Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with low vitamin B12 and methylmalonic acid buildup causing
By Vaden, S L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1992·Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cobalamin deficiency associated with methylmalonic acidemia in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 9-month-old male longhair cat was brought in because he was very tired, not eating well, and had trouble keeping warm. The owner noticed he wasn't growing properly since they got him. Tests showed he had low levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and high levels of methylmalonic acid, which indicated a serious issue with how his body was absorbing this vitamin. Unfortunately, despite the findings, the cat was euthanized due to his severe condition.
People also search for: cat lethargy and not eating · kitten vitamin B12 deficiency · cat failure to thrive symptoms
Abstract
A 9-month-old sexually intact male longhair cat was examined because of lethargy, anorexia, cold intolerance, and failure to thrive since acquisition at an early age. Clinical signs of disease were less pronounced when the cat was fed a low-protein diet. Anemia, hypoglycemia, low total CO2 content, and hyperammonemia were detected. The cat was euthanatized. Urine obtained immediately before euthanasia contained a large amount of methylmalonic acid. Total serum cobalamin concentration was low. Hepatic methylmalonic-CoA mutase activity, with and without the addition of coenzyme adenosylcobalamin, was consistent with a cobalamin deficiency. Methylmalonic acidemia secondary to a putative defect in cobalamin absorption was diagnosed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1351478/