B12 injection

[Donna M]

What is the typical interval in administering B12 injections by my vet?

 

[Julie and Honey]

Probably depends on cat and specific medical condition. Did your vet give you a time interval that you are thinking is not the norm?

Here is an article with some info on B12 and medical conditions it is used for and does mention cats with these health issues deplete B12 stores much quicker than normal cats.

https://www.animalbiome.com/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-in-cats-the-role-of-the-gut

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

What are the injections for? Is it for neuropathy or something else?

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Also see:
https://www.cvm.tamu.edu/gilab/research/cobalamin-information
For my cats that need the injections I just give it weekly. It is water soluble and not real harm giving it weekly. You can purchase a big vial for about $20 (script required) so you can give it your self using an insulin syringe.

 

[Captain Mauser]

Maus was just prescribed this as well. From my limited understanding its to help with his gut issues, chronic pancreatitis and IBD.

Its weekly like @Larry and Kitties and injectable.

 

[Roops]

Tagging in here. A newbie. Not quite sure how to send an intro letter. Our cat, Rupert or Rupie (10 y.o. neutered male) was diagnosed with diabetes sometime in January. After several visits Prozinc was prescribed. Over the next few weeks his dose was increased. He is currently taking about 5 units 2x per day. He also has neuropathy, and is taking b12 for this. For his caregivers this is most distressing to see. The vet (and he seen several) prescribed 0.05 mls once a month. My daughter has been giving it to him once weekly. the vet who last seen him did not 'believe' in B12 shots. My daughter also said most of the dose (b12) remains in the needle. At this point we see no improvement with this neuropathy. At times he reminds me of someone learning to skate/hind legs. we also believe he has good days and bad days. Sometimes the neuropathy seems worse than others. We asked both vet and vet technician about this but they could give no insight. It seems his neuropathy is more predominant on his right side. Sometimes he is able to jump on beds but not always. Stairs can be difficult for him. We lift him or carry him on the bad days. Thank you for sharing the links, and any wisdom you can offer. My apologizes for any faux pas I may have done or caused. We live in Eastern Ontario. On a positive note, he has become much healthier now or appears so. His fur his soft once again, and he is regaining some of what he lost, although needs to lose weight. He is about 17 to 18 pounds. He lost about 6 pounds before being diagnosed.

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

@Roops
b12 cyanocobalamin injections is what is used for IBD type cases where the B12 levels are very low and it helps aid in the digestion/absorption of nutrients of the food going through the digestive tract. It is a red type liquid that you inject subq like insulin. I have never had an issue with the liquid staying in the needle it all was injected.

Methylcobalamin B12 - is different and it is what is used for nephropathy. It is usually in a pill/powder form. There are different ones out there. I used the Pure Encaspulations one and just added it into his pill capsules with all Jones' other meds. There are other popular ones here.

@Donna M - When Jones was first put on B12 supplements it was 25ml (or units on the syringes I had for his insulin) once a week for a month, then every 2 weeks for a month then down to once a month (of course there was blood work in there to confirm his levels were increasing). He was on once a month for quite a while. It is water soluble like Larry indicated and you can't over dose with the injection - if the body doesn't need it - it will eliminate it. No harm.

 

[Roops]

@Roops
b12 cyanocobalamin injections is what is used for IBD type cases where the B12 levels are very low and it helps aid in the digestion/absorption of nutrients of the food going through the digestive tract. It is a red type liquid that you inject subq like insulin. I have never had an issue with the liquid staying in the needle it all was injected.

Methylcobalamin B12 - is different and it is what is used for nephropathy. It is usually in a pill/powder form. There are different ones out there. I used the Pure Encaspulations one and just added it into his pill capsules with all Jones' other meds. There are other popular ones here.

Rupert, or Roops, or Rupie does not have IBD. But he does have neuropathy. We had to ask the vet if that is what it was. The liquid B12 remained in the needle. My daughter just found a portion stayed inside the needle and never went into Roops because it was so low dose. 0.05. Now we know why. Intended for horses. Not for cats. I will be looking for Methylcobalamin B12. Thank you for your help.

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

There are some different brands but for neuropathy a lot of people here use Zobaline which has B12 in the form of methylcobalamin (which is the form you want for neuropathy ) and folic acid is in the form of pill not injected and it has a fairly high dose of B12 that is what you need for neuropathy

 

[membeth]

For IBD, my vet advised once per week for six weeks, wait a month, retest to make sure the level is good, then once per month thereafter. But I did the shots at home, no need for the vet to do them.

 

[Donna M]

Turns out, Bagheera has spondylosis in his back (per X-Ray) along one of the vertebrae. We put him on Buprenorphine which helped tremendously. He was on it a week. We now have him on Cosequin one cap a day and also Zobaline (vitamin B12, METHYLcobalamine) 1/2 tab in each meal. He is doing so much better!
Thanks for all the input from all of you.

 

[Julie and Honey]

Turns out, Bagheera has spondylosis in his back (per X-Ray) along one of the vertebrae. We put him on Buprenorphine which helped tremendously. He was on it a week. We now have him on Cosequin one cap a day and also Zobaline (vitamin B12, METHYLcobalamine) 1/2 tab in each meal. He is doing so much better!
Thanks for all the input from all of you.

That is so good to hear!