Question about Zobaline

Status
Not open for further replies.
Squalliesmom

Squalliesmom

Member Since 2015
I think Squallie may have a bit of diabetic neuropathy and I wondered about putting him on Zobaline. Anybody know of any unpleasant side effects? If what I 'm seeing in him isn't neuropathy, will it hurt him to try the Zobaline? Obviously, if I find out it's not neuropathy, I'd stop the meds.

Thanks!
 
You know, I never thought about that. I honestly don't know the answer to that one. I do know that prolonged high BG is one of the causes of neuropathy, but I don't know whether or not it works the other way 'round, as well. Something for me to research.

Thanks! :):)
 
Hi Lucy, Colin has been on Zobaline for a couple months now and I've seen no adverse side effects at all. In fact his neuropathy is somewhat improved. It is Methylcobalamin and Folic Acid, and from what I understand, any excess would be eliminated through the urine. If you suspect neuropathy, I would think the sooner you started the Zobaline the better.
 
Sharon14 said:
Hi Lucy, Colin has been on Zobaline for a couple months now and I've seen no adverse side effects at all. In fact his neuropathy is somewhat improved. It is Methylcobalamin and Folic Acid, and from what I understand, any excess would be eliminated through the urine. If you suspect neuropathy, I would think the sooner you started the Zobaline the better.
Click to expand...
That was my thought, too. Thank you for the information! :)
 
BJM said:
You have to be controlling the glucose, in addition to giving the methylcobalamin.
Click to expand...
Lately I don't seem to be doing a very good job of that! I feel like I must be giving him water instead of insulin, seems like it has practically no effect at all on his BG, so I just keep raising his dose. :( I don't know what has made his BG rise so much higher, and nothing I do seems to really bring it back down. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :(
 
Hi Lucy. I am really sorry to hear about the troubles you've been having w Squallie's BG. I know how hard you try and how dedicated you are. Are you sure the insulin is "good" ? As in "fresh" Or. Maybe, just maybe..not the right insulin for Squallie.
I know you've probably already considered these things! So...having said that..I will weigh in the the ZOBALINE now.
I have been having nothing but positive results using it. My OTJ had SEVERE neuropathy. The dang vet said, "Irreversible". I should NOT HAVE LISTENED TO HIM!! I didn't even look for a treatment for her for 2 years while she was flat to the floor. When Tucker started showing symptoms..I got the ZOBALINE. Both are on it BID.
My OTJ has had remarkable results, RUNNING in the garden, taking stairs up & down! Her energy level and general demeanor has been greatly boosted by the use of it. She wants outside ALL THE TIME NOW. Incredible.
I hold resentments towards the vet, as she could have had full recovery had I started the ZOBALINE 2 years ago.
So, the sooner the better Lucy!
:bighug::bighug:
All the best to you and sweet Squallie
 
Oh LOL.. I forgot to say...it has helped Tucker so much too, kept him from getting worse, and given him plenty of energy. His hinds are much improved, and lifted.
Front paws are much, much better.
I can't afford it all the time here lately, so I have had gaps in their treatment..which hurts my heart..but all in all a HUGE improvement, very quickly for us.
Xo
 
@Squalliesmom Lucy, I started Zobaline on the 15th. Smokey is not regulated yet but for the most part staying consistent for a few days at a time. I started using it before neuropathy gets to bad. He was walking very carefully, his front feet looked like he was marching. I know it takes time to build a therapeutic level however, I have noticed a few things. He doesn't March now but still walks slowly. His dandruff has disappeared (could be the DM which started on the 14th). He was running the other day (3 passes) down the hall. It exhausted him for a few hours.

If Squallies isn't to bad you can do one pill a day (recommended dose on bottle). If you start early enough 1 a day might be all he needs.

@Tucker&Me is there a reason you give 2 zobaline a day? Just wondering.
 
Tucker&Me said:
Hi Lucy. I am really sorry to hear about the troubles you've been having w Squallie's BG. I know how hard you try and how dedicated you are. Are you sure the insulin is "good" ? As in "fresh" Or. Maybe, just maybe..not the right insulin for Squallie.
I know you've probably already considered these things! So...having said that..I will weigh in the the ZOBALINE now.
I have been having nothing but positive results using it. My OTJ had SEVERE neuropathy. The dang vet said, "Irreversible". I should NOT HAVE LISTENED TO HIM!! I didn't even look for a treatment for her for 2 years while she was flat to the floor. When Tucker started showing symptoms..I got the ZOBALINE. Both are on it BID.
My OTJ has had remarkable results, RUNNING in the garden, taking stairs up & down! Her energy level and general demeanor has been greatly boosted by the use of it. She wants outside ALL THE TIME NOW. Incredible.
I hold resentments towards the vet, as she could have had full recovery had I started the ZOBALINE 2 years ago.
So, the sooner the better Lucy!
:bighug::bighug:
All the best to you and sweet Squallie
Click to expand...
Tucker&Me said:
Oh LOL.. I forgot to say...it has helped Tucker so much too, kept him from getting worse, and given him plenty of energy. His hinds are much improved, and lifted.
Front paws are much, much better.
I can't afford it all the time here lately, so I have had gaps in their treatment..which hurts my heart..but all in all a HUGE improvement, very quickly for us.
Xo
Click to expand...
Thank you, Brenda, for the encouragement and kind words! Squallie has worried me so much , lately. He was doing great, down to less than !/2 U, sometimes none at all, and then, all of a sudden , he started spiking these high numbers and I just can't get them down. Today I took him back up to 3 U so I'll see how that goes. But I have no idea what caused it in the first place. I did open a new bottle of insulin a day or two before, and got a new case of food around the same time, so maybe...? I just don't know. I'm probably going to call the vet today about the insulin, see what he says, but I don't think that would have caused the spike, maybe just not have controlled it well.

I want to start the Zobaline as soon as I get some kind of control on his BG. He's wobbly on his hind legs and can't jump like he used to, and sometimes I think they hurt him a little because he'll sit funny. But he's definitely down on his front legs, especially his right one, kinda scary to see, really. Hope the Zobaline will help him, poor sweetheart.

I can really understand resentment toward your vet! I held a great deal of resentment toward a vet who told me euthansia was the only answer for a beloved kitty who had kidney problems. I acted on her advice but it just never sat well with me; now that Squallie and I have started the diabetes dance I have learned a whole lot more about CKD and firmly believe he could have been treated and spent many more years with us. I have never gotten over this. Then when I first told her I thought Squall was diabetic she didn't even test him, took another 2-3 months before she finally tested him for diabetes. Then we locked horns over home testing and that was the final nail in the coffin, so to speak. But I love my new vet, he's great! :):):)

Almost forgot to ask- where do you get your Zobaline, do you order it online or get it at a local pet store or maybe pharmacy?
 
woodsywife said:
@Squalliesmom Lucy, I started Zobaline on the 15th. Smokey is not regulated yet but for the most part staying consistent for a few days at a time. I started using it before neuropathy gets to bad. He was walking very carefully, his front feet looked like he was marching. I know it takes time to build a therapeutic level however, I have noticed a few things. He doesn't March now but still walks slowly. His dandruff has disappeared (could be the DM which started on the 14th). He was running the other day (3 passes) down the hall. It exhausted him for a few hours.

If Squallies isn't to bad you can do one pill a day (recommended dose on bottle). If you start early enough 1 a day might be all he needs.

@Tucker&Me is there a reason you give 2 zobaline a day? Just wondering.
Click to expand...
Wow, didn't know it would show results so soon, that's wonderful!
 
Hi Lucy, I agree with the others. I would start the Zobaline now. It won't be harmful even if he doesn't need it, as long as he has healthy kidneys. We also were giving Speckles 2 a day. Saw results within a couple weeks.
 
SpecklesandMe said:
Hi Lucy, I agree with the others. I would start the Zobaline now. It won't be harmful even if he doesn't need it, as long as he has healthy kidneys. We also were giving Speckles 2 a day. Saw results within a couple weeks.
Click to expand...
The vet says he has enlarged kidneys, does that mean I shouldn't give him Zobaline?!?
 
Squalliesmom said:
The vet says he has enlarged kidneys, does that mean I shouldn't give him Zobaline?!?
Click to expand...
If his kidney numbers are still okay despite the enlargement, I think you can give it. If the numbers are borderline but not in CKD range, you can probably still give one pill a day, but I'd ask the vet just to make sure. Being able to excrete excess B12 through urine is dependent on normal kidney function. That's why I mentioned it.
 
SpecklesandMe said:
If his kidney numbers are still okay despite the enlargement, I think you can give it. If the numbers are borderline but not in CKD range, you can probably still give one pill a day, but I'd ask the vet just to make sure. Being able to excrete excess B12 through urine is dependent on normal kidney function. That's why I mentioned it.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that information, I was unaware of the kidney issue with Zobaline!
 
I think Tanya's CRF has some more info on use of B vitamins in the presence of kidney issues. Basically, it sounds like you can still use it and she encourages it, but you just have to use the right dose.
Edit: Here's the link- http://www.felinecrf.org/vitamin_b.htm I would definitely use the Zobaline if I were you. I didn't mean to discourage it at all. It does work wonders for neuropathy.
 
Last edited:
SpecklesandMe said:
I think Tanya's CRF has some more info on use of B vitamins in the presence of kidney issues. Basically, it sounds like you can still use it and she encourages it, but you just have to use the right dose.
Edit: Here's the link- http://www.felinecrf.org/vitamin_b.htm I would definitely use the Zobaline if I were you. I didn't mean to discourage it at all. It does work wonders for neuropathy.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info and the link! :)

We just got back from the vet, he says Squallie has a potassium deficiency and thinks what I'm seeing is probably the result of that. He gave him a supplement and if we don't see improvement in a week we'll investigate further. He also said Squallie does have some kidney damage but not at all what he would call "bad," so that was kind of a relief!
 
Lucy
You can order Zobaline online at Amazon.com.
My cat Michael is OTJ and I still give him Zobaline 1 tab sid. I give it to him to help prevent neuropathy.
It's water soluble so what he doesn't need will pass thru his urine.
Zobaline is specifically for diabetic cats.
I hope this helps.:)
 
Hi Lucy,

I'll weigh in also even though you already have some great advice. I started my Tommy on Zobaline right after he was diagnosed with diabetes and his hind legs improved drastically within two weeks. I would imagine that the insulin may have helped also but don't know. There are other brands out there but I order from Amazon and I think that's the only brand on that site.

Did you happen to look at your kitties kidney blood work? If there is kidney insufficiency it helps to know what stage you are dealing with. SpecklesandMe provided an excellent link to a website that will give you guidance not only about B vitamins but about "anything kidney." My neighbor's cat has managed well for five years now with kidney issues.

I am sooo not used to "forum talk" so please forgive a dumb question, but will someone please tell me what OTJ means?
 
@j lance, OTJ means Off The Juice, as in off insulin. :)

Lucy, I'm glad the vet had some answers. Does he think the potassium deficiency is what's making Squallie's numbers go up? Good luck and paws crossed the supplement gets him back on track quickly!
 
granadilla said:
@j lance, OTJ means Off The Juice, as in off insulin. :)

Lucy, I'm glad the vet had some answers. Does he think the potassium deficiency is what's making Squallie's numbers go up? Good luck and paws crossed the supplement gets him back on track quickly!
Click to expand...
Thanks, Shane. No, he thinks the UTI is what caused the rise in his BG. His potassium deficiency is very slight, but he wants him on the supplement to keep it from dropping further. He was supposed to be retested in a week but because we live so far away the vet said just leave him on the supplement for now, won't hurt him, and he'll retest at Squallie's next appointment.
 
Tanya's CKD site suggests Methyl B12. Merlin has CKD (Stage 3) and this is what he gets: 250 mcg BID of methyl B12 and 1/10th a Jarrows B Right multi B vitamin BID. You can get Zobaline at Vita Cost or iLifeLink. Zobaline cannot hurt because it is a water soluble supplement and anything excess will be sent out the urine. Merlin had severe diabetic neuropathy in his back and front legs. It took at least six months but it really didn't improve until I started getting better numbers. Now you can't even tell that he couldn't walk or jump.

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?N=0&ss=1&Ntt=methyl b12
http://www.ilifelink.com/zobaline-for_diabetic_cats-3_mg_x_60_tablets.html

Tanya's CKD: http://www.felinecrf.org/vitamin_b.htm
 
Just a note, because methylcobalamin is water soluble and excreted through the kidneys, it does not build up in the body. As the glucose control improves, the neuropathy should not progress as fast or should stop progressing, allowing the vitamin to prevent glucose toxicity from damaging the nerves further, and allowing them to heal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top