B12 question

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Glassgoblin

Glassgoblin

Member Since 2018
I've seen it mentioned in a few threads, and while Jaxa doesn't have the symptoms being discussed I've thought that maybe I should get something to have on hand. However, all of the links I see are for human products and I worry about dosing amount for a cat. Is there a guide for how much a cat can be given based on weight?
 
Cool, thanks! I hate it when something goes wrong and I don't have the tools at hand to deal with it- living way out in rural MN means instant access isn't always possible.
 
I give Teasel a sugar free human methylcobalamin supplement because the cost of shipping Zobaline to Canada is high and it could get confiscated at the border. He doesn't have neuropathy so it's "just in case".
 
Glassgoblin said:
Cool, thanks! I hate it when something goes wrong and I don't have the tools at hand to deal with it- living way out in rural MN means instant access isn't always possible.
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I hear you. Semi-rural New Zealand here & I have to order most stuff in.

I use Solgars B12 Methylcobalamin. It has no harmful additions but is coloured pink with maybe a slight cherry flavour. I crush one of these twice daily with 1/4 folic acid tablet then sprinkle into his food and give to Tyler who has much improved neuropathy.

Cost of obtaining Zobaline is exorbitant and like Kris would likely be lengthily held up if not confiscated at the border.
 
Will be getting the B12 asap, and I had one more question about that - I have the pills bookmarked, but the thought of pilling her makes me cringe right now- she hates pills and we've had a nice month without any pills for the pancreatitis. Crushing them into food makes it hard to know if she got a full dose each day though since she is free feeding. Anyone use the injectable kind? Are pill pocket treats okay, or are they too high carb? I would rather she eat a pill on her own and even saw a chewable B12 for cats and dogs, but it was called something else and I'm not sure if she would voluntarily eat them.
 
Glassgoblin said:
Will be getting the B12 asap, and I had one more question about that - I have the pills bookmarked, but the thought of pilling her makes me cringe right now- she hates pills and we've had a nice month without any pills for the pancreatitis. Crushing them into food makes it hard to know if she got a full dose each day though since she is free feeding. Anyone use the injectable kind? Are pill pocket treats okay, or are they too high carb? I would rather she eat a pill on her own and even saw a chewable B12 for cats and dogs, but it was called something else and I'm not sure if she would voluntarily eat them.
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You don't have to give the B12 as a pill down her throat. It's absolutely tasteless if you buy an unflavoured type in a human drugstore (tasted it myself). It dissolves readily in a little water in her food bowl and then you can mix it with her wet food. This is true for Zobaline if you decide to order it as well as human supplements from a pharmacy. Read the labels to make sure it's unflavoured and has no sugar in it. Don't get the time release version because they don't dissolve.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
You don't have to give the B12 as a pill down her throat. It's absolutely tasteless if you buy an unflavoured type in a human drugstore (tasted it myself). It dissolves readily in a little water in her food bowl and then you can mix it with her wet food. This is true for Zobaline if you decide to order it as well as human supplements from a pharmacy. Read the labels to make sure it's unflavoured and has no sugar in it. Don't get the time release version because they don't dissolve.
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That would work, but then I have to get her to eat wet food and she has been refusing to do that for six years, so far. I can't even get her to eat chewy things.
 
It's not that is better is different most b complex have several of the b vitamins which is very good but they usually contain just a very little amount of b12 and for this kind of neuropathy you need a much bigger dose
 
Sorry if I am being too contrary. I did order the pills and we will get them in Jaxa one way or another. It seems like a supplement that is too important for her to be missing. They were already shipped so hopefully we can start soon.
 
Glassgoblin said:
Sorry if I am being too contrary. I did order the pills and we will get them in Jaxa one way or another. It seems like a supplement that is too important for her to be missing. They were already shipped so hopefully we can start soon.
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Here's a suggestion: crush the B12 in some water and syringe it into her. It's tasteless (you can verify that for yourself!) so that part of it shouldn't be a problem. You could also try crushing it and sprinkling it over her kibble but that would probably be wasteful. Did you order Zobaline?
 
We got the pills yesterday afternoon, so I waited until this morning to try giving one to her. I have several cans of wet and one packet of the Hartz bisque treat that she loves, so I opened the bisque, put one little spoon in a bowl, smooshed the pill into it, added a dab of water and she seemed interested so I mixed it well and gave it to her- she ate all but a little dregs on the side. I have to get some more bisque or a different treat that is a similar texture. The water from the cans of chunky food might work too- though she won't eat the chunks of food in those. Are the FF broths high carb from the carrots and other ingredients? The bisque is just a seafood flavor (shrimp and tuna), and she has such a small amount if I keep to just after the insulin would it matter too much? I'm just glad I got it into her at this point, but will need to think about possible carb infiltration soon.
 
Not sure of the carbs in the Bisque. I recently used it with a sick civie and seem to remember it has tapioca starch, so may be a little higher carb. Saying that, if you’re only giving a tiny bit and it works to get the pill down it is probably ok. A few BG tests will tell us. Tiki cat velvet has a similar texture, is LC and is a complete food so it could be her meal. It’s also kinda pricey though.
 
Day three and she actually begged for her tiny bit of bisque/water/b12 combo this morning and then licked the bowl clean. I haven't seen any change in her numbers so the tiny bit of tapioca carb might not be too bad. I'm not sure how it is different than other wet foods, I guess?

Someone mentioned giving their cat kefir as a probiotic and I was wondering if that would work to add the b12 to as well, if Jaxa were willing to eat it (which is probably the biggest question).
 
Glassgoblin said:
Day three and she actually begged for her tiny bit of bisque/water/b12 combo this morning and then licked the bowl clean. I haven't seen any change in her numbers so the tiny bit of tapioca carb might not be too bad. I'm not sure how it is different than other wet foods, I guess?

Someone mentioned giving their cat kefir as a probiotic and I was wondering if that would work to add the b12 to as well, if Jaxa were willing to eat it (which is probably the biggest question).
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I'm glad you found a way to give her B12. I don't have experience with kefir though.
 
I am starting to wonder if she did have some symptoms that I just wasn't seeing. We are on day ten of the B12, and after about day five she started wanting to come out of the room more often during the day when she would be around the puppy, and then wanting to go outside with the puppy. Now she begs to go outside as soon as it is light outside. She is not an outdoor kitty, and insists on being supervised outside (or she follows back to the house), but she really wants to roll in that dirty mess of pine needles and across our bricks, eat grass and smell everything. I think the weight loss and the better weather help too, but am really glad that she doesn't want to be alone all day anymore.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
I give Teasel a sugar free human methylcobalamin supplement because the cost of shipping Zobaline to Canada is high and it could get confiscated at the border. He doesn't have neuropathy so it's "just in case".
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Have you tried Walmart? I got my last bottle of Zobaline online through Walmart after receiving a tip from someone on FDMB. The shipping was free.
 
krazy4kritters said:
Have you tried Walmart? I got my last bottle of Zobaline online through Walmart after receiving a tip from someone on FDMB. The shipping was free.
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I'll check to see of Walmart in Canada will do that. They aren't identical - eg. no ReliOn meters/strips available here.
 
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