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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Hypovitaminosis C (scurvy) or antibiotic-associated enterotoxemia (caused by an overgrowth of _Clostridium difficile_) are the major

differential diagnoses for a guinea pig with severe lethargy, depression, and diarrhea1,2,3. Additional differential diagnoses include Tyzzer's Disease (_Clostridium piliforme_),

salmonellosis, colibacillosis, coccidia (_Eimeria caviae_), _Bordetella bronchiseptica_, malocclusion, heat stress, dehydration, other nutritional deficiencies, and trauma1. We treated the

remaining guinea pig (guinea pig #3) with vitamin C (30 mg/kg s.c. daily) and gave it supplemental fluids (Lactated Ringers Solution, 40 ml/kg s.c. daily). We treated the animal for three

days with no significant change in condition and found it dead on the fourth day. We submitted the blood sample collected from the euthanized guinea pig (guinea pig #2) for a complete blood

count and a biochemistry panel. The results revealed an increase in the number of nucleated red blood cells and polychromasia, suggesting a regenerative anemia caused by subacute hemorrhage.

The leukogram showed an increase in the percentage number of neutrophils without a corresponding left shift, suggesting a chronic inflammatory response. The results of the biochemistry

panel were nonspecific. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased, while creatinine levels were decreased. Because intestinal hemorrhage can cause an increased BUN

concentration, we suspected that the hemorrhagic diarrhea seen clinically in this animal caused the elevation. Daily production of creatinine is usually stable and is dependent upon the diet

and muscle mass of the animal; anorexia and poor body condition can cause a decrease in creatinine production4. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS

OPTIONS Access through your institution ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Harkness, J.E.

& Wagner, J.E. _The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents_ 4th edn (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 1995). Google Scholar  * Percy, D.H. & Barthold, S.W. _Pathology of

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female guinea-pigs on a scorbutogenic diet. _Nature_ 242, 522–523 (1973). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Hickman is the

Veterinary Medical Officer for the Research and Development Service at the Portland VA Medical Center., Debra L. Hickman DVM, MS, DACLAM * Wasson is a postdoctoral fellow at the University

of California at Davis., Katherine Wasson DVM, DACLAM * Ehrhart is a pathologist at Colorado State University., E. J. Ehrhart DVM, PhD, DACVP Authors * Debra L. Hickman DVM, MS, DACLAM View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Katherine Wasson DVM, DACLAM View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google

Scholar * E. J. Ehrhart DVM, PhD, DACVP View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Debra L. Hickman DVM, MS,

DACLAM. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Hickman, D., Wasson, K. & Ehrhart, E. Diagnosis: Subclinical Hypovitaminosis C. _Lab Anim_

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