Vitamin B12, Diabetic Cat Care

The information contained in this sticky is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace veterinary advice. The intention of this sticky is to open doors to understanding about the specific medical condition or topic, allowing for educated and on-going discussion with your vet.

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

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

Tanya's CRD B12

Gastro-Intestinal Texas A & M

Feline Nutrition pubmed animalbiome TexasAM small animal

Cats with Cancer
Trojan Horse treatment for Pets with Cancer pubmed