If you are currently observing symptoms like lethargy, nervousness, irritability, labored breathing, palpitations along with digestive disorders and constipation, it can be due to deficiency of vitamin B12 in your pet. Hence, it is always very important to give vitamin B12 supplements to your pet. This deficiency can be due to insufficient levels of vitamins in your pet’s body or an inherent condition that makes it very difficult for your pet to absorb vitamin B12 through regular diet. But before giving vitamin B12 supplements to your pet it is important to take the recommendation of your vet.
If the deficiency goes untreated, it can lead to critical problems like gastrointestinal diseases and weight loss. Vitamin B12 supplement is a very simple yet effective solution to these problems. Irrespective of whether the problem started with insufficient dietary levels or from an inherited condition, vitamin B12 can be very useful in aiding diseases like gastrointestinal ailments or kidney disease.
How To Administer Vitamin B12 in Pets?
Vitamin B12 supplements can be administered in a variety of ways just like human beings. The most preferred way is through oral supplement by crushing the tablet and assimilating it into the pet food. You can even mix it with water and administer it directly to the pet’s mouth with the aid of a syringe. One other way to ensure that your pet gets more vitamin in the food is by increasing the meat in his diet. If your pet is finding it difficult to absorb vitamin B12, injection is the most preferred way to administer this supplement.
There are certain pet owners who would like veterinarians to administer the injections. But now with the recommendation of the veterinarians it is possible to administer these injections by them at home. Generally, B12 injections are preferred for those pets that have a deficiency of vitamin B12 or if the pet is suffering from gastrointestinal illness.
These injections are administered to a dog’s hind leg. If you have a cat, she will receive the vitamin with the aid of subcutaneous injection. You can then administer these injections on a weekly basis for the initial five to six weeks. After this period, the injections need to be administered on a bi-weekly basis for some weeks and after some time on a monthly basis.
Natural Sources Of Vitamin B12 For Pet Health
- Alfalfa
- Brewer’s yeast
- Diary products
- Eggs
- Kidney
- Liver
- Seafood encompassing herring, clams, Mackerel etc.
- Seaweed (An excellent source of vitamin B12 amongst vegetables and is also a source of taurine.)
You can feed these foods directly of mix them with homemade meals or treats. You can even look for these sources in branded pet foods. There are times when commercial diet consists of a synthetic vitamin b12 supplement along with the vitamin. During such times look for Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin for best absorption.
Note: In case, you decide to purchase vitamin B12 or B-complex supplement, ensure that it is not preserved with Sodium Benzoate or sweetened with Xylitol.
How Long Does It Take For Your Pet To Show Improvement After Administering Vitamin B12?
It is important that you take your pet to the veterinarian for regular blood check up until the correct vitamin B12 count is achieved. if it has been a while since you have been giving this supplement, he will show improvement:
In weight gain
Of gastrointestinal problems
In appetite and energy
But the ultimate decision of prolonging the supplement lies with your veterinarian.
Conclusion
There are minimal to no side effects of the B12 vitamin supplement on pets. Even an overdose of the vitamin will be discarded in the form of urination by the pet. Vitamin B12 is extremely safe and effective solution for pet lethargy. So, consult with your veterinarian today and discuss with them about the potential benefits of vitamin B12 injections or supplements for your pet.
