It doesnt have to be zobaline. You dont get it in Canada either. I just got plain ordinary B12 - you just have to make sure that it is the methylcobalamin kind and not cyanocobalamin. Most pharmacies will carry it. Check it has no added sugar and you will be fine. Human packaged is fine - just check the sugar content.
Just get the human one. Capsules are easier as you can just open them and sprinkle it on.
The human ones have stuff in them that I do not know for sure are safe for cats, and I'm not sure how to check. Also, don't have the folic acid, how important is that?
I used human b12 methylcobalamin made by vitacost. I open one for the cats and then pop one myself. Lol
it's not the methylcobalamin I'm worried about, that's clearly the same. it's the other stuff they put in the capsule with it.
That's not a big issue - my cat gets one pill a day and its a 1000 mcg dose - what he doesn't need is excreted out as its water soluble. Think we can get too hung up on the details. First time around my boy couldn't even stand up to eat and I had to prop the bowl up for him. 10 days after me giving him ordinary, pharmacy bought B12, he was running about like a kitten again. This time around, I didn't hesitate and the last three months I've given it to him daily. No wobbly legs at all and not come to any harm despite the extra ingredients listed (not sugar). I used to work for a pharmaceutical company so I know a lot of the names sound long and scary but they are not harmful. NOT giving it to him is more harmful to him. Zobaline not available in this country. Shipping exorbitantly expensive from the USA and I did what was needed for my cat.
I've read here that dosing B12 at this level isn't recommended for kitties with CKD. You could try looking at human methycobalamin supplements in a pharmacy to find one with no added sugars. They usually come in different dose levels like 250 mcg or 1000 mcg.
So, this is going to contradict what I just said, but most of what I read yesterday (I spent my day figuring out vitamin B12!) is that cyanocobalamin is tough on the kidneys because they need to get rid of the CN (which is detached from the cyanocobalamin to transform it into methylcobalamin which is biologically available). So maybe methylcobalamin isn't a big issue for kidneys. (thinking out loud)
All I've read here is that methylcobalamin is preferred but I haven't personally researched why. The reason you found for not using the cyanocobalamin sounds good to me. It's still said here on FDMB to use methyl B12 with caution in CKD kitties. I don't know what the research says on that though.
So, having dug into this, vitamin B12 is actually a family of molecules (cobalamin): there is cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, adenosylcobalamin and yet another one with a complicated name. What changes is the 6th group that is attached to the cobalt in the molecule. So in cyanocobalamin it's a cyanide group, methylcobalamin it's methyle, etc.
Yup that’s what I said and what I use. Works well on Silver but he doesn’t have CKD.
The methylcobalamin b12 capsules from Vita cost have 4 ingredients only. The folic acid improves absorption. I make a week's worth by opening the capsules into a small Tupperware and adding crushed folic. The zobaline pills are already combo. Either way it's crush and sprinkle. Tanya recommends a smaller dose for ckd kitties, but not against using. But don't forget, it's also kitties bg numbers coming in line that improves the neuropathy. Good luck whichever route you go!
I need to understand this a little better. Is neuropathy the same (or just generally the same) as neuropathic pain, specifically in humans? I have this, it's awful and I don't want my cats going through that. Sorry everyone, if this is a question for another day just let it go.
I haven't researched this precisely (I researched "what to do about it") but I think it's mainly lack of control/strength and that pain is not necessarily there.
I'll keep that in mind but I think I'm all out-researched for the week, I need to put my work cap back on!
But when his condition was real bad, he was real touchy on the back of his legs. My vet told me the neuropathy can cause bad nerve tingling and sensitivity.
As others have said, the key to recovery is B12 and glucose regulation. Leo almost couldn't walk. Now he is pretty much like a normal cat, well, except he is sweeter than most cats
