Guinea pigs | Husbandry and health: a 12-column knowledge tree

FAQ

What is most often fed wrongly to guinea pigs?

Unlimited grass hay as the staple, with pellets and fresh vegetables as supplements, and daily supplementary vitamin C is essential — guinea pigs, like humans and a few other species, lack the enzyme needed to synthesise vitamin C and cannot make their own, so a deficient diet leads to scurvy. Recommended daily intake: roughly 10–25 mg/kg for adults, and 30 mg/kg or more for growing, pregnant, lactating or ill individuals (this is a nutritional requirement, not a drug dose; Merck Vet Manual: 「they require a regular source of vitamin C, which typically ranges between 10 and 25 mg/kg daily for adults and 30 mg/kg or more for growing, pregnant, lactating, or ill individuals.」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/guinea-pigs/housing-and-nutrition-of-guinea-pigs>, verified 2026-07-30 · this is an additional safety note, not one of the original 53 flagged items). Common feeding mistakes: assuming pellets already contain enough vitamin C (vitamin C oxidises and is lost rapidly in storage) and failing to provide an additional fresh fruit and vegetable source.

モルモットの給餌で最も間違えやすいのは何ですか。 — 主食は無制限の牧草、ペレットと新鮮な野菜は補助とし、毎日のビタミン C の追加補給が必須です——モルモットはヒトなど少数の種と同様にビタミン C 合成に必要な酵素を欠き、自ら合成できないため、食事が不足すると壊血病に至ります。1 日あたりの推奨摂取量：成体でおよそ 10–25 mg/kg、成長期／妊娠／授乳中／罹患個体では 30 mg/kg 以上（これは栄養要求量であり薬用量ではありません。Merck Vet Manual：「they require a regular source of vitamin C, which typically ranges between 10 and 25 mg/kg daily for adults and 30 mg/kg or more for growing, pregnant, lactating, or ill individuals.」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/guinea-pigs/housing-and-nutrition-of-guinea-pigs>、確認 2026-07-30・これは安全性のための追加補足であり、元の 53 標記項目ではありません）。よくある給餌の誤り：ペレットに十分なビタミン C が含まれていると思い込む（ビタミン C は保存中に急速に酸化して失われます）、新鮮な野菜・果物という別の供給源を用意しない。

What is most often fed wrongly to guinea pigs? — Unlimited grass hay as the staple, with pellets and fresh vegetables as supplements, and daily supplementary vitamin C is essential — guinea pigs, like humans and a few other species, lack the enzyme needed to synthesise vitamin C and cannot make their own, so a deficient diet leads to scurvy. Recommended daily intake: roughly 10–25 mg/kg for adults, and 30 mg/kg or more for growing, pregnant, lactating or ill individuals (this is a nutritional requirement, not a drug dose; Merck Vet Manual: 「they require a regular source of vitamin C, which typically ranges between 10 and 25 mg/kg daily for adults and 30 mg/kg or more for growing, pregnant, lactating, or ill individuals.」<https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/guinea-pigs/housing-and-nutrition-of-guinea-pigs>, verified 2026-07-30 · this is an additional safety note, not one of the original 53 flagged items). Common feeding mistakes: assuming pellets already contain enough vitamin C (vitamin C oxidises and is lost rapidly in storage) and failing to provide an additional fresh fruit and vegetable source.

What signs in a guinea pig mean going to the vet immediately?

Reduced appetite or reduced faecal output (no guinea-pig-specific time threshold for seeking care was obtained from the whitelisted sources, so this project gives no figure; guinea pigs, like rabbits, are hindgut fermenters and likewise have no vomiting reflex, so the sooner seen the better — do not wait out any number of hours. The 4-hour threshold for rabbits comes from a rabbit-specific page at the University of Illinois which does not cover guinea pigs, so it is not extrapolated. Verified 2026-07-30), severe respiratory distress, heavy gingival bleeding, complete inability to stand.

モルモットにどんな状態が出たらすぐ受診すべきですか。 — 食欲低下または排便減少（モルモット固有の正確な受診までの時間はホワイトリスト典拠から得られなかったため、本プロジェクトは数字を示しません。モルモットはウサギと同じく後腸発酵動物であり、同様に嘔吐反射をもたないため、受診は早いほどよく、何時間も待たないでください。ウサギの 4 時間の閾値は University of Illinois のウサギ専用ページに由来し、同ページはモルモットを扱っていないため外挿しません。確認 2026-07-30）、重度の呼吸困難、歯肉からの大量出血、まったく起立できない状態。

What signs in a guinea pig mean going to the vet immediately? — Reduced appetite or reduced faecal output (no guinea-pig-specific time threshold for seeking care was obtained from the whitelisted sources, so this project gives no figure; guinea pigs, like rabbits, are hindgut fermenters and likewise have no vomiting reflex, so the sooner seen the better — do not wait out any number of hours. The 4-hour threshold for rabbits comes from a rabbit-specific page at the University of Illinois which does not cover guinea pigs, so it is not extrapolated. Verified 2026-07-30), severe respiratory distress, heavy gingival bleeding, complete inability to stand.

What is the most common disease in guinea pigs?

1. Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy): dietary lack of vitamin C → bleeding gums, lameness, poor wound healing, reduced immunity → history/physical examination → vitamin C supplementation (under veterinary guidance) → daily vitamin-C-rich vegetables and fruit plus a dedicated supplement.

モルモットで最もよくある疾患は何ですか。 — 1. ビタミン C 欠乏症（壊血病 Scurvy）：食事中のビタミン C 不足→歯肉出血、跛行、創傷治癒不良、免疫力低下→病歴／身体検査→ビタミン C の補給（獣医師の指導のもとで）→ビタミン C を豊富に含む野菜・果物と専用サプリメントを毎日与える。

What is the most common disease in guinea pigs? — 1. Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy): dietary lack of vitamin C → bleeding gums, lameness, poor wound healing, reduced immunity → history/physical examination → vitamin C supplementation (under veterinary guidance) → daily vitamin-C-rich vegetables and fruit plus a dedicated supplement.