How big are the zobaline pills?

[itzj]

I ordered the vitacost methyl b12 because I could get it faster. But he is not taking it well in food (we are having trouble with him being very finicky as it is) and if I can avoid forcing it I would like to. I'm hoping maybe I could hide the zobaline in butter, but I'd like to know how big the tablet is.

Thank you!

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

The Zobaline tablets are very small. And they also have no discernable taste (I know this because I tasted them before giving Bertie's left-over Zobaline to my DH (who had a B12 deficiency at the time)). They do, however, have a very slightly gritty texture.
I crushed the Zobaline into Bertie's food and he didn't notice it at all. And I've not actually heard of a cat here who didn't accept it in their food....

I'm currently supplementing my old kitties' diets with Dr's Best methylcobalamin (it's a lot cheaper for folks outside of the US to buy), and none of my cats have noticed that in their food either.
Are there additional ingredients in the Vitacost B12 that might impart a different flavour?

Eliz

 

[itzj]

It appears to have less ingredients although it does have some rice flour. Once I open the capsule it dissolves right in but he is avoiding it unless he is in gobble mode. I went with this one partly because I knew it would come fast and partly because I didn't want to have to crush it.

 

[Blamethecats and Hannah]

I'd like to know how big the tablet is

The tablets are 3 mg. Crushed and mixed with wet food, my picky eater doesn't even detect it and that's a BIG plus.

 

[Blamethecats and Hannah]

And they also have no discernable taste (I know this because I tasted them

LOL, I also tasted them, just to confirm that they wouldn't discourage Hannie from eating. She hates her Cypro tabs. I also tasted them and can certainly understand why they make her salivate and bring on a grumpy face.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

LOL, I also tasted them, just to confirm that they wouldn't discourage Hannie from eating.

Haha!
My DH had a B12 deficiency at the time, and I contacted the Zobaline people to ask if it was OK to give DH the left-over cat pills! They said 'yes'!
I wanted to make sure they didn't taste wierd before giving them to DH. He ate them without knowing they were cat pills; and they worked really well.

 

[Squeaky and KT (GA)]

The 3mg Zobaline we use is a tiny pill - maybe 1/4" across. The human ones I take (Xobaline) are the same size. I don't notice any taste whatsoever in either of them...yep, I took a cat's pill too. These are little tablets, not capsules so I don't think you've got the same thing we use. Ours are by 'Life Link'. It does turn the food red but that's fine, I can tell what food has it in it. No one has turned up their nose at it as long as I put it in food they like.

 

[Blamethecats and Hannah]

He ate them without knowing they were cat pills;

LOL, so funny! Sometimes a little less information is actually a good thing.

These are little tablets, not capsules so I don't think you've got the same thing we use. Ours are by 'Life Link'. It does turn the food red but that's fine,

Yep, Hannah's Zobaline is by Life Link, too. That reminds me... time to order more.

 

[Vyktors Mum]

We tried Drs Best for Purrdy with little to no improvement then swapped to Zobaline and now he's back in A1 condition. He doesn't bat an eyelid at it crushed in his food.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

We tried Drs Best for Purrdy with little to no improvement then swapped to Zobaline and now he's back in A1 condition. He doesn't bat an eyelid at it crushed in his food.

You raise a very interesting and important point there, Vyktor's Mum @Vyktors Mum
I just looked at the ingredients on the Dr's Best B12 and see that it's just B12. The Zobaline B12 also contains folic acid, and these two work synergistically together. So, maybe folks giving Dr's best should also be giving 200mcg of folic acid (the amount in Zobaline) at the same time...?

 

[BJM]

B vitamins are water soluble and excreted through the kidneys. It is very difficult to overdose on them because of that. Maybe discuss with the vet an all around vitamin supplement in addition to the extra methylcobalamin.

 

[Vyktors Mum]

I have seen some recent articles warning about B12 supplementation. It appears that if cancer is present the B12 will work to multiply those cells as well as the healthy cells so I think there is some cause to take care if there is a possibility of cancer. Of course if neuropathy is present I think the benefits as far as quality of life would absolutely outweigh any risks.

@Elizabeth and Bertie - I wonder about the consistency of the dose in Drs Best too. With Zobaline the whole thing turns bright pink every time when added to food. Mum found the turning pink inconsistent with Drs Best.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

I have seen some recent articles warning about B12 supplementation. It appears that if cancer is present the B12 will work to multiply those cells as well as the healthy cells so I think there is some cause to take care if there is a possibility of cancer.

Yes, I've read this too @Vyktors Mum, and thanks for reminding me about this. I actually read loads of articles about it a while back trying to understand it, and it made my head spin because some of the info seemed contradictory...
From what I think I understood (and I'm not 100% sure...) either too little or too much B12 can contribute to cancer risk in different ways. But if cancer is present an excess of B12 could feed those cells. I think B12 has a lot of benefits, and especially for older animals and cats with certain health problems, but if cancer is in the picture B12 may be contraindicated..?

Incidentally, the year before last a friend and I both had kitties with cancer and discussed the pros and cons of B12. She had a holistic vet who prescribed B12 for her cat as part of the treatment. I was concerned because of what I'd read about B12 possibly feeding cancer cells. But her cat did really well. Perhaps they managed to ensure that the cat had sufficient B12, but not excess..?

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

I wonder about the consistency of the dose in Drs Best too. With Zobaline the whole thing turns bright pink every time when added to food. Mum found the turning pink inconsistent with Drs Best.

I noticed the colour thing too!
But when I checked the ingredients on the Dr's Best it seems only to contain methylcobalamin.

If I had a choice I'd probably use Zobaline, but it can be expensive to buy from the US, and it may be the luck of the draw as to whether or not you get 'stung' with additional costs. The cost of Zobaline has gone up, and the last time I bought it I had to pay import tax and was charged a fee by the post office for their handling time. Someone else I know received theirs with no problems at all...

 

[Vyktors Mum]

@Elizabeth and Bertie re the cancer cells/ B12 issue. I don't know but I suspect that any dose strong enough to cause healing/multiplication of good cells would also have the same effect on any nasty ones that may be floating around.

 

[Grayson & Lu]

I, too, crushed & mixed with canned food and it got gobbled up. No resistance at all.