Cheaper B-12?

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Raechel

Raechel

Member Since 2015
I'm thinking that Phobos could benefit from B-12, but I've looked at the price of the Zobaline and am having a hard time figuring out how to afford that on top of all the current costs. Are there any other brands anyone can recommend? Can I use a human form? If so, what do I need to look for and what dose should be given?
Thank you!
 
I believe Vitacost has a methylcobalamin you might consider.
Otherwise, no added sweeteners of any kind, sugar nor xylitol, nor sorbitol, as those are not good for cats.
 
You could also look at Dr's Best methylcobalamin. But it's half the dosage of Zobaline, so you'd need 2 capsules Dr's Best to equal the B12 dosage of one Zobaline (The Zobaline is 3mg). Also, the Zobaline contains a little folic acid which acts synergistically with the B12 to increase it's effects. Even so, the Dr's Best, or the Vitacost, (or some other version), may work out cheaper, even if you do decide that you want to add in a little folic acid also.

Raechel, why do you think Phobos needs the B12?

Eliz
 
Thank you, both, I'll look into those.
Eliz - he's having trouble walking, which started just prior to his diagnosis.
 
I've been using the Dr's Best with Tennie. At this point I just couldn't afford the Zobaline. I've been getting it on Amazon.
I have noticed it is making a difference with his walking and jumping.
He is far less "clunky" than he used to be.
 
Just started seeing this. Do you guys know if I can give the capsules IN capsule form - in other words, not putting the internal powder on food? My cat doesn't like things added to his food. I've been on Pet-Tinic for ages, but now with the diabetes, am thinking this may be better- yes, he does have neuropathy - we'd been giving the Pet Tinic for some other of his issues...
 
You might try Zobaline for Cats instead

It's not supposed to have any flavor...you crush it and put on their food. The Pet Tinic looks like it's flavored (and most "flavored" things don't seem to be what cats want to eat)
 
The Zobaline has no discernable flavour (as long as you get the Zobaline with a 'Z' and not the Xobaline with an 'X' (which is for humans and has cherry flavour)). I gave Bertie's leftover Zobaline to my DH as he had a B12 deficiency, and he said they had no taste at all, just a slightly gritty texture.
Many of us have put Zobaline and other forms of unflavoured methlycobalamin in cats' food and the cat doesn't seem to notice. It can, however turn the food a bit pink. That is normal.
 
Zobaline was helping Rudy a little, but we just started giving him B12 injections and that has made a HUGE difference! His vet sells a vial for about $18 and it should last us about 2 1/2 months giving injections twice weekly. I love that my boy can climb up the stairs again :-)
 
I've injected 25 units every 7 days of Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) since mid-March, and Lulu seems to be feeling much better. Her vet prescribed it because her blood panel indicated mild pancreatitis, this was the same blood panel that indicated she was diabetic. I'm seeing a much more active, playful Lulu since then. I would imagine that the dosage would vary by cat, seeing as how Karen is giving Rudy injections twice a week (I didn't see that she indicated the dosage amount). Best to check with a vet, or maybe even a pharmacist might know.
 
THANK YOU! I don't think I'll be doing Zobaline - I don't think for me the price is sustainable. He doesn't eat Pet-Tinic either - we syringe it into him. He's far happier being pilled than eating something (there's almost nothing that he can't detect in his food). Even Fortiflora - which he used to LOVE to eat alone (never with food), I have to capsule for him now (don't want to switch the probiotic right now - too much new going on). I WISH I could afford the Zobaline, but when I looked it up, it seemed so much more expensive than the methylcobalimine. I need to talk to doc first though - I mean... he gets B12 in his sub-q... so dosing... I want to check. Either way, he still has the neuropathy... I just never before knew what it was - thought it was about his urinary tract!

Now... when I win the lotto................
 
I found that the price of the B12 injectable was quite reasonable. I'm in Canada, so not sure what the cost in the U.S. would be.
 
Sorry! Rudy is getting .5ml twice a week for a total of 1ml/week. The vial is 10ml for about $18, which will last us 10 weeks at this pace. I would definately check wtih your vet, but I am so glad that we went this route. Similar experience to Lori's- Rudy is back to being a happy and playful kitty instead of just laying there all day. Best of luck :-)
 
No, it`s cyanocobalamin, manufactured by Sandoz. DIN is 00521515. Can`t provide a link because I bought it from Lulu`s vet, cost $25.68CDN for a 10 ml vial. I`m going to check next time I`m in Costco and see what their price is. I know a lot of U.S. folks order insulin online from Canada, can probably do the same for B12. I`ve heard several on this forum recommend Marine Pharmacy, I believe that's the name?

Addendum: I just googled both and it appears that methylcobalamin is better. The cyanocobalamin contains a cyanide molecule, such a miniscule amount that isn't toxic, but still needs to removed and eliminated by the body. The methyl... is also apparently better absorbed by the body. I'm going to chat with my vet or pharmacist about this.
 
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I was actually looking at an oral pilled dosage, so some of the pages I was reading in the FDMB was talking about the methylcobalamin. I already do the B12 and vitamin cocktail/fluid sub-q, and now I'm poking him 4X/day and giving him a shot... He gets other meds and stuff orally, and since I want to just replace the benefits of the Pet-Tinic... I thought that would be the way to go. I've read GREAT things about the Zobaline, but he already gets a supplement that has folic acid, and the price difference... He's a really good piller - I can give him #0 capsules well (although of course, he prefers #3's and I often break them down). I had just been wondering if there was a reason other than pill size that caused people to be talking about removing the meds from the capsule (eg.: sugar in the capsule shell). I know and apologize, I have no signature, so you guys don't have my background yet - I'm working on it - I PROMISE! I just needed to do so much yesterday (which was my start date) and have been working up until now...... But - now to test Eegie, and get to work on the docs and signature!!! :)
 
Editing your Signature

In the upper right corner of the screen, within the dark blue bar, you will see ID, Inbox, and Alerts

Click on your ID.

On the left, under Settings, Click on Signature.
This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback.
This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
Add any other text, such as
your name,
cat's name,
date of Dx (diagnosis)
insulin
meter
any other pertinent issues like if there are any food issues, history of DKA, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis, allergies, IBD, etc.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

Always click the Save Changes button at the bottom when you have changed anything.
 
Hi, BJM.
I was SO busy Sunday and yesterday, but I did manage to get this done right after work yesterday. Seems to have taken a while to show up (but I see I did it about 4 hours bdfore you asked). For me, it does show up now...
Please tell me if I answered most of what you ask - or if you think I missed anything (I did forget to say he'd been on many dosages of corticosteroids over time, got to add that in later). Thanks!!!
 
Terrific. I can see and open the links to his spreadsheet and history, and your signature notes as well. My aunt and uncle live in Simi Valley, a bit to the west of you.
 
Since I'm near the 118 freeway, I'm only about 15 minutes to Simi. They have a very nice dog park, and I have several friends who live there! Gotta say, we had much nicer winter than you did! Sorry.... had to rub it in, I come from the cold...
I'm glad the signature is working. It's been weird - I did it yesterday afternoon, but some people couldn't see it until late last night....
Thanks for the feedback!
Still awaiting my vet back in the office to ask him about methylcobalamine. I really want to keep Eegie off the Pet-tinic for now...
 
The vet may not know about methylcobalamin being helpful for diabetic neuropathy. It is a water soluble B Vitamin, an excess is excreted through the kidneys.
 
I asked yesterday - and he said he'd do research, which generally means he doesn't know - but he's always willing to ask specialists and learn more too. He does know I want to fix this neuropathy - I'm being a bit annoying about it.
Thing is - We have b12 IN his sub-q, and he was getting pet tinic 2x/day prior to this - you'd think that would be enough to have kept him from experiencing it in the first place... so I don't know if this'll be much different - or aren't all b12's the same?
 
The most common B12 given is cyanocobalamin; methylcobalamin is a variant which works better on neuropathy. It won't prevent it in the presence of uncontrolled diabetes, it only helps the recovery process once diabetic treatment is happening.
 
I've just bought methylcobalimin with Folic Acid at the health food store. I'd love to use Zobaline, but this was 1/2 price. It does have a little lactose, but I think at that tiny amount, it won't do much to him. They're 1000mcg, so I figure 3X/day. They had so many weird doses, and lots of cyanocobalimin, but I was strict about the methyl. I guess next time it has to be Zobaline or something - the doc was very specific that the one with Folic Acid would be good - because in general, it's good. I'd've bought them separately much cheaper, but the poor boy already takes so many pills...
 
The B12 that I use is Doctor's BEST Methylcobalamin 1500 mcg capsules. It's cheap and available at many places. It doesn't include any funny ingredients, just methylcobalamin. As far as too many pills, I just use a mortar and pestle to crush all of Edwin's pills, mix in the B12, and then mix that with plain yogurt (or a suitable substitute in your case) in an oral syringe. That way Edwin gets all of his pills at one go and he doesn't magically spit them back out 20 minutes later.
 
That's a good idea. I do crush some, but hadn't thought of doing many. I'll have to find what to put it in, that he'll eat reliably he only likes milk, but not yogurt. And cottage cheese (which he likes) isn't too great with this insulin thing.

I do syringe some stuff, so maybe I'll try that too. He does pill well (and syringes well), but enough is enough! I love that idea.

I was going to buy the exact doctors best you bought. Just, the vet was so definite in his wanting folic acid.

But, your way, even if I buy folic separately... Best of both worlds, when this stuff runs out!
 
I didn't want to - but I ordered the Zobaline today. I WANTED to order the Doctor's Best - but could NOT find any folic acid pills that are low enough dosage without all sorts of lousy stuff in the inactive ingredients!
I figured I'd order this just once - and keep the search on. They put things like maltodextrin in almost all the other folic acid pills. HIGH glycemic index, from what I read...

Hopefully, next time I can go cheap...
 
Cheap is not always best. With mum's cat we had very limited signs of improvement on Drs Best after a couple of months, we were going to give up but decided to give the Zobaline a try, after a few weeks on Zobaline we were seeing great results. He is 100% now, no signs of his neuropathy.
 
WOW, @Vyktors Mum! That's amazing! He seems to feel a little better with the stuff I got yesterday, but I only have 20 days worth of that, so I figured since I had to order Duralactin, that I'd do that too. Glad to see maybe I made the good choice, despite the expense (which, relative to everything else, is actually minimal).

@Robin-S - IDK about the B shots for diabetes - We gave them in a vitamin cocktail for Eegie's IBD, and it helped keep his appetite up, and feel better. This, while we were doing systemic corticosteroids for his intestines. I'd assume it does the same thing in diabetes cases, along with the added benefit to cats with diabetic neuropathy. I like pills - not as much of an ebb and flow. We've been giving some B12 in his daily sub-q as well, but clearly not enough to avoid the neuropathy. I've liked the more regular reaction to daily dosing.

Some people give B12 shot at home daily - my vet never suggested that, because he added the supplemental vitamins for his IBD...
 
It should be noted that B12 shouldn't be given without a reason. It was generally thought that any excess would just be peed out however current research shows that as well as helping good cells multiply it may also help bad cells, i.e. cancer cells, to multiply. Methyl B12 and regulation is awesome for fixing neuropathy, B12 injections (Cypro B12) are required when B12 levels have tested low (often happens with older cats) and can be very helpful with a number of conditions but don't just give it as a general health tonic or because you see other people are.
 
Sgans said:
@Robin-S - IDK about the B shots for diabetes - We gave them in a vitamin cocktail for Eegie's IBD, and it helped keep his appetite up, and feel better. This, while we were doing systemic corticosteroids for his intestines. I'd assume it does the same thing in diabetes cases, along with the added benefit to cats with diabetic neuropathy. I like pills - not as much of an ebb and flow. We've been giving some B12 in his daily sub-q as well, but clearly not enough to avoid the neuropathy. I've liked the more regular reaction to daily dosing.

Some people give B12 shot at home daily - my vet never suggested that, because he added the supplemental vitamins for his IBD...
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@Robin-S, B12 is also used for CKD (chronic kidney disease) cats, since it is water soluble and CKD cats lose it through extra urirantion. It does also seem to help with appetite too. As a bonus, I've also found that it makes bitter meds mixed in a syringe more palatable.

If you want more information about B vitamins this is a good place: http://www.felinecrf.org/vitamin_b.htm

Vyktors Mum said:
Cheap is not always best. With mum's cat we had very limited signs of improvement on Drs Best after a couple of months, we were going to give up but decided to give the Zobaline a try, after a few weeks on Zobaline we were seeing great results. He is 100% now, no signs of his neuropathy.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry the Doctor's BEST didn't work for you, but I'm very glad that Zobaline made such a huge difference for Vyktor. It's always amazing when fairly simple and generally benign things make such a difference. As I'm not using B12 for neuropathy, just for CKD and inappetence, I think the Doctor's BEST is working okay for Edwin as his B12 levels came back looking good when we checked them. I have heard really good things about Zobaline. What sort of B12 dosage did you use with Vyktor?

Come to think of it, I should start taking my B12 again. I'll try the Doctor's BEST against a pricier MethylCobalamin and see if I notice a difference. Of course I'm not a cat (Or am I? I do like lying in warm sunny spots and chasing mice. I've infiltrated your intertubz humans, prepare for destruction.), but I may be able to see if I notice a difference in quality between Doctor's BEST and a pricier version. Sorry about the strange interruption there, I think it was hairball related ;) .

Vyktors Mum said:
It should be noted that B12 shouldn't be given without a reason. It was generally thought that any excess would just be peed out however current research shows that as well as helping good cells multiply it may also help bad cells, i.e. cancer cells, to multiply.
Click to expand...

Cancer is the one thing that is a definite no-no for mixing with B12. B12 gives those cancer cells (and other cells) all sorts of good fuel, which is something most people would like to avoid. About maximum B12 dosages, I remember looking into it for myself as I take a medication that can cause B12 anemia (add that to my iron anemia and I'm a tired, tired gal). I didn't find any indication that there is a maximum/toxic amount of B12 for humans (without cancer) as you do just pee out the extra. I'm not sure if this is the case for cats or not as they have strange little metabolisms. Given the lack of research into human B12 maximum dosages, I'm betting there isn't a bunch of research on cat B12 maximum dosages out there.
 
The Zobaline methylcobalamin also contains folic acid which, as I understand it, works synergistically with the B12 to enhance it's effect. So, another option could be to try adding a little folic acid when taking plain methylcobalamin (such as Dr's Best)...?
FYI, the composition of Zobaline is 3mg methylcobalamin and 200mcg of folic acid.
 
Thing is,mots really hard to find folic acid without all sorts of high sugar additives. The smallest dose out there is 400, but the first I saw with the purest mix was 1000.
 
It wasn't Vyktor, it was my mums cat Purrdy, he had 1 tablet crushed on food daily for 3 months - he was 100% before that but we thought we may as well finish the bottle.

Vyktor has actually started having the cyano B12 injections due to testing low for B12. He was a bit high on folic acid so the Zobaline wouldn't be a good idea. For CKD I think they recommend a much smaller dose as the max B12 than the Zobaline contains - see Tanya's site - if I recall its because any excess that needs to be peed out makes the kidneys work harder.
 
I've read something like that. And, with CKD, there's a lot to be careful of. Eegie's kidneys are involved, too, but right now, it's the lesser of his problems.

This stuff is hard!
 
Yes - thank you. I was very careful to get Methyl - I'd read that before...
I bought the methyl/folic acid locally until I can get Zobaline from Amazon (not on Prime, so it takes several days). Even what I bought has too high folic - but at least no weird additives to increase glucose (bought human med). Each pill is 100mg methylcobalimine, 400mcg folic acid. Giving 3x/day. Once Zobaline comes in, I'll be switching for the lower Folic dosage.
 
So - now I'm reading that the B12 can grow all SORTS of cells, not just good ones - but only if you give too much. His sub-q has had B12 in it for months - prior to that, he was given it in injections with other vitamins. No big deal - although I'm SURE it was the cyanocobalmine (why would the doc use methyl if he's not even that knowledgeable about diabetic neuropathy - wasn't sure he had diabetes - and was telling me his funny walking was due to the cystitis?

Eegie has a lung tumor - I do NOT want to grow that! It's been growing, but I don't blame the B12 so far for that - he wasn't getting an overload. The new B12 methyl will bring his dosage too high.

Tomorrow, I'm going to get a new bag of fluids - with NO B12, and continue with those until I'm done doing the methyl (if I can get him past this neuropathy). I don't want the cancer to kill him quickly (although I fear it's only a few months away (prognosis is 4-6 months without chemo), but I want him otherwise comfortable until it gets him. I love my boy - if he's eating, snuggling, purring... that's all I want. No pain.
 
Elizabeth and Bertie said:
The Zobaline has no discernable flavour (as long as you get the Zobaline with a 'Z' and not the Xobaline with an 'X' (which is for humans and has cherry flavour)). I gave Bertie's leftover Zobaline to my DH as he had a B12 deficiency, and he said they had no taste at all, just a slightly gritty texture.
Many of us have put Zobaline and other forms of unflavoured methlycobalamin in cats' food and the cat doesn't seem to notice. It can, however turn the food a bit pink. That is normal.
Click to expand...
Sgans said:
So - now I'm reading that the B12 can grow all SORTS of cells, not just good ones - but only if you give too much. His sub-q has had B12 in it for months - prior to that, he was given it in injections with other vitamins. No big deal - although I'm SURE it was the cyanocobalmine (why would the doc use methyl if he's not even that knowledgeable about diabetic neuropathy - wasn't sure he had diabetes - and was telling me his funny walking was due to the cystitis?

Eegie has a lung tumor - I do NOT want to grow that! It's been growing, but I don't blame the B12 so far for that - he wasn't getting an overload. The new B12 methyl will bring his dosage too high.

Tomorrow, I'm going to get a new bag of fluids - with NO B12, and continue with those until I'm done doing the methyl (if I can get him past this neuropathy). I don't want the cancer to kill him quickly (although I fear it's only a few months away (prognosis is 4-6 months without chemo), but I want him otherwise comfortable until it gets him. I love my boy - if he's eating, snuggling, purring... that's all I want. No pain.
Click to expand...
My cat has dibetes and one of the frst symptoms was neuropathy. I asked the vet - he gave me no help at all. I researched it online and found out about Xobaline for cats. I ordered it and n a little over a week he was no longer slapping down his back feet or walking on his whole foot - to his heel. He's been taking it for over 2 years. His blood sugar is usually a little high - 250 - 350, but he's put back on weight and doing well. Now I hear that Xobaline has sugar in it, that I should be using Zobaine - with a Z. Will have to check it out more.
 
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