Supplements: Quick Vit C question about new pig

[akstrohm]

Apples 1-2 times a week is fine. I give my pigs 1/4 of a small apple over the course of a week split between the two of them.

Definitely switch from Hartz to Oxbow. Buying in bulk is cheaper, and pellets are the smallest part of their diet, so a big bag will last a long time. And as Dobelady pointed out, this will mean fewer health problems and fewer vet bills in the future.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by RebelPiggy

The information about kale is from the Critters Magazine Guinea Pigs . Kale has 53.4 percent of vitamin C. The vitamin C drops I was referring to is not a supplament. It's a treat that u can give piggies 3x a day.They are Vitakraft. Drops with orange. They are like the yougurt treats people get for their hamsters with the exception these are for guinea pigs.

To see the photo, you have to upload it. You can't link it from your hard drive on your computer.

I wouldn't rely on what magazines tell you for diet. Kale is good for C but it's also high in calcium and very high in Vitamin A. Feeding kale too often can contribute to kidney/liver problems from too much A and can contribute to stones due to high calcium levels. It's best fed only a couple times a week in small amounts.

Vitakraft is one of the worst brands for anything on the market. Nothing from vitakraft should ever be fed to any animal. Petstore treats are loaded with sugars, empty calories, fats and a lot of preservatives. It's already been mentioned about lactose intolerance in guinea pigs. Oats are a grain and cavies have a harder time digesting grains. They can also cause a lot of weight gain in a not great way.

The best thing that can be given on a daily basis to ensure C content is bell pepper.

[PancakesWaffles]

Originally Posted by akstrohm

Apples 1-2 times a week is fine. I give my pigs 1/4 of a small apple over the course of a week split between the two of them.

Definitely switch from Hartz to Oxbow. Buying in bulk is cheaper, and pellets are the smallest part of their diet, so a big bag will last a long time. And as Dobelady pointed out, this will mean fewer health problems and fewer vet bills in the future.

I would say that's pretty close to what I do. I give 1 small slice for each piggie and saran wrap it and put it back in the fridge.

I will be getting Oxbow tomorrow, but I don't think it's available in big bags. If I remember correctly they're pretty small and around $15 which is why I have never purchased them before. I really hope all my piggies appreciate the switch

I've been lucky to have no health problems yet but I am always learning stuff on this site. Most people on here are so helpful. Some times I still question if my piggies have it as good as possible though.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Hartz is a really bad feed.

[Wheekie]

Everybody says Vit. C in the water makes it taste terrible...well, I'm not sure about that cause My Guy won't touch plain water! I give him other Vit. C stuff, but he has to have some drops in his water. If I give him plain water, he takes one sip, gives me a dirty look, flounces away, goes in his hidey and sulks! He absolutely won't go near the bottle again until I put some orange drops in it! This has been going on for 5 years, so it can't taste too terrible!! Besides, how many of us have ever really tasted it?! Maybe it makes it taste like orange kool-aid!

[PancakesWaffles]

My guinea pigs seem to enjoy the Vit. C water drops too!
I didn't realize people frowned upon it! I'm always reading how it decrades very quickly.. can't that be avoided by daily water changes?
I do think I will stop using the drops though, since it's a waste of money if they don't need it. I think my guinea pigs get enough veggies with Vit. C. Can I add the drops to their water once and a while?? Or is that a bad idea!?
I don't know if they'd taste like orange kool-aid ! The stuff is pretty stinky.

[akstrohm]

Even if you could ensure that the vitamin C doesn't get degraded (which you can't), if you put drops in the water you have no idea how much vitamin C your pig is actually getting. Too little vitamin C can lead to scurvy, and overdosing on vitamin C, while rare, is also harmful. Please just give your pigs regular water and bell pepper. They will get used to it, and that is what is best for them.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by PancakesWaffles

My guinea pigs seem to enjoy the Vit. C water drops too!
I didn't realize people frowned upon it! I'm always reading how it decrades very quickly.. can't that be avoided by daily water changes?
I do think I will stop using the drops though, since it's a waste of money if they don't need it. I think my guinea pigs get enough veggies with Vit. C. Can I add the drops to their water once and a while?? Or is that a bad idea!?

You should never add anything to the drinking water. Light and air will make it degrade very quickly, usually within a couple of hours providing no benefit. They are a waste of money. Plus many of them are "multivitamin" drops and they don't need all those other vitamins and minerals. That's what a good veggie diet provides.

Originally Posted by akstrohm

Even if you could ensure that the vitamin C doesn't get degraded (which you can't), if you put drops in the water you have no idea how much vitamin C your pig is actually getting. Too little vitamin C can lead to scurvy, and overdosing on vitamin C, while rare, is also harmful. Please just give your pigs regular water and bell pepper. They will get used to it, and that is what is best for them.

Ditto. If your pigs aren't eating bell peppers or a good variety of veggies then give them a half a tablet of this instead: Oxbow Animal Health | Daily C

I'm sorry Wheekie, but your pig does not need or "has to have" C drops in the water. He will learn how to drink plain water.