Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High vitamin B12 levels in dogs and cats and what they mean
By Kather, Stefanie et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2020·Department for Small Animals, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and clinical relevance of hypercobalaminaemia in dogs and cats.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that some dogs and cats had high levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in their blood without any supplementation. In dogs, about 3% showed elevated levels, often alongside chronic gastrointestinal issues, and two were diagnosed with adrenal gland problems. In cats, 11% had high cobalamin levels, with many also suffering from conditions like chronic intestinal disease or pancreatitis. This suggests that high cobalamin levels can be linked to serious health issues, so pet owners should discuss any abnormal test results with their veterinarian for further evaluation.
People also search for: dog high vitamin B12 levels · cat cobalamin levels · chronic gastrointestinal issues in dogs · pancreatitis in cats · adrenal problems in dogs
Abstract
Hypocobalaminaemia is common in dogs and cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and/or chronic enteropathy. While hypocobalaminaemia has been extensively studied, naturally-occurring serum hypercobalaminaemia (i.e. without supplementation) might be an underestimated finding in small animal medicine. Studies in human medicine have associated hypercobalaminaemia with neoplastic, hepatic and renal disease. Medical records of all dogs and cats with serum cobalamin concentration measurements (2007-2019) were retrospectively analysed; any that had received supplemental cobalamin were excluded from the analysis. Of 654 dogs, 3% (n = 21) were hypercobalaminaemic (median serum cobalamin concentration, 1307 ng/L [965 pmol/L]; range, 914-3561 ng/L [675-2628 pmol/L]). Chronic gastrointestinal signs were common in hypercobalaminaemic dogs (48%). Two of the 21 hypercobalaminaemic dogs were diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism. Of 323 cats, 11% (n = 34) were hypercobalaminaemic (median serum cobalamin concentration, 1713 ng/L [1264 pmol/L]; range, 1370-3107 ng/L [1011-2293 pmol/L]). The following comorbidities were diagnosed in hypercobalaminaemic cats: chronic enteropathy, 65% (n = 22); acute or chronic pancreatitis, 24% (n = 8); cholangiohepatopathy, 18% (n = 6); gastric lymphoma, 6% (n = 2); and 3% hyperthyroidism (n = 1). Naturally-occurring increased serum cobalamin concentrations occurred infrequently in cats and even less often in dogs. Since hypercobalaminaemia can occur in dogs and cats with severe inflammatory, immune-mediated, and neoplastic conditions, it should not be ignored.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33129556/