Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) for Guinea Pigs

Pocket Pet · Cavia porcellus · typical adult weight 0.70–1.20 kg

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is dosed at 50–100 mg/kg IV q24h in guinea pigs, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is used in guinea pigs for Acute severe scurvy, Treatment of vitamin C deficiency (hypovitaminosis C / scurvy), Vitamin C supplementation (obligate requirement), Maintenance vitamin C supplementation - guinea pigs cannot synthesise ascorbic acid. Routes documented in guinea pigs: IV, PO, PO, SC, IM, SC. A typical adult guinea pig weighs 0.70–1.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in guinea pigs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	50–100 mg/kg	q24h	Until stable	Acute severe scurvy

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
100–200	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.316	o., s.c. or 200-400 mg/l drinking water; hypovitaminosis C: 100-200 mg/kg p.o. q24h
10–30	PO	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.7	10-30 mg/kg PO, SC, IM
50–100	SC	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.7	50-100 mg/kg SC, PO
100–200	PO

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Mechanism of action

Essential antioxidant and cofactor in collagen synthesis, immune function, and iron absorption. Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C endogenously (obligate requirement).

Side effects & warnings

ESSENTIAL supplement for guinea pigs (10-30 mg/kg/day minimum). Degrades rapidly in water — supplement daily. High parenteral doses may cause oxalate crystalluria. Most other species synthesize their own.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for guinea pigs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) for Guinea Pigs?

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) dose ranges in guinea pigs, with cited source references: IV 50–100 mg/kg q24h; PO 50–100 mg/kg q24h until recovery, then 10-30 mg/kg q24h; PO 10–30 mg/kg q24h; PO, SC, IM 10–30 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) administered in Guinea Pigs?

Documented routes for Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in guinea pigs: IV, PO, PO, SC, IM, SC.

How long is Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) given in Guinea Pigs?

Cited course lengths for Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in guinea pigs include: Until stable; During illness; higher requirement; Lifelong daily supplementation; During pregnancy and lactation. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) treat in Guinea Pigs?

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is indicated in guinea pigs for: Acute severe scurvy, Treatment of vitamin C deficiency (hypovitaminosis C / scurvy), Vitamin C supplementation (obligate requirement), Maintenance vitamin C supplementation - guinea pigs cannot synthesise ascorbic acid, Severe scurvy, acute vitamin C deficiency.

What are the side effects of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in Guinea Pigs?

These are general warnings for Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) across species; consult the guinea pig dosing table above for species-specific guidance. ESSENTIAL supplement for guinea pigs (10-30 mg/kg/day minimum). Degrades rapidly in water — supplement daily. High parenteral doses may cause oxalate crystalluria. Most other species synthesize their own.

Why a species-specific page? Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in guinea pigs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.

Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.

Printed doses in mg/l for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/l)	Route	Source	As printed
200–400	PO	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.316	maintenance: 10-30 mg/kg/day p.o., s.c. or 200-400 mg/l drinking water; hypovitaminosis C: 100-200 mg/kg p.o. q24h

Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.