My guinea pig, Spice, is pretty old – going on 8 years – and lately she hasn't been herself. She's seemed really tired lately, and after I got back from a 5 day vacation I found she could not move her back legs well so she can barely get around her cage. she can't even support herself enough to stand up, and there's also some crustiness around her eyes. she does have a very good appetite, though, and if we place food near her where she can get to it easily, she eats it up.
I think she might have scurvy since the eye discharge and the lethargy and unwillingness to move are all symptoms of that. I have been giving her Vitamin C, but I worry that I haven't given her enough. Any suggestions you have on what to do or an alternate diagnosis would be welcome!

Oh and btw I do want to take her in to the vet to maybe get a Vitamin C shot since I have heard those help….but my parents do not want to spend money on a vet visit for a guinea pig so if I can help her without a vet visit that would be preferable.

I love Spice, I have had her since I was 8 and I am now 16…..i don't know if I'm ready for her to go just yet!

I hope she feels better.
But she may just be getting old. 8 years is a long time for a guinea pig so you took care of her pretty well. You're not supposed to put vitamin c in their water becauuse it has other stuff in them other than just vitamin c and could be toxic to your guinea pig.

Do you give her veggies? Guinea pigs need at least 1 cup of veggies every day. you should give her 1/8 of a green bell pepper in addition to dark leafy greens to make sure she gets enough vitamin c. For now you can also give her oxbow vitamin c tablets. you should not use vitamin drops.
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Seriously I can't see where you have gone wrong. I own and breed guinea pigs and hope all of them live as long as yours. you need to congratulate yourself on getting her to such a ripe old age. 8 years is above the common average and sadly far far longer than many get. being as she has lived so long I doubt that you have overlooked any nutritional needs as this would have been an issue a long time ago. I totally understand your not ready to loose her yet but at some point this will happen to all of us, I could only hope if I was a Guinea Pig someone like you would pick me. there really is no foundation for anyone to say you should not use this or that as if she was suffering as a result of vitamin supplementation or lack of dietary additions she would have passed on long ago. you have shared half your lifetime with her and if she does pass on she will do so knowing you loved her.

hi,i had a guinea pig go through that once,i got to it too late,i went to the pharmacist and asked him if they had poly-vi-sol,thats a pediatric vitamin c liquid they give to babies and children,i got a bottle and gave my piggie a drop or two every day through the dropper in the bottle,it worked for a while,but the piggie was to ill and i lost her.the piggie i have now gets water soluable drops in her water.you can mix the drops in her food too.try giving your piggie a small orange slice,mine loves this,she also likes watermelon,and bananas.

Hey! <3

Okay first off, i doubt she has scurvy because you are giving her veggies. take her to the vet as a guinea pig can spiral downhill very quickly. there's obviously something wrong, but the question is "what?"

As for the vitamin C drops, you should not use them, because:
-The only supplement a healthy cavy needs is Vitamin C. The vitamin drops that you buy at the pet store contain additional vitamins and minerals which can potentially be toxic to them.

-Vitamin C deteriorates rapidly in WATER and in LIGHT.

-Cavies drink varying amounts of water. there is no way to know how much Vitamin C your cavy is actually getting.

-Adult cavies need 30-50 mg per day of C. The drops make the water taste bad, thereby discouraging many cavies from drinking water—not good!

Although everyone says not to use them, you set a perfect example of a guinea pig living 8 healthy damn years with them, as many people say their pigs do. i think you should try vitamin C drops, NOT multivitamin drops. just pure vitamin c drops- and continue giving veggies!

in essence, i doubt its anything that you did wrong to make ur pig sick. things happen, she's old, she's going to get sick eventually : .. you've given her a happy life, and just posting this shows you care. i hope all turns out well and she's okay! guinea pigs can live up to 12 years (though its rare..) so keep hoping!!!!!!! x]