Diabetic Neuropb
- Thread starter sherrib
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Vegetable (GA)
Member Since 2015
Here is a link to another thread about Methyl B12 or Zobaline. It's used to treat the neuropathy. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/neuropathy-and-vitamins.144973/#post-1504322
AZJenks
Member Since 2014
Methycobalamine (methyl-B12) is what you want for neuropathy. The two recommended brands are:
Zobaline (with a Z, not an X) 3mg from Lifelink or Amazon.
Vitacost 5000mcg (5mg) from Vitacost. I don't know if Amazon has it, but it's worth checking.
When we started Zobaline, Jenks' neuropathy was bad. He was walking down on his hocks. He couldn't walk more than a few steps at a time without having to lie down and rest. He couldn't hold himself up in the litterbox, so he would always mess his backside. Going to the bathroom was so exhausting that he'd have to lie down in the litterbox before he could muster the energy to just get out. And he basically lived on the floor because he couldn't jump anywhere.
Looking back at my spreadsheet, it took 6-7 months before we started to see a difference. From there it just accelerated. Fast forward to today and Jenks is an entirely different cat. Walks on his tiptoes. Traverses the entire house. Runs, jumps, and goes wherever he pleases. Holds himself up in the litterbox. Even goes up and down stairs with ease. It has completely eliminated his neuropathy and restored his mobility.
Get it. You won't regret it.
Zobaline (with a Z, not an X) 3mg from Lifelink or Amazon.
Vitacost 5000mcg (5mg) from Vitacost. I don't know if Amazon has it, but it's worth checking.
When we started Zobaline, Jenks' neuropathy was bad. He was walking down on his hocks. He couldn't walk more than a few steps at a time without having to lie down and rest. He couldn't hold himself up in the litterbox, so he would always mess his backside. Going to the bathroom was so exhausting that he'd have to lie down in the litterbox before he could muster the energy to just get out. And he basically lived on the floor because he couldn't jump anywhere.
Looking back at my spreadsheet, it took 6-7 months before we started to see a difference. From there it just accelerated. Fast forward to today and Jenks is an entirely different cat. Walks on his tiptoes. Traverses the entire house. Runs, jumps, and goes wherever he pleases. Holds himself up in the litterbox. Even goes up and down stairs with ease. It has completely eliminated his neuropathy and restored his mobility.
Get it. You won't regret it.
sherrib
Member Since 2015
Skittles is like that, walks on his hocks, takes a break walking after about 10 steps and can't jump up on the beds. He can still jump on the couch , but sometimes it takes a few tries. The only good thing about him not being able to jump on the beds is that I now keep my dogs food on it since skittles will eat the dog food.
I have noticed he is doing better in the litter box with holding himself up. He still gets out and walks just a few steps and rest. I switched my litter box to a lower one ( had a high one and a high auto one)
I will research the info you posted for me and see what my vet has to say.....but I'm switching to another one because this one doesn't even want me to do any BG test!
I have noticed he is doing better in the litter box with holding himself up. He still gets out and walks just a few steps and rest. I switched my litter box to a lower one ( had a high one and a high auto one)
I will research the info you posted for me and see what my vet has to say.....but I'm switching to another one because this one doesn't even want me to do any BG test!
AZJenks
Member Since 2014
I think methyl-B12 is safe to give for most cats. The only exception would be is Skittles has impaired kidney function. Then, it would be important to balance the state of the kidneys with the severity of the neuropathy before deciding whether to give it. Otherwise, I'd start it sooner than later. I think that it helps take away the discomfort of the neuropathy and helps eventually increase the activity level of the cat, both of which are beneficiary to lowering blood sugar numbers.
Keep in mind that neuropathy will begin to resolve on its own once the blood sugar is regulated. But methyl-B12 seems to keep the neuropathy from worsening until you can regulate the blood sugar, and then helps to speed the healing thereafter.
I wish you the best of luck finding a vet knowledegable about feline diabetes. The unfortunate fact is that most vets only get a scant few hours of education on diabetes in veterinary school. So if your vet doesn't know anything about methyl-B12 (like mine), you'll have to rely on your gut and the experience of the many great caregivers here to make the best decision for Skittles.
Keep in mind that neuropathy will begin to resolve on its own once the blood sugar is regulated. But methyl-B12 seems to keep the neuropathy from worsening until you can regulate the blood sugar, and then helps to speed the healing thereafter.
I wish you the best of luck finding a vet knowledegable about feline diabetes. The unfortunate fact is that most vets only get a scant few hours of education on diabetes in veterinary school. So if your vet doesn't know anything about methyl-B12 (like mine), you'll have to rely on your gut and the experience of the many great caregivers here to make the best decision for Skittles.
blu
Member Since 2013
Hi Sherri,
When my kitty was first was dx'd with diabetes 2 years ago, his glucose was in the 500's and he was walking on his hocks. Until we got regulated, the neuropathy worsened to the point where he would have to take breaks when he tried walking. It was horrible to see and it sounds like you are experiencing a similar thing with Skittles. I did use Zobaline and what AZJenks has written sounds spot on to me, especially the part of it getting better once Skittles is regulated. I used Zobaline for about a month, and between the insulin working and perhaps the Zobaline, I started seeing a difference. I can't be sure, but my guess is there is a lot of healing time where you don't really SEE a change, but when you do starting actually seeing improvement, it happens really fast - that was my experience, but I'm not sure it is the same for all. Blu seemed to stay on the hocks for a couple of months, then quickly was walking almost normally, and seems now to have all or most of his neuropathy reversed. I did little things for him to stay comfortable while it was happening - a chair near the bed do he could get up and down easier, and if you have a large home, maybe a couple extra beds or cushions on the ground along his "routes" if he needs to stop and take a rest. My sister has a cat bad that has a warmer in it for her elder cat - never gets too hot - might be worth getting to help ease his sore legs. I hope it is comforting to know that it will very likely be a temporary situation!
When my kitty was first was dx'd with diabetes 2 years ago, his glucose was in the 500's and he was walking on his hocks. Until we got regulated, the neuropathy worsened to the point where he would have to take breaks when he tried walking. It was horrible to see and it sounds like you are experiencing a similar thing with Skittles. I did use Zobaline and what AZJenks has written sounds spot on to me, especially the part of it getting better once Skittles is regulated. I used Zobaline for about a month, and between the insulin working and perhaps the Zobaline, I started seeing a difference. I can't be sure, but my guess is there is a lot of healing time where you don't really SEE a change, but when you do starting actually seeing improvement, it happens really fast - that was my experience, but I'm not sure it is the same for all. Blu seemed to stay on the hocks for a couple of months, then quickly was walking almost normally, and seems now to have all or most of his neuropathy reversed. I did little things for him to stay comfortable while it was happening - a chair near the bed do he could get up and down easier, and if you have a large home, maybe a couple extra beds or cushions on the ground along his "routes" if he needs to stop and take a rest. My sister has a cat bad that has a warmer in it for her elder cat - never gets too hot - might be worth getting to help ease his sore legs. I hope it is comforting to know that it will very likely be a temporary situation!
Lisa and Witn (GA)
Member Since 2009
Methyl B12 and getting the glucose levels under control with insulin and diet will help reverse a lot of the symptoms. Several years ago I adopted Spot who was diabetic. Her previous owner was treating her FD with Glipizide and it was not working. Her neuropathy was so bad she could barely walk. I immediately started her on a good insulin (Lantus), changed her to a low carb diet and started giving her the Methyl B12. Within a few weeks I could see a noticeable difference in her walking. Within a couple months, she was jumping on the furniture and beginning to run. Within 6 months she was jumping on my upper kitchen cabinets and you would have never thought that she ever had neuropathy.
sherrib
Member Since 2015
wonderful idea!
Skittles has been jumping over the baby gate I put up to keep my dog in my bedroom at night. he has been running ( more like hopping with his back legs) a lot the last few days playing around and he jumped up on my daughters bed today. I didnt see it but she said he had no problem. so Im taking all of this as he is feeling better with his legs. I completely forgot to look in GNC today for the zobelina. i had to do some shopping but my daughter got sick in her stomach and i had to take her home
So Im hoping I can do it after church tomorrow. I'm running low on money though I also wanted/need to buy some test strips but once again my daughter got sick...My bed is real thick and I have it up on post so its 12" from the bottom of the box springs to the floor so I know he cant jump on my bed, which is good because as soon as I put him on it ( every morning around 5:15 ) he bee lines straight for my dog's food. I have to put the food bowl on my dresser or he will eat it
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