Finding the Right B12 Dose

Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s mission is the advancement of science and education relating to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), yielding useful insights and positive outcomes in better managing EPI in dogs and cats. Our goals are to support and/or collaborate with veterinary EPI research and researchers, and to promote EPI awareness by educating the general public, pet owners, pet organizations, rescue and shelter organizations, veterinary schools and veterinarians.
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Madelon
Staff
Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Finding the Right B12 Dose

Post by Madelon » 17 Apr 2021, 12:58

Hi! It's been a long time since I posted on the forum. I just thought I'd share my experience with supplementing B12. I have been using WonderLabs Pet Factor B12 since Doc was diagosed 6yrs ago and couldn't be happier.

I gave him three pills a day when first diagnosed to get the level up quickly. After about a month I reduced it to two pills a day. A few years ago I reduced it to 1 pill a day and noticed within about two weeks he lost about 5 or 6lbs and the poops were not as good. So I went back to two pills a day and almost immediately he gained the weight back - there were no other changes during those times so I figured it had to be the B12. I recently decided to try again and reduce the B12 to 1 pill a day (just out of curiosity) - again he lost 5lbs within a week and he had lots of tummy gurgling. I went back to two pills a day and he's gained the 5lbs back and the tummy gurgling is gone. - again no other changes were made during these times.

Just thought I'd share as sometimes you have to try something and then "proof" it to see if the effect of the change was a coincidence or in fact a true result. We will be staying with two pills a day for life now :) We will be celebrating his 6th Epiversary next month :)
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

Tuckaboo Pam
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Posts: 1345
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: Finding the Right B12 Dose

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 17 Apr 2021, 13:59

Thanks for posting this, Madelon. I was surprised that Tucker's test showed his B12 to be 666, which is acceptable on the low side, and that his poo looked a little better when I fasted him from B12 for the TLI test. Still, I worry about about not giving it to him.

B12 was the first thing my vet said to give him when I complained about his poop eating (it accelerated abruptly), but she didn't know about intrinsic factor. When I found my hound mix eating poop, I started giving it to her, and haven't seen her doing it again.

Thanks for all your help!---Pam & Tucker
Tucker was a shepherd/lab mix--- TLI 1.3, Folate 9.7, Cobalamin 666, Lipase 38. Took Diane's Enzymes 4 teaspoons/day, Wonderlabs B12 one capsule per day, and Tylan 1/16 teaspoon/ morning (to hold SID at bay). Taste of the Wild High Prairie, 1 1/2 cups/day, with a total of 4 cups of Fresh Pet. Stopped eating everything in sight, and went from 60 to 85 pounds! Tucker was my boyfriend, and my husband was OK with that. Tucker succumbed to hemangiosarcoma, but we cherished every day we had with that wonderful, beautiful boy. I will always, always miss my sweet big boy.

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Olesia711
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Posts: 3857
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Finding the Right B12 Dose

Post by Olesia711 » 17 Apr 2021, 20:14

Oh wow... thank you both Madelon and Pam for sharing your B12 experiences.
Madelon.... it is SOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo important to "PROOF" something when we observe an response but we are not sure if an action truly caused a certain reaction. thanks for detailing what and how you did this with Doc's B12 :)

Pam, thanks for sharing that getting the B12 level may help with that old disgusting poo eating habit. Never heard it used directly for this. INTERESTING! :)
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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