Content
- Scurvy disease: what is it?
- Guinea pig scurvy symptoms
- How to care for guinea pig with scurvy
- guinea pig: feeding
We've all probably heard of a disease known by the name of scurvy or vitamin C deficiency, but we may not know that this pathology can also affect guinea pigs, quite often since it is not uncommon for these rodents to be fed inadequately.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain the guinea pig scurvy: symptoms and treatment, how it manifests itself, how is it possible to detect it, besides, of course, which treatment must be applied. If you live with a guinea pig, this article will interest you.
Scurvy disease: what is it?
As we have said, this disease is caused by a vitamin c deficiency, also known as ascorbic acid. Guinea pigs, like humans, are not able to synthesize this vitamin ie their body cannot produce it, which means they need to ingest in the diet, through food or with supplements.
Vitamin C plays several roles in the body. Perhaps the best known is its intervention in collagen synthesis, which participates in the creation of all types of tissues. When there is a lack of vitamin C, several changes occur. For this reason guinea pig feeding is so important to prevent disease.
Guinea pig scurvy symptoms
The most frequent symptoms of guinea pig scurvy are:
- Loss of appetite and, consequently, of weight;
- Hypersalivation;
- Respiratory diseases;
- Lighter and less effective immune response;
- Pododermatitis (painful inflammation of the feet);
- Bleeding and inflammation of the gums and dental weakness that can cause tooth loss:
- Other internal bleeding can be produced, especially around joints such as the knees;
- Delay in wound healing, peeling, alopecia (hair loss), darkening of the skin and hair in poor condition;
- Weakness, decreased activity, limp, joint stiffness, incoordination and pain to touch (pig screams when caught).
Keep in mind that vitamin C deficiency can be a primary or secondary disorder. This means that sometimes the pig has an adequate diet and a correct intake of this vitamin, but if it is suffering, for example, from some pathology such as a cold, this prevents it from eating. This fasting and lack of food would be the cause of the deficiency. Therefore, whenever the guinea pig is sick and loses its appetite, vitamin C supplementation should be considered.
How to care for guinea pig with scurvy
If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should consult the veterinarian without wasting time. Established the diagnosis, the veterinarian, who must be a rodent specialist, will recommend the administration of a supplement, to compensate for the lack of vitamin C is what will cure scurvy in guinea pigs.
In addition, a balanced diet that is adequate to nutritional needs will be defined, which will depend on factors such as age or whether the guinea pig is pregnant or not. Maintaining a correct diet is what will keep our guinea pig from getting sick again.
The amount of vitamin C needed triples during the guinea pig's gestation and that it is a vitamin with short service life. This means that if we dilute it in water, in a few hours its ingestion will no longer produce any effect, as it degrades in the environment. It is also not preserved for more than 90 days in diets enriched with vitamin C that are available on the market.
At daily needs of this vitamin are estimated to be around 10 mg per kg, increasing to 30 if it is a pregnant piglet. Keep in mind that too much vitamin C can also cause diarrhea.
guinea pig: feeding
As we have already said, to avoid scurvy in guinea pigs it is necessary prevent vitamin C deficiency, providing the pig with adequate food and containing this vitamin in sufficient quantity. The recommended food for an adult guinea pig is as follows:
- Hay: it should constitute almost the totality of the daily food, between 70-80%. Alfalfa is recommended only for pregnant females because their calcium needs are greater. In a piglet that is not in this state, this amount of calcium can end up building up in the form of stones.
- Chow for guinea pigs: it must also consist primarily of hay. As already mentioned, it is necessary to pay attention to the manufacturing date to ensure that, if the feed has vitamin C in its composition, it is still active. We must assume that it is approximately 20% of the daily diet.
- Vegetables: especially those rich in vitamin C, such as spinach, parsley (not suitable for pregnant piglets), cabbage, endive or beetroot, in quantities that make up approximately 5% of the diet.
- Fruits: and occasional cereals as a reward.
Together with the veterinarian, the need to administer a vitamin C supplement can be assessed.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.