Scurvy in Guinea Pigs

TL;DR. Scurvy is a painful but completely preventable nutritional deficiency in guinea pigs caused by a lack of dietary Vitamin C, leading to joint pain, weakness, and poor healing, but it resolves quickly with proper supplementation.

Guinea pigs rely entirely on dietary sources like fresh vegetables to meet their daily Vitamin C requirements.

What is it?

Scurvy is a nutritional deficiency disease caused by a lack of dietary ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C. While many animals can manufacture their own Vitamin C internally, guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) lack a specific liver enzyme (L-gulonolactone oxidase) required to convert glucose into ascorbic acid. Because of this evolutionary quirk, they are entirely dependent on getting this vital nutrient from their daily diet.

In the guinea pig's body, Vitamin C plays a fundamental role in maintaining health. It is required for the synthesis of collagen, which is the primary structural protein that acts as the "glue" holding together connective tissues, skin, blood vessels, bones, and joint cartilage. When Vitamin C is deficient, the body cannot produce normal collagen, causing blood vessels to become fragile and leak, joints to swell, and bones to weaken. Additionally, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and is crucial for a properly functioning immune system.

As noted in a leading veterinary drug reference:

"Exogenously supplied ascorbic acid is a dietary requirement in some exotic species (including rainbow trout, Coho salmon), guinea pigs, and in primates. The other domestic species are able to synthesize in vivo enough Vitamin C to meet their [needs]" (Veterinary Drug Handbook, p. 308).

Without a reliable daily source of Vitamin C, a guinea pig's physical structural integrity begins to break down. This leads to generalized pain, compromised mobility, and a weakened immune system that leaves them highly vulnerable to secondary infections.

Causes & risk factors

The primary cause of scurvy is a diet that does not contain enough active Vitamin C. However, several factors can contribute to this deficiency:

• Degraded Pellets: Vitamin C is highly unstable and degrades rapidly when exposed to air, light, heat, and moisture. Even high-quality guinea pig pellets can lose up to half of their Vitamin C content within 90 days of the milling date if not stored properly.
• Inappropriate Diets: Feeding diets formulated for other species, such as rabbits, hamsters, or gerbils, is a major risk factor. These feeds do not contain the high levels of Vitamin C that guinea pigs require.
• Water Additives: Relying on Vitamin C drops added to drinking water is highly ineffective. The vitamin degrades rapidly in water—often losing its potency within a few hours—and can alter the taste of the water, causing the guinea pig to drink less and become dehydrated.
• Increased Physiological Demand: Pregnant, lactating, growing, stressed, or sick guinea pigs have significantly higher Vitamin C requirements. A diet that is barely adequate for a healthy adult will quickly result in scurvy if the animal becomes pregnant or falls ill.

There are no specific breed predispositions for scurvy; all guinea pigs, regardless of breed or coat type, are equally susceptible if their nutritional needs are not met.

Signs to watch for

Because Vitamin C affects so many body systems, the signs of scurvy can be wide-ranging. They typically develop within two to three weeks of a complete lack of Vitamin C in the diet.

Common and Cardinal Signs

• Reluctance to move or a hopping gait: Due to joint pain, guinea pigs may hop like a rabbit rather than walking normally.
• Swollen, painful joints: The knees (stifles) and wrists (carpi) are most commonly affected.
• Vocalizing when handled: Guinea pigs may squeal or cry out in pain when touched due to generalized muscle and joint discomfort.
• Rough, unkempt, or thinning hair coat: The skin may also appear dry or flaky.
• Poor appetite and weight loss: Pain and dental discomfort make eating difficult.
• Delayed wound healing: Minor scratches or cuts take an unusually long time to heal or may become easily infected.

Severe or Chronic Signs

• Bleeding gums and loose teeth: Weakened collagen affects the periodontal ligament, causing teeth to loosen and gums to bleed.
• Subcutaneous bruising: Small hemorrhages or bruises may appear under the skin or around the joints.
• Secondary infections: Due to a compromised immune system, guinea pigs with scurvy frequently develop pododermatitis (bumblefoot) or respiratory infections.

Swollen joints and a dull, unkempt coat are classic clinical signs of scurvy in guinea pigs.

How vets diagnose it

Your vet will diagnose scurvy using a combination of dietary history, a physical exam, and supportive diagnostic tests.

• Dietary History: This is often the most critical diagnostic tool. Your vet will ask detailed questions about the type of food you feed, how it is stored, the age of the pellets, and whether you offer fresh vegetables.
• Physical Examination: The vet will carefully palpate your guinea pig's joints to check for swelling and pain, examine the skin and coat, and use a speculum to check the mouth for loose teeth or bleeding gums.
• Radiographs (X-rays): X-rays can reveal characteristic bone changes associated with scurvy, such as thinning of the bone cortex, widening of the growth plates in young animals, and joint swelling.
• Response to Therapy: In many cases, if the clinical signs and dietary history point strongly to scurvy, the vet will initiate Vitamin C treatment immediately. Rapid improvement within a few days is considered a diagnostic confirmation.

While blood tests can measure plasma ascorbic acid levels, this is rarely performed in clinical practice because the sample size required is difficult to obtain from a small guinea pig, and the vitamin is highly unstable in blood samples, making accurate measurement difficult.

Treatment options

Treatment for scurvy focuses on rapidly restoring the body's Vitamin C levels and providing supportive care to manage pain and secondary complications.

Vitamin C Supplementation

Direct oral supplementation of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is the cornerstone of therapy. Your vet will prescribe a specific daily dose of pure Vitamin C, typically administered directly into the mouth using a syringe.

In severe cases where the guinea pig is too weak or painful to swallow, the vet may administer the initial doses via injection. Multi-vitamin preparations should never be used to treat scurvy, as they contain other vitamins (such as Vitamin A and D) that can be toxic in high doses.

Pain Management

Because scurvy causes significant joint and muscle pain, your vet will likely prescribe a pet-safe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to keep your guinea pig comfortable while the Vitamin C begins to work.

Supportive Care

If your guinea pig has stopped eating due to pain, aggressive supportive care is required to prevent life-threatening gastrointestinal stasis. This includes:

• Assisted Feeding: Syringe-feeding a high-fiber recovery formula several times a day.
• Fluid Therapy: Administering subcutaneous fluids to treat dehydration.
• Antibiotics: If secondary bacterial infections, such as pneumonia or bumblefoot, are present.

Prognosis

The prognosis for guinea pigs with scurvy is generally excellent if the condition is recognized and treated early. Recovery is relatively rapid, usually within a week of starting proper Vitamin C supplementation.

However, if the deficiency has been chronic and has caused severe dental malocclusion (misaligned teeth due to loosening) or permanent joint deformities, long-term management and ongoing dental care may be required.

Prevention

Scurvy is entirely preventable through proper dietary management. To ensure your guinea pig receives adequate Vitamin C:

• Feed Fresh, High-Quality Pellets: Only buy pellets formulated specifically for guinea pigs. Check the manufacturing date on the bag and discard any unused food after 90 days. Store pellets in a cool, dry, dark, airtight container.
• Provide Fresh Vegetables Daily: Supplement your guinea pig's diet with fresh, Vitamin C-rich vegetables. Excellent options include red and green bell peppers, kale, parsley, romaine lettuce, and broccoli.
• Avoid Water Additives: Never rely on liquid Vitamin C drops added to drinking water.
• Understand Daily Requirements: A healthy adult guinea pig requires approximately 10 to 30 mg of Vitamin C daily. Pregnant, lactating, growing, or stressed guinea pigs require up to 50 mg daily. Consult your vet to determine the best supplementation strategy for your pet's life stage.

When to call your vet

If you suspect your guinea pig is showing signs of scurvy, schedule a veterinary appointment promptly. You should seek immediate emergency veterinary care if your guinea pig exhibits any of the following red flags:

• Anorexia (not eating anything for more than 12 hours)
• Extreme lethargy or inability to stand
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or nasal discharge
• Severe limping or crying out in pain

Sources

• Veterinary Drug Handbook, pp. 308, 310.