Can guineas get TOO MUCH Vitamin C?

[Karsluma]

My two little guys are eating like piggies lately. Now that we got the 2nd one, the first guy is also gobbling up things he wouldn't touch before his buddy arrived.

They LOVE bell peppers, spring and romaine lettuce, apples, oranges - that's about all I've tried recently. I put the Vit C drops on the lettuce, plus they eat the pellets and the veggies.....

is that too much Vit C or does it even matter as long as they get "enough"?

[HeraHero]

I'm not sure if they can get too much vitamin C or not because I'm not sure how water soluable vit. C is . But I do know that the liquid vitamin C drops are dangerous, they can give your piggies bladder stones and such. If they are getting at least a cup of veggies per day and on good quality pellets (like oxbow) that should be enough vitamin C. It sounds like your giving them a great diet so far. Hope I could help!
HeraHero, Mary, Hera, Frito, Cammie & Anna

[babyboo]

Well to much vitamin C can make the constipated but not for some. The vitamin C that they don't need will just pass by.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Vitamin C is water soluble. The rule of thumb if they pee out the excess but some studies show that too much vit C then too little can lead to pseudo-scurvy but unless you are giving 50 times the recommended daily intake, you should be fine. Some studies show in humans that too much vit c over a large span can increase the risk for arthritis later though. Take that for what it's worth.

Hera- plain vit C drops are fine. The ones you add to the water are bad news. It's multivitamins, salt licks and mineral licks that are bad.

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by Karsluma;

They LOVE bell peppers, spring and romaine lettuce, apples, oranges - that's about all I've tried recently. I put the Vit C drops on the lettuce, plus they eat the pellets and the veggies.....

You shouldn't need to supplement with the vitamin C drops. As long as they're eating at least a quarter of a bell pepper (per pig) a day, and also eating C-fortified pellets, they're getting plenty of vitamin C.

Print off this diet/nutrition guide to use on a daily basis: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...arts-info.html. It's a great source for how much of what veggies and fruits to feed, and how often. I use it (along with a calendar to mark what I've fed on what days). I'd be so lost without it. Our healthy pigs are a wonderful testimony to how good it is.

[HeraHero]

Hera- plain vit C drops are fine. The ones you add to the water are bad news. It's multivitamins, salt licks and mineral licks that are bad.

I see thank you, I've never seen the plain drops before. So I guess you learn something new everyday.