Technical Information

Branch Top Branch Bottom

Vitamin C Deficiency - Scurvy

Scurvy is an unpleasant condition and if not addressed may progress to convulsions and / or death within 3-4 weeks. Deficiency is easily preventable by ensuring an adequate supply of vitamin C is available. As well as preventing scurvy, vitamin C is a useful prophylactic, and is reputed to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Factors Affecting Vitamin C Stasis:
1.     Lifestage - growing, adult, pregnant, lactating
2.     Activity and environment - space, temperature, humidity, light, shelter
3.     Stress - weaning, handling, trauma, rivalry, transportation
4.     Disease / intestinal parasites
5.     Dietary vitamin C - level, type, potency
6.     Reduced food (and water) intake
7.     Absorption - level (declines when increased), type of vitamin C, age of animal

Symptoms of Scurvy:

1.	Behaviour and demeanour - depressed, weak and lethargic
2.	Appetite - reduced, gradual weight loss, excess salivation
3.	Mouth - anaemia, loose or broken teeth, bleeding gums, gingivitis
4.	Lowered disease resistance - susceptibility to secondary infections
5.	Skin condition - poor, hair loss, impaired clotting mechanisms, prolonged wound healing, re-opening of healed wounds
6.	Indications of pain - reluctance to move or be handled, lameness or unsteady gait
7.	Faeces - abnormal size, quantity, condition, and odour
8.	Reproductive performance - poor

Preventative Measures:

1.	Feed a complete, balanced diet designed specifically for guinea pigs e.g. Gerty Guinea Pig
2.	Ensure that food contains vitamin C - look for level and type used
3.	If in any doubt contact the manufacturer
4.	Provide the occasional piece of fresh vegetable (e.g. dark leafy greens) or fruit (citrus not really suitable)
5.	Water supplementation not advisable - may affect taste, water intake is extremely variable and there is rapid loss of potency on exposure to water, light and metal

References

Jacobson, E.R. and Kollias, G.V.Jr. (1988). Exotic Animals. Churchill Livingstone. New York.

Malley, D. (2000). Handling, Restraint and Clinical Techniques. In: Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. Ed. P. Flecknell. pp. 1-12. BSAVA Cheltenham, UK.

McDonald, P., Edwards, R.A. and Greenhalgh, J.F.D. (1988). Animal Nutrition. Eds. P. McDonald, R.A. Edwards and J.F.D. Greenhalgh. Longman Group Ltd, Harlow, Essex, UK.

Moser, U.K. (1990). Physiology and metabolism of ascorbic Acid (Review). In: Ascorbic Acid in Domestic Animals. Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium, Kartause Ittingen, Switzerland 9th-12th October, 1990. Pp 3-16

Moser, U.K., Matter, U. and Gamper, J. (1990). A repetitive cortisol release from adrenocortical cells requires ascorbic acid. In: Ascorbic Acid in Domestic Animals. Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium, Kartause Ittingen, Switzerland 9th-12th October, 1990. Pp 143-147.

Richardson, V.C.G. (2000). Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs. 2nd Edition. Eds. J.B. Sutton and S.T. Swift. Blackwell

Roche Products Ltd (1997). Product Specification and Safety Data Sheet No. 133: Rovimix Stay-C 35.

Science, Oxford, UK. NRC (1995). Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals. 4th Edition. National Academy Press, Washington D.C., USA.

Weiser, H. and Probst, H.P. (1990). Biopotency of ascorbic acid and its derivatives determined by plasma alkaline phosphatase activity in guinea pigs. In: Ascorbic Acid in Domestic Animals. Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium, Kartause Ittingen, Switzerland 9th-12th October, 1990.
pp 132-142.

Weiser, H., Schlacter, H.P., Probst, H.P. and Kormann, A.W. (1990). The relevance of ascorbic acid for bone metabolism. In: Ascorbic Acid in Domestic Animals. Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium, Kartause Ittingen, Switzerland 9th-12th October, 1990. pp 73-95.

Page 16 of 18

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Gerty Guinea Pig

Metabolism & Excretion

Gerty Guinea Pig

Guinea Pig Care & Life Enrichment