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Rafiki not eating
- Thread starter Rafiki
- Start date
Rafiki
Site Supporter
I finally received the test results for IBS. We did not do a biopsy so this is strictly blood work. Her B12 levels are low and the vet said that this is one of the indicators of IBS. She is suggesting a shot of B12 once a week for 6 weeks. The vet's office was closed by the time I got home so I will speak to her tomorrow. She has also told me that a small percentage of cats with IBS do not have the vomiting and diarrhea and that those are the ones most difficult to diagnose.
Can cats get enough B12 thru pills instead of injections? Rafiki has become quite the fiend for the pill pockets and I am sure that she would not mind having more. Especially considering that I have only 6 days of liver meds left to give her.
The new formula Darwin shows that they are adding B12 but the old packaging did not. I cannot tell for sure if they did add it before or not as the website only shows the most recent info. She has been on 100% homemade for just shy of 2 weeks and only for 4 days when we had the blood drawn.
Also, I am now thinking that she is extremely sensitive to my moods. I was massively stressed out over work and depressed last Wed-Fri and Thursday was when the latest round of her not eating began. At the beginning of the week, she would only eat about 1/2 her meal willingly and I was having her eat off my finger in order to get her to eat her full amount. The work issue resolved itself on Wednesday and I noticed a positive change in her eating habits that night. She is still picky but it seems to have more to do with her desire for more kitty crack rather than a lack of appetite.
Has anyone else dealt with a b12 deficiency?
Can cats get enough B12 thru pills instead of injections? Rafiki has become quite the fiend for the pill pockets and I am sure that she would not mind having more. Especially considering that I have only 6 days of liver meds left to give her.
The new formula Darwin shows that they are adding B12 but the old packaging did not. I cannot tell for sure if they did add it before or not as the website only shows the most recent info. She has been on 100% homemade for just shy of 2 weeks and only for 4 days when we had the blood drawn.
Also, I am now thinking that she is extremely sensitive to my moods. I was massively stressed out over work and depressed last Wed-Fri and Thursday was when the latest round of her not eating began. At the beginning of the week, she would only eat about 1/2 her meal willingly and I was having her eat off my finger in order to get her to eat her full amount. The work issue resolved itself on Wednesday and I noticed a positive change in her eating habits that night. She is still picky but it seems to have more to do with her desire for more kitty crack rather than a lack of appetite.
Has anyone else dealt with a b12 deficiency?
Carykd7kau
Reincarnated cat Moderator
She is your baby. OF COURSE she is sensitive to your moods. They are so very sensitive to people, and I am really surprised it is not a given that our depressed states will bring them down. Be happy Linda, and Rafiki will be happy too. 
It was never mentioned to me with either of my cats with IBD so I'm going to ask my vet. I found this snippet re: injections vs oral dose:
On PetPlace.com, they clearly state that a congenital B12 malabsorption syndrome has been reported in cats
(as well as some specific dog breeds). It also states that for dosing in cats, no good data is available and oral
treatment is unlikely to be of much benefit in malabsorption states (e.g. pancreatic disease interfering with the
production and release of pancreatic IF). This is why injections are used instead of pills. Injections will bypass
the stomach and go straight to the liver but the pills will have a long way to get there, will break down a lot
sooner and not have nearly the same affect. www.petplace.com/drug-library/vitamin-b12/page1.aspx
On PetPlace.com, they clearly state that a congenital B12 malabsorption syndrome has been reported in cats
(as well as some specific dog breeds). It also states that for dosing in cats, no good data is available and oral
treatment is unlikely to be of much benefit in malabsorption states (e.g. pancreatic disease interfering with the
production and release of pancreatic IF). This is why injections are used instead of pills. Injections will bypass
the stomach and go straight to the liver but the pills will have a long way to get there, will break down a lot
sooner and not have nearly the same affect. www.petplace.com/drug-library/vitamin-b12/page1.aspx
Symptoms for first cat were projectile vomiting immediately after eating, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss. Because she was also a senior kitty, I had a biopsy done to rule out cancer. Treated her with metronidazole then prednisolone. She had to stay on the prednisolone for the rest of her life.
Taji vomited after eating but never got diarrhea. He lost weight rapidly. Didn't do a biopsy on him. Treated with prednisolone until inflammation was under control and he was transitioned to a prescription diet. This is also the cat who is on Prozac so there may be a connection between his high anxiety and the IBD as well as him developing an allergy to quail which is the only thing he would eat for a couple years.
My boy who had IBD had horrible diarrhea, much worse than the vomiting. The meds controlled the vomiting but he never had normal stools. I am convinced it was part of his undoing - he became extremely malnourished due to the malabsorption which eventually led to his demise
John Popp
Site Supporter
On the B12 issues, if your cat will tolerate some liver there is plenty of B vitamins there. Fish, I like giving the boys some cooked Salmon from time to time, although I forgot the reason why it's important to cook. Also fish like sardines, mackerel and herring all provide lots of B vitamins. Lastly, rabbit is a great source of B vitamins and the majority of SVs really seem to like it.
Hope that helps!
Hope that helps!
Rafiki
Site Supporter
John, unfortunately Rafiki does not like liver or rabbit. Yup, she actually does not like rabbit. I did not think that that was possible with a cat. I tried her on sardines when she wasn't eating and she snubbed - perhaps I should try again now that she has an appetite. Salmon is also a good idea to try.
It is just so weird though. Rafiki has only vomited once in her life and that was after eating some hay outside. Her stools have always been firm and crumbly, even when she had giardia. Literally the only symptoms have been the appetite issue that corresponded with the formula change with Darwin in May and again for a few days last week and that she was lethargic a week ago last Friday. Her appetite is back and her energy level is thru the roof. She is now just a hair under 13 lbs so she has regained almost all the weight she had lost.
It is just so weird though. Rafiki has only vomited once in her life and that was after eating some hay outside. Her stools have always been firm and crumbly, even when she had giardia. Literally the only symptoms have been the appetite issue that corresponded with the formula change with Darwin in May and again for a few days last week and that she was lethargic a week ago last Friday. Her appetite is back and her energy level is thru the roof. She is now just a hair under 13 lbs so she has regained almost all the weight she had lost.
Kristin
Animal Communicator
For humans, if someone is having absorption problems we dose them with some nasty tasting bitters (gentian being the nastiest). The god awful taste stimulates the vagus nerve, and there are bitter receptors all down the GI tract. It brings up the stomach acid, which aids in the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals.
Although I haven't extensively researched, it seems that it's the same for pets. I am dosing all 3 of my cats with gentian (which they all take willingly). Tiger mainly for his pancreatitis, and the savannahs as bug prevention.
Bitters help humans absorb b12 so I'm fairly confident it's the same with animals
Although I haven't extensively researched, it seems that it's the same for pets. I am dosing all 3 of my cats with gentian (which they all take willingly). Tiger mainly for his pancreatitis, and the savannahs as bug prevention.
Bitters help humans absorb b12 so I'm fairly confident it's the same with animals