b'ARTICLE By integrating effectiveoften multifactorial. analgesia, environmentalClinical signs associated with hypovitaminosis Cand husbandry modification,Common findings include:nutritional assessment and Lameness and reluctance to moveclear communication withSwollen limb joints and costochondral owners, clinicians can makejunctionsinformed, welfare-focused Hopping or shuffling gaitdecisions that support comfort,Reduced appetite and weight lossmobility and quality of life in Lethargyageing small pet patients.Rough or poor quality coatDelayed wound healingLooking aheadrecognised contributors to abnormalAs our understanding of osteoarthritis joint loading and degenerative change.in rabbits and guinea pigs deepens, Nutritional factors, especially thoseopportunities to improve outcomes related to vitamin C intake in guineathrough earlier diagnosis, optimal pigs, may further complicate the clinicalhusbandry, and multimodal care picture. continue to grow. Given the subtle Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs lack thenature of clinical signs in prey species, enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase, whichproactive assessment and ongoing is required to convert L-gulonolactonereview are particularly important.to vitamin C. 4They are thereforeBy integrating effective analgesia, entirely dependent on dietary provisionenvironmental and husbandry with inadequate intake resulting inmodification, nutritional assessment hypovitaminosis C. and clear communication with owners, Hypovitaminosis C and joint disease clinicians can make informed, welfare-Vitamin C plays a key role in collagenfocused decisions that support comfort, synthesis and connective tissue integrity.mobility and quality of life in ageing Deficiency can lead to capillarysmall pet patients.fragility and impaired tissue repair, with musculoskeletal signs typically developing within weeks of insufficient intake.Clinically, hypovitaminosis C mayMolly Varga SmithReferences1. Arzi, B. et al. (2011) A proposedpresent with lameness and joint swellingBVetMed DZooMedmodel of naturally occurringdue to intra-articular haemorrhage, 5(Mammalian)osteoarthritis in the domestic rabbit.alongside more general systemic signs. Lab Animal, 41(1), pp.2025. https:// MRCVSdoi.org/10.1038/laban0112-20 Affected animals may show signs of 2. Bagha, F. & Keeble, E. (2024)pain, including a hunched posture and Incidental osteoarthritis: risk factors,may vocalise when handled. When OAMolly is an RCVS recognised prevalence and clinical evidence inspecialist in zoo and wildlife rabbits. UK-VET Companion Animal,is already present, vitamin C deficiency 29(2). may hasten the progression of jointmedicine with a particular interest 3. Minarikova, A. et al. (2015) Diseasesdisease.in rabbit medicine and surgery. in pet guinea pigs: a retrospectiveShe is Head Vet at The Exotic study in 1000 animals. VeterinaryDietary provision typically includes Record, 177, p.200. https://doi. Animal Vets in Manchester, an org/10.1136/vr.103053 a guinea pig nugget diet containingindependently owned specialist 4. Johnson-Delaney, C. & Meredith,stabilised vitamin C, alongside leafycentre caring for all exotic pets, and A. Vitamin C deficiency. Vetlexicon Exotis. Vitamin C deficiency in Guineagreens and species-specific treats.has advised Supreme Petfoods - the Pigs | Vetlexicon Although hypovitaminosis C is linked tomanufacturer of Science Selective, 5. Keeble, E. (2023) Guinea pigjoint disease, supplementation alonea specialist nutrition brand for small nutrition: what do we know?. In Practice, 45: 200-210. https://doi. does not prevent OA because as withpets - for over 15 years.org/10.1002/inpr.309 other species, the aetiology of OA is 30www.inspiredvet.co.uk'