Need your chemistry knowledge

[lenarenee]

The company Childlife makes liquid Vitamin C that the guinea pig rescue highly recommend for giving to piggies.

I'm extremely skeptical that this product has any active vitamin C by the time it hits the stores being that Ascorbic acid is one of the most unstable. The solution is made with WATER. However, I could be completely wrong, but since Vit C supplementation is vital for guinea pigs, I'm hoping someone out there can give an educated opinion.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATPB5TK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[OldHippie]

Vitamin C is somewhat stable in a dry, powdered form but dilution in water greatly accelerates the transformation of ascorbic acid into a biologically unusable form. Low pH’s can slow this degradation but at neutral to higher pH, dilute solutions of vitamin C can degrade very quickly.

 

[lenarenee]

You're confirming that I need a better form of vitamin c for my guinea pigs then.

Maybe human vitamins; with a fresh batch code.

 

[Relle]

Lenarenee, we can get vit c here specifically for gp's, at the pet supply store. Can you try to get it where you are.

 

[dndlyon]

I agree with OldHippie - if you can find a powder supplement, you're more likely to get a dose closer to what the label says.

The product in the link is in an amber glass bottle which certainly helps Vit C stability over a clear plastic bottle, but it is very likely that the product contains much more or much less Vit C than what is on the label. In food Vit C is overdosed so the product still meets the label panel at end of shelf-life. However, since this is a nutrition product it isn't regulated the same way. The actual value may be much more or may be much less.

If you go with a human supplement, just be sure to check the ingredient panel to make sure there aren't other things in there that won't work for GPs - supplement companies often use fillers or processing aids.

 

[lenarenee]

Lenarenee, we can get vit c here specifically for gp's, at the pet supply store. Can you try to get it where you are.

We have g. pig vitamin c drops at our pet stores that you add to the water bottle. A useless endeavor if you ask me - as pigs drink very little water, and the vitamin see is not only exposed to light, but more water. Plus - I've never had a guinea pig who drank the water with the drops in it!

We do have Oxbow vitamin C tablet - basically a timothy based "cookie". Old Hippie says the dry powder form of Vit C is more stable, so I'll look for the freshest packages of those.

We do feed our pigs fresh peppers at every meal. That's probably the best bet of making sure they get some of the Vitamin C right now.
(btw, the reintroduction is going okay. Some grumpiness, but no all out fighting)

I agree with OldHippie - if you can find a powder supplement, you're more likely to get a dose closer to what the label says.

The product in the link is in an amber glass bottle which certainly helps Vit C stability over a clear plastic bottle, but it is very likely that the product contains much more or much less Vit C than what is on the label. In food Vit C is overdosed so the product still meets the label panel at end of shelf-life. However, since this is a nutrition product it isn't regulated the same way. The actual value may be much more or may be much less.

If you go with a human supplement, just be sure to check the ingredient panel to make sure there aren't other things in there that won't work for GPs - supplement companies often use fillers or processing aids.

That's very helpful information! Thank you! I'm going to ask the company directly; it would be great to know that they weren't knowingly lying to the customers (assuming they overdose the vitamin C to address the issue)

 

[Relle]

We have g. pig vitamin c drops at our pet stores that you add to the water bottle. A useless endeavor if you ask me - as pigs drink very little water, and the vitamin see is not only exposed to light, but more water. Plus - I've never had a guinea pig who drank the water with the drops in it!

We do have Oxbow vitamin C tablet - basically a timothy based "cookie". Old Hippie says the dry powder form of Vit C is more stable, so I'll look for the freshest packages of those.

We do feed our pigs fresh peppers at every meal. That's probably the best bet of making sure they get some of the Vitamin C right now.
(btw, the reintroduction is going okay. Some grumpiness, but no all out fighting)

I find that oxbow is a good brand for bunny, I get her the rabbit pellets, as you can imagine I pay am arm and a leg for those.Glad they are calming down somewhat.

 

[OldHippie]

I find that oxbow is a good brand for bunny

How would you know if it wasn't? Ascorbic acid is manufactured in the liver of most animals, except for some birds, fish, guinea pigs, fruit bats, and primates. Bunnies make their own vitamin C, and don't need any supplements. You could spend the money on what they really want: chew toys!

I love bunnies! I had one as a child. He had the run of the house and was paper trained.

 

[Relle]

How would you know if it wasn't? Ascorbic acid is manufactured in the liver of most animals, except for some birds, fish, guinea pigs, fruit bats, and primates. Bunnies make their own vitamin C, and don't need any supplements. You could spend the money on what they really want: chew toys!

I love bunnies! I had one as a child. He had the run of the house and was paper trained.

How would you know if it wasn't?
You are aggressive in your written word, that to me sounds like you are challenging someone.​

For a start, read the post you are replying to properly. I said I buy her rabbit pellets, which my specialist rabbit vet recommended for her diet and gut health. Oxbow is the brand I buy. She doesn't get given Vitamin C. I could write a book on bunnies, I've had them for 38 years, so don't need to be told what their needs are and how to care for them.

 

[OldHippie]

I'm sorry. I stand corrected. I misunderstood your Oxbow reference.