Jenks weak back end

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AZJenks

AZJenks

Member Since 2014
If as-of-yet uncontrolled BG numbers weren't taxing enough, I'm getting very concerned about the progression of his hind end weakness. It's progressed to the point where I have to assist him in the litterbox because he can't hold up his body weight while squatting to complete his business. I'm can't explain how, but he is much more affected now than he was at the time of his diagnosis.

I understand that methyl-B12 isn't usually recommended until BG is under control. But I don't think I can wait any longer.

From my board research, there are two choices: pill (human kind like Vitacost w/o carb or xylitol, or cat specific like Zobaline), or compounded injectable liquid.

I'm concerned about having to put a pill in the food everyday because I can never guess how much he'll eat in a particular sitting so it's highly likely that he'll get inconsistent and low dosing. So the injectable would seemingly be preferred because I know he'd receive a fully effective dose. The problem is, when I approached my vet for a prescription for a liquid form, he claimed that he had never heard of treating neuropathy with methyl-B12.

So which form should I choose to be as quick and maximally effective as possible, and why?

Thank you!
 
AZJenks said:
I understand that methyl-B12 isn't usually recommended until BG is under control. But I don't think I can wait any longer.

From my board research, there are two choices: pill (human kind like Vitacost w/o carb or xylitol, or cat specific like Zobaline), or compounded injectable liquid.

So which form should I choose to be as quick and maximally effective as possible, and why?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Hiya,

I don't recall it being said here that B12 isn't recommended until the BG is under control (but I don't read every post so might have missed that!).
What I have read here sometimes is that B12 may not be as effective if the the BG numbers are remaining high (the ideal 'recipe' for recovery from neuropathy being methyl B12 plus lower blood glucose levels).
However, my own experience with my cat, Bertie, was that B12 had a dramatic effect on his neuropathy despite his blood glucose remaining extremely high. His neuropathy resolved completely within a few months despite his high BG.
If I had waited for Bertie's blood glucose to get better before trying to help his neuropathy with B12 I'd have had to wait for almost 2 years.... My advice would be 'don't wait'. There is nothing to lose by giving the B12 (except the cost of the pills), and potentially a heck of a lot to gain.

I used Zobaline, and crushed a tablet into a little bit of food every day. Bertie never noticed the tablets (despite their making the food a wierd pink colour!). And I crushed the pill into the first little bit of food that I gave him, so I could see he'd eaten the tablet, and then followed that with more food.
My OH can vouch for the fact that the pills are tasteless, because he had a B12 deficiency for a time and took Bertie's leftover pills! (I did contact the company first to check that this would be OK... ;-) )

I know that others here have used the Vitacost capsules, and I think they are a tad cheaper than Zobaline.

Here's hoping your boy is feeling better soon!

Big (((hugs))) to you,

Eliz

PS. I should also say that although it is likely that Jenks' weak back end is caused by diabetic neuropathy there can also sometimes be other causes, including low potassium and high phosphorous.
 
My cat has been suffering thru the same thing, not as bad as having to help him go to the bathroom but its bad enough to make me worry about him every day.

I have been giving him b12 for about 2 weeks and its seeming to get a little worse before it gets better? Might take a while to reverse the effects of neuropathy.

I open the little capsule and dump it directly on his food once a day. He doesn't even notice it. A 60 pill bottle cost $15-$16 I think.

There has to be other things for neuropathy, did the vet recommend anything? Mine never even mentioned treating it....

here is my other thread about neuropathy, http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=115502
 
Nope, you definitely don't need to wait for the BGs to get better. It's true that a combination of Methyl B12 and lowered BGs works best, but the sooner you start the MB12, the better.

You can often pick up Methyl B12 at local pharmacies or WalMart for much cheaper. Just make absolutely sure it does not contain Xylitol (an artificial sweetener) since it can be toxic to cats and dogs.

Most of us give between 3 and 5mg (3000 - 5000 mcg) per day, regardless of body size. Any excess is excreted in the urine, so no worries about overdosing. Remember - it's METHYL B12. Regular B12 has no effect on neuropathy.

Check out this link: http://www.felinediabetes.com/weak-back-rear-legs.htm

If you scroll down the page you will see how bad my Rambo's (GA) neuropathy was. Trust me, if he recovered from that (and he did!), any kitty can!! It took him a few months to stop walking on his hocks and to be able to climb stairs again, but he did. Be patient! And good luck.
 
Like Elizabeth posted above, the Zobaline tablets are very easily crushed. They are super soft and takes just a pinch between your fingers to turn them into powder. I too mix it in with maybe a tablespoon of food, wait for Blu to eat that, then give him the rest of the can of food.

I just started the Zobaline so can't say if it seems to be working or not yet.
 
@Karen,
your boy Rambo was inspirational to us back when Bertie was first diagnosed!
And I'm pretty sure it's because of you and Rambo that most of us know about the healing powers of methyl B12.
Thank you SO much for that amazing contribution to the health and wellbeing of diabetic kitties everywhere!
:RAHCAT

Eliz
 
The problem is, when I approached my vet for a prescription for a liquid form, he claimed that he had never heard of treating neuropathy with methyl-B12.
Click to expand...

There has not been a specific study for the use of methyl-B12 in cats to help with the diabetic neuropathy. Use of methyl-b12 is based on studies in humans and rats. Any evidence of helpfulness for cats is anecdotal. My diabetic cat Wink is one of these 'anecdotal evidence' cats. He went from walking entirely on his hocks and not being able to jump to walking almost normally on his toes and jumping everywhere. It did take time, and regulation of his BG levels certainly helped.

Many of the treatments we use for our diabetic cats, have been studied and used for humans. Here are a few studies to share with your vet:

Here is a recent study of Methyl-B12 in humans from 2012http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=24765
Here is an abstract from 2011 of testing of Methyl-B12 in rats http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2010.02430.x/abstract

Here is a vet article for use of methyl-b12 in catshttp://www.vetinfo.com/treating-feline-diabetic-neuropathy-methylcobalamin.html
 
I'll try to see if there are any locally available options, otherwise I'll have to pick between Zobaline or the Vitacost version. Does anyone know how bad, from a carb perspective, the rice flour is in the Vitacost capsules?
 
I don't have personal experience with the Vitacost capsules of the Methyl B12, but Kpassa uses it.

Did a search and found this post that talked about the Vitacost and the rice flour content not making a difference in the BG levels. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=112790&p=1190865&hilit=vitacost#p1190865

Hillary & Maui (GA) said:
For diabetic neuropathy - you want to start mixing Methylcobalamin B12 in his food. You can purchase the cat version - Zobaline or go with any human version, as long as it only contains this type of B12 ---
methylcobalamin. Just make sure it doesn't have any added sugar.

The version I used was from Vitacost and while it contained a little rice flour, it wasn't enough to matter to the BG level -- http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitami ... 0-capsules

To use depending on what you buy - give 3 - 5 mg once a day. I used capsules and it didn't have any taste and easily mixed into food. If you get pills, you can melt it in a little water and mix in food.

If anyone else eats it or he doesn't finish, no worries. The body will absorb what it needs and pee out the rest. I used to joke that Maui was peeing pink now....as it's a pink colored vitamin.
Click to expand...

It takes time for the Methyl B12 to have an effect and must go hand in hand with better glucose control.
 
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