Pocket Pet · Cavia porcellus · typical adult weight 0.70–1.20 kg
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is used in guinea pig for Acute severe scurvy, Vitamin C supplementation (obligate requirement), Pregnancy/lactation supplementation (increased requirement), Scurvy prevention/treatment. Routes documented in guinea pig: IV, PO, SC. A typical adult guinea pig weighs 0.70–1.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 6 cited dose rules for Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in guinea pig, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 50–100 mg/kg | q24h | Until stable | Acute severe scurvy | Extrapolated | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| PO | 10–30 mg/kg | q24h | Lifelong daily supplementation | Vitamin C supplementation (obligate requirement) | Strong | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| PO | 30–50 mg/kg | q24h | During pregnancy and lactation | Pregnancy/lactation supplementation (increased requirement) | Strong | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| PO | 10–50 mg/kg | q24h | Long-term | Scurvy prevention/treatment | Strong | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| PO | 30–50 mg/kg | q24h | During illness; higher requirement | Scurvy prevention during illness | Strong | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| SC | 50–100 mg/kg | q24h | Until clinical improvement, then oral supplementation | Severe scurvy, acute vitamin C deficiency | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your guinea pig's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Essential antioxidant and cofactor in collagen synthesis, immune function, and iron absorption. Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C endogenously (obligate requirement).
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 pig may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
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 pig — 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.