Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low vitamin B12 in cats with gut problems and tissue damage
By Maunder, Christina L et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Serum cobalamin concentrations in cats with gastrointestinal signs: correlation with histopathological findings and duration of clinical signs.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 39 cats with gastrointestinal problems was studied to see if low vitamin B12 levels (hypocobalaminaemia) were common and if they related to how long the cats had been sick or the severity of their condition. Out of the cats, 11 had low vitamin B12 levels, with some diagnosed with intestinal inflammation, lymphoma, or cholangitis. While the most severe intestinal inflammation and lymphoma were linked to low vitamin B12, the study found no clear connection between vitamin levels and how long the cats showed symptoms. Treatment for the underlying issues, such as inflammation or lymphoma, is crucial for improving their health.
People also search for: cat gastrointestinal problems · low vitamin B12 in cats · cat lymphoma treatment
Abstract
The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of hypocobalaminaemia in UK cats presented for referral investigation of gastrointestinal signs and to ascertain whether the duration of clinical signs or severity of disease (based on WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization histopathological grading) related to cobalamin concentration. The study population comprised 39 cats, of which 11 (28.2%) had hypocobalaminaemia. Eight of these cats were diagnosed with a single cause of gastrointestinal signs: intestinal inflammation (five); alimentary lymphoma (two); and cholangitis (one). Two or more concurrent diseases were diagnosed in the three remaining cases. Alimentary lymphoma and the most severe grade of histological intestinal inflammation were associated most commonly with concurrent hypocobalaminaemia, but there was no statistically significant correlation between serum cobalamin concentrations and histopathological score or duration of clinical signs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22577047/