B12 supplementation in cats with possible cancer

[SpecklesandMe]

I can't remember who I promised this info to a while back; so I thought I'd start a new thread. I've seen a lot of people question whether they should give Zobaline or B12 supplements to a cat who is suspected (but not confirmed) to have cancer, even if they have neuropathy. A lot of the time people cite the Tanya's CRF post that mentions that B12 may not be advisable for those who might have cancer because of a possibility of maybe making the disease progress faster. I've looked this up several times in the veterinary literature but had never found where exactly the assertion came from. From what I've gathered, the idea of not giving B12 to cats with suspected cancer seems to be based on maybe 1 study, which is too few to base important clinical decisions on. So I emailed Helen, who runs the Tanya's CRF website, to ask her about it and mentioned that I might post parts of her response here on our forum: "I am concerned to hear that people on the diabetes forum are avoiding Vitamin B12 because of what I say on my site. Whilst it may be wiser not to give it to a cat with cancer, the benefits for a diabetic or CKD cat without cancer, especially those with neuropathy, probably outweigh the small potential risk that the cat might have undiagnosed cancer. Indeed, cats with lymphoma may actually require additional Vitamin B12. Ultimately this is a conversation people need to have with their vets."

Our vet had us giving B12 to Speckles even though cancer was suspected, and it did help his neuropathy. So, please don't discount using it without checking with your vet, etc. Quality of life is important. In any case, I am not advocating using it or not in cats with suspected cancer; I'm just saying that I hope people thoroughly consider the costs and benefits, given that it may help neuropathy. I just didn't want to see more people dismiss the idea without considering it...

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Last week when Tiger was diagnosed with cancer, the vet, who was an internal medicine specialist, said to continue to give her the B12 shots. They are not methyl B12 which is used for neuropathy, but she said that will help her. Here are some reasons I found online why B12 will help.

Gastrointestinal Diseases
If your cat suffer from irritable bowel disease or other ailments of the gastrointestinal system, your vet may recommend vitamin B12 shots for therapeutic purposes. According to research of Texas A&M University, compelling evidence exists that "significant tissue-level cobalamin deficiency" is present in some cats and dogs with gastrointestinal disease. It recommends that cats with chronic gastrointestinal disease history have serum cobalamin concentrations measured.
Kidney Disease
Cats with kidney disease or renal failure are prime candidates for vitamin B12 injections. Unfortunately, kidney disease becomes increasingly common as cats age. As the kidneys fail, volume of urine actually increases, so water-soluble vitamins in the B category leave the body faster. Supplementation with vitamin B12 injections aids a cat by giving her additional B vitamins and may stimulate her appetite. Loss of appetite frequently accompanies kidney disease.
Poor Condition
Stray, stressed or elderly cats or felines that consume bad diets can benefit from vitamin B12 shots. Such treatment comes in conjunction with feeding higher-quality food and veterinary oversight. If the cat is lethargic, depressed and not eating well, vitamin B12 shots can perk her up and start her back on the road to health. Veterinarians often recommend B12 shots for cats diagnosed with anemia, which can result from poor care such as severe, untreated flea infestations.