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Diabetic Cat
Care Vitamin B12 for Cats A Multitude of Benefits |
It is not uncommon at the time of
our FD cat's diagnosis, one of the symptoms we might have
noticed is neuropathy. Frequently Vitamin B12 is
recommended to help reverse the neuropathy in combination
with starting TR and bringing the BG under much better
regulation as quickly as possible. In addition to
Neuropathy; Pancreatitis, Hyperthyroidism and
gastrointestinal issues can present with our cats. CRD
(Chronic Renal Disease) is another medical condition also
very common with FD. This sticky is intended to
highlight the health benefits (and cautions) when it comes to
the use of Vitamin B12 for various health issues our FD cats
encounter.
There are two forms of Vitamin B12
- Cobalamin B12 and Methyl B12; both can be obtained either
in capsule forum or in injectable form (usually from your
vet) which is pretty much always the Cobalamin
version. As a member of the "B Vitamin Group",
Vitamin B12 is water soluble meaning that excess is excreted
through the urine so it rarely can be overdosed. A well
balanced raw diet typically provides enough Vitamin B12 that
it does not need supplementation; however, processed canned
foods can lose Vitamin B12 (as well as other important
nutrients) during manufacture. In addition, as our cats
age, just as it is with humans, Vitamin B12 deficiencies are
not abnormal.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12 can lead to less energy, reduced appetite, loss of weight, poor coat condition, and if the deficiency is severe enough, neurological issues such as seizures. Once a cat has had pancreatitis or IBD, or has CRD, it is wise to expect there's a deficiency when it comes to Vitamin B12 and to confirm by serum assay (blood tests). Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient responsible for the development and maintenance of red blood cells, nerve cells and their coverings, it helps support adrenal function, maintains a healthy nervous system and is essential for key metabolic processes, including digestion of food.
For otherwise healthy cats, using a supplement specifically formulated for diabetic cats such as Zobaline Methyl B12 can help with overall wellness and is well advised since just like humans do, cats stop producing B12 as they age. (LifeLink, the manufacturer of Zobaline is one of DCC's Affiliate Partners and we earn a small commission on sales to help fund site costs when purchases are made by direct click-thru from the link on DCC's Affiliates page) If health issues are more severe, then the injectable form available from your vet would likely be a better solution for your cat, however this will likely be the Cobalamin form rather than Methyl B12. The Cobalamin form must break down in the system in order for the Methyl B12 to be released.
Many of us use Pepcid AC for our
cats to deal with nausea, vomiting or other
discomforts. Antacids work by suppressing the stomach's production of
digestive acids which help to curb heartburn and other reflux
symptoms, resulting in the impairment of the body's ability to absorb
nutrients that rev
the metabolism, which Vitamin B12 does. A study found that antacids can
reduce absorption of Vitamin B12 by 72% in just two
weeks. When using Pepcid AC/famotidine or other acid reducing
medications, members would be well advised to make sure our cats are
getting supplemental Methyl B12 to help increase
what is depleted in the
system. A serum assay (blood test) can be done
to determine what the level of B12 is in our cats and whether
supplementation would be strongly encouraged.
Methyl B12 is a water soluble
vitamin which means any excess in the system will be excreted
through the kidneys. If using Methyl B12 to deal with
neuropathy, the dose could typically be anywhere between 3mg and 6mg per
day. If your cat has
no other medical issues but FD, or if your cat is older
a maintenance dose of approximately
1000 mcg per day
is recommended for
cats. Humans
who take Methyl B12 daily
for maintenance have reported an increase in
energy levels in as little
as 10 days. If your cat has additional health
issues, please discuss higher doses with your
vet.
Subnormal concentrations of serum Cobalamin (vitamin B12) in cats with gastrointestinal disease From PubMed
Does Vitamin B12 Help Cats? Pets4Home UK
Cobalamin Deficiency In Cats Vetbook Aus
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Among Patients with Diabetes Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Online
Information about
why and how Vitamin B12 is important for cats with
pancreatitis, CRD, Neuropathy, Hyperthyroidism, IBD and
Cancer
Cats with
Cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4236818/
Trojan Horse treatment for Pets with
Cancer Ceva Animal
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