He mailed me back, that he would rather I give them 50mg chewable apple flavored Vit-C tablet that they carry there. Give 1 daily to each pig. So I hope it helps you. It did me.

**CavySpirit** · #18 06-27-04, 01:05 pm

Tang is NOT a good idea. It is NOT healthy for your guinea pig. DO NOT give it to guinea pigs. I'm quite disappointed that such crappy advice is being given on this forum. I don't care what your vet says. He is wrong. Tang is loaded with chemicals and sugar. Guinea pigs do not process sugar well at all. It's one of the reasons they should only get a small piece of fruit a day, if that.

Tang is NOT the way to get your pigs their required vitamin C. See this page for all the correct info on Vitamin C:
http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html#scurvy

This thread is closed.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password