Name two species-specific welfare considerations for guinea pigs in research.

• A. Regular Vitamin C intake to prevent scurvy.
• B. Social housing with compatible cage mates.
• C. Regular Vitamin C intake to prevent scurvy and social housing with compatible cage mates.
• D. Appropriate environmental enrichment and stable housing.

Answer: (C)

Guinea pigs can't make their own vitamin C, so they must receive it regularly in their diet to prevent scurvy, which would seriously harm their health and welfare in a research setting. This is a species-specific requirement tied to their metabolism, not something universal to all lab animals.

Guinea pigs are inherently social and do best when housed with compatible cage mates. Social housing supports normal behavior, reduces stress, and improves overall welfare, whereas isolation can lead to frustration and abnormal behaviors. Pairing these two factors—ensuring a steady vitamin C supply and providing appropriate, compatible social housing—addresses two health and welfare needs that are particularly characteristic of guinea pigs.

The other options fail to capture both of these guinea-pig–specific needs together. While vitamin C is essential, it alone misses the important social aspect; social housing is important but is not unique to guinea pigs in the same way vitamin C dependence is. Environmental enrichment and stable housing are important for many species, but the two that are distinctly tied to guinea-pig welfare are their vitamin C requirement and their social nature.