17 Foods For Guinea Pigs That Are High in Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for guinea pigs. They cannot manufacture their own Vitamin C as most animals can, so they need to get this crucial vitamin through their daily diet.
The average guinea pig requires 10-30mg of Vitamin C per day. Pregnant or nursing guinea pigs need an average of 30-40mg of Vitamin C, and a sick guinea pig may need 50mg or even up to 100mg of Vitamin C a day!
Guinea pigs will pee out any excess Vitamin C they don’t need, so you don’t have to worry about overdosing on Vitamin C from natural sources.
However, guinea pigs are prone to developing bladder or kidney stones, so it’s a good idea to select foods that are low in calcium to feed on a regular basis.
It’s crucial to feed your guinea pigs a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, so they get different types of nutrients in their diet. You can find a great reference sheet with foods you can feed here: Guinea Pig Food Chart.
Why is Vitamin C Important for Guinea Pigs?
If guinea pigs are deficient in Vitamin C over time, they can develop a condition known as scurvy. People can get this too. It’s a disease that causes weakness in the joints and difficulty moving.
Symptoms of scurvy can include pain in the joints, unwillingness to move, difficulty walking, bruising under the skin, extreme weakness, dental issues, weight loss, a puffy coat (a symptom of pain), and diarrhea. It can even lead to death if left untreated.
As you can see, it’s much better to prevent scurvy in the first place! Scurvy is easily preventable by providing your guinea pig with plenty of Vitamin C in their diet.
Below you can find a list of 17 vegetables that have high levels of Vitamin C for your guinea pigs.
High Vitamin C Foods: Comparison Chart
The following chart gives you a quick glance comparison of several Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables you can feed your guinea pig. Keep in mind that the foods with the highest numbers aren’t always the most reliable sources of nutrients.
For example, guava is high with 228mg of Vitamin C, but this fruit is sugary, and piggies can only eat a thin slice once a week. On the other hand, bell peppers are a bit lower, but your guinea pig can safely eat them in higher quantities.
| Food | Vitamin C (per 100g) | Calcium (per 100g) | Sugar (per 100g) |
| Guava | 228mg | 18mg | 8.92g |
| Thyme | 160mg | 405mg | Unknown |
| Sweet Bell Pepper (Orange) | 158mg | 5mg | Unknown |
| Sweet Bell Pepper (Red) | 142mg | 6mg | 4.2g |
| Sweet Bell Pepper (Yellow) | 139mg | 7mg | Unknown |
| Parsley | 133mg | 138mg | 0.85g |
| Sweet Bell Pepper (Green) | 99.5mg | 7mg | 2.4g |
| Kale | 93.4mg | 254mg | 0.99g |
| Broccoli | 89.2mg | 47mg | 1.7g |
| Dill | 85mg | 208mg | Unknown |
| Brussels Sprouts | 85mg | 42mg | 2.2g |
| Kiwi | 74.7mg | 35mg | 8.99g |
| Mustard Greens | 70mg | 115mg | 1.32g |
| Papaya | 60.9mg | 20mg | 7.82g |
| Turnip Greens | 60mg | 190mg | 0.81g |
| Oranges | 59.1mg | 43mg | 8.57g |
| Strawberries | 58.8mg | 16mg | 4.86g |
| Red Cabbage | 57mg | 45mg | 3.83g |
| Cauliflower | 48.2mg | 22mg | 1.91g |
| Tomatoes | 27.2mg | 11mg | 2.63g |
Best Vegetables for Guinea Pigs That Are High in Vitamin C
Veggies are one of the best sources of Vitamin C for your guinea pig. They are completely natural, healthy, and contain many other great nutrients as well. However, some of them should be fed more sparingly than others due to high levels of sugar, acidity, calcium, or phosphorus.
Leafy greens are commonly rich in Vitamin C and other nutrients, but these veggies are often high in calcium.
Parsley, thyme, and other herbs that guinea pigs can eat are often nutrient-rich, but they are generally high in calcium too.
Too much calcium can contribute to the formation of bladder stones, which is a painful condition that can block guinea pigs from peeing and often requires surgery to remove.
Some guinea pig safe fruits provide a great source of Vitamin C, but they are often high in sugar. Too much sugar can cause obesity and related health problems in guinea pigs.
As with anything in life, moderation and variety are key to a healthy guinea pig diet.
1. Sweet Bell Peppers
Sweet bell peppers, also known as capsicums, are one of the best sources of Vitamin C for your guinea pig. They come in several colors; red, yellow, orange, and green.
Orange bell peppers are the highest in Vitamin C, at about 158mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams. They are also relatively low in sugar, making them excellent veggies for guinea pigs.
Green bell peppers are still high in Vitamin C, at 99.5mg per 100 grams. They can also be fed quite regularly with their low sugar content.
Yellow and red bell peppers sit in the middle of the other two for Vitamin C and red peppers contain slightly higher levels of sugar as well.
Bell peppers are great veggies to feed to your guinea pig daily, and you can also rotate through different colors each day for more variety.
Bell peppers have more sugar than leafy greens but much less sugar than most other fruits. They are also low in calcium, making this a great staple vegetable in your guinea pig’s diet.
Also Read: What to Feed Guinea Pigs When You Run Out of Food
2. Parsley
Parsley has very high levels of Vitamin C, but it also has high levels of calcium. This makes it an excellent veggie for young, growing guinea pigs.
However, it can cause bladder stones in adult piggies if fed too frequently. Therefore, it’s best to limit this veggie to once or twice a week.
Many guinea pigs love parsley, so it can be a great addition to your piggy’s diet in moderation. It’s a very nutrient-rich food that provides countless health benefits for your guinea pig.
Related: 10 Favorite Foods That Guinea Pigs Love!
3. Kale
Like most leafy greens, kale is very nutrient-rich. This super green is quite high in Vitamin C at 93.4mg per 100 grams, and it’s also a rich source of calcium.
This healthy veggie is another great choice for baby guinea pigs. For adults, it’s a great addition to your guinea pig’s diet in small quantities once or twice a week.
Be sure to rotate with lower calcium foods when you feed veggies containing high levels of calcium. This ensures that your guinea pig is getting a balanced mix of vegetables without high amounts of calcium.
4. Guava Fruit
Guava is another healthy and unique food to add to your guinea pig’s palette. This fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C for guinea pigs. Guava actually contains 4 times as much Vitamin C as an orange!
As with all fruits, guava is high in sugar and also has a higher level of acidity and phosphorus. Because of all this, it shouldn’t be fed in large quantities. You can safely feed a small slice once or twice a week.
Guava can be served peeled or with the skin intact. However, unless you buy the fruit organic, it will likely have been exposed to pesticides. For this reason, it’s probably best to peel the skin off for your guinea pig.
5. Oranges
Oranges are a good source of Vitamin C. However, they are high in sugar, acidity, and calcium as well. Because of this, it’s best to feed oranges sparingly. A slice once a week is fine for your guinea pig.
Orange peels are also safe for guinea pigs, and they contain even more Vitamin C than the oranges themselves!
Many guinea pigs won’t eat orange peels, but if you have one that will, it’s a great thing to feed them.
However, make sure the oranges you buy are organic because orange peels are often loaded with pesticides.
6. Thyme
Thyme is a herb that guinea pigs can eat. You may be surprised to learn that thyme actually contains a ton of Vitamin C. It is right on par with bell peppers, and it even contains more Vitamin C than parsley. It’s high in fiber and low in sugar, making it a super healthy herb for guinea pigs.
Unfortunately, thyme also contains incredibly high levels of calcium. Because of this, it should be fed in very small quantities, no more than once a week. However, because it’s so nutrient-rich, guinea pigs can get a lot of Vitamin C and other benefits from eating thyme, even in very small amounts.
Thyme is also a low-maintenance and easy-to-grow plant. If you have space in your garden, consider growing your own so you have a fresh supply of organic thyme for your piggy. Thyme is also a perennial plant, meaning it will keep growing back year after year with little ongoing care.
7. Dill
Dill is another high-calcium herb that you can add to your guinea pig’s menu from time to time.
Despite being high in calcium, dill is an excellent source of Vitamin C and other nutrients.
This herb has quite a distinguished taste and smell that guinea pigs will either love or really dislike.
8. Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are a good source of Vitamin C, but like most leafy greens, they’re high in calcium. They’re also a bit acidic and contain some phosphorus. Just like other types of leafy greens, feed this one sparingly once or twice a week, and mix it up with some lower calcium veggies.
9. Turnip Greens
Turnip greens are similar to mustard greens in nutritional value, so it all comes down to your guinea pig’s preference between the two. Both are a good source of Vitamin C and a bit higher in calcium. Turnip greens are very nutrient rich and make a great addition to your guinea pig’s diet on a rotational basis with other healthy vegetables.
10. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a healthy green veggie with countless nutrients. They are quite high in Vitamin C at 85mg per 100 grams and are a moderate source of calcium.
As a cruciferous vegetable, this food can be gassy, and it should be introduced slowly to your guinea pig to avoid bloating or other stomach upsets.
However, cruciferous vegetables are full of health benefits and have a lot to offer your piggy. Just be sure to moderate the amount and feed any cruciferous veggies with lots of hay to keep your guinea pig’s digestive system functioning smoothly.
11. Red Cabbage
Red cabbage provides a relatively high source of Vitamin C, at 57mg per 100 grams.
Red cabbage is higher in Vitamin C than green and savoy cabbage, so it’s a good idea to stick to the red variety to maximize nutrients. Red cabbage also contains a higher concentration of antioxidants.
Cabbage contains some calcium, so it’s best to feed this leafy vegetable no more than 2-3 times a week.
Cabbage can be a little gassy too, so it’s best to introduce this food slowly in small amounts.
12. Kiwi
Kiwi is very high in sugar and should be fed in small amounts, no more than once a week. Kiwi contains some calcium and phosphorus, which can contribute to bladder stone formation. They are also a little acidic, which can cause stomach upset for your guinea pig if fed in large amounts.
With that said, kiwi is a great source of Vitamin C. Even when fed in small amounts, it provides a substantial amount of Vitamin C for your guinea pig. In addition, they provide a great boost of Vitamins A, E, and K.
13. Papaya
Papaya is a delicious fruit that provides a great source of Vitamin C. It is also fairly low in calcium, making it a safe choice for guinea pigs that are prone to bladder stones