Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Cyanocobalamin corrects cobalamin deficiency associated with inadequate intake, cobalt deficiency or intestinal and pancreatic disease.
Group
Vitamin B12 supplement
Mechanism of Action
Supplies vitamin B12 for normal intermediary metabolism, hematopoiesis and neurologic function.
Dose Rates
Dogs
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalamin deficiency | 100–200 mcg/animal | PO | Every 24 h | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | 250–500 mcg/animal | IM, SC | Every 24 h | |
| Gastrointestinal disease-associated deficiency — Initial | 250–1200 mcg/animal | SC | Every 168 h | Up to 42 days; Weekly for six weeks; select total dose by body size rather than assuming the full range suits every dog. |
| Gastrointestinal disease-associated deficiency — Maintenance | 250–1200 mcg/animal | SC | Every 336 h | Up to 42 days; Every 14 days for the next six weeks, then one dose 30 days later; recheck one month afterward. |
| Weight-based deficiency replacement | Reference only | PO | 25 mcg/kg injectable cyanocobalamin once weekly for 4–6 weeks, then monthly; the source does not explicitly assign IM versus SC for this bullet. |
Cats
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalamin deficiency | 50–100 mcg/animal | PO | Every 24 h | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | 250 mcg/animal | IM, SC | Every 168 h | Weekly initially for 6 weeks, then reassess serum concentration before increasing the interval. |
| Gastrointestinal disease-associated deficiency — Initial | 150–250 mcg/animal | SC | Every 168 h | Up to 42 days |
| Gastrointestinal disease-associated deficiency — Maintenance | 150–250 mcg/animal | SC | Every 336 h | Up to 42 days; Then one dose after 30 days and serum recheck one month later. |
| Inflammatory bowel disease-associated deficiency | 250–500 mcg/animal | SC | Every 168 h | Up to 42 days; Weekly for six weeks; subsequent 1–2-month dosing is based on results. |
| Hepatic lipidosis adjunct | 250 mcg/animal | SC | Every 168 h | Up to 42 days; Recheck cobalamin 1–2 weeks after the course. |
| Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency-associated deficiency | 100–250 mcg/animal | SC | Every 168 h | Monitor cobalamin and folate. |
Sheep
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | IM | Lambs only. 500 mcg per animal IM or SC twice weekly. This weekly schedule is not encoded as an invented equal-hour interval. | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | 1000–2000 mcg/animal | IM, SC | Every 168 h | Repeat weekly only as indicated by response and deficiency status. |
| Cobalt-deficiency-associated cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | PO | Lambs: 100 mcg total once weekly; adult sheep: 300 mcg total once weekly. The source says injection without assigning IM versus SC. |
Pigs
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | IM | 500 mcg per animal IM or SC twice weekly. This weekly schedule is not encoded as an invented equal-hour interval. | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | 500–2000 mcg/animal | IM, SC | Every 168 h |
Cattle
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | IM | 1000–2000 mcg per animal IM or SC once or twice weekly; choose the schedule using response and cobalamin testing. | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | IM | Calves only. 500 mcg per animal IM or SC twice weekly. This weekly schedule is not encoded as an invented equal-hour interval. | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | 1000–2000 mcg/animal | IM, SC | Every 168 h | Repeat weekly only as indicated by response and deficiency status. |
Horses
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | IM | 1000–2000 mcg per animal IM or SC once or twice weekly; choose the schedule using response and cobalamin testing. | |
| Cobalamin deficiency | Reference only | IM | Foals only. 500 mcg per animal IM or SC twice weekly. This weekly schedule is not encoded as an invented equal-hour interval. |
Indications
- Cobalamin deficiency
- Chronic enteropathy-associated deficiency
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency-associated deficiency
- Selected deficiency-associated anemia
Contraindications
- No specific veterinary contraindication is identified in the supplied material.
Interactions
- No veterinary interactions are identified in the supplied material.
Adverse effects
- Adverse reactions are uncommon
Preparations
| Preparation | Form | Strength | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanocobalamin 25 mcg tablet | Tablet | 25 mcg / tablet | PO |
| Cyanocobalamin 100 mcg tablet | Tablet | 100 mcg / tablet | PO |
| Cyanocobalamin 500 mcg tablet | Tablet | 500 mcg / tablet | PO |
| Cyanocobalamin 1000 mcg tablet | Tablet | 1000 mcg / tablet | PO |
| Cyanocobalamin 1000 mcg/mL injection | Injection | 1000 mcg / mL | IM, SC |
| Cyanocobalamin 5000 mcg/mL injection | Injection | 5000 mcg / mL | IM, SC |
| Cyanocobalamin 3000 mcg/mL injection | Injection | 3000 mcg / mL | IM, SC |
Monitoring and Administration
Measure serum cobalamin and follow clinical response; monitor CBC for anemia. Use laboratory-specific units and reference intervals.
Feline cobalamin turnover is rapid. After weekly injections for 6 weeks, progressively longer 2-, 4- and 6-week intervals may be attempted if levels remain adequate.
Protect from light at room temperature. Do not confuse cyanocobalamin with other cobalamin forms or combination B-complex concentrations.
The source contains an inconsistent deficiency threshold unit (ng/mL versus reference intervals in ng/L); that threshold is not reproduced.
Measure folate alongside cobalamin before and after replacement where gastrointestinal disease is suspected. Injectable single-vitamin products avoid the poorly defined B12 amount of multi-vitamin mixtures.
A fixed monthly interval is calendar-based, not an invented 720-hour prescription. Some patients need lifelong replacement; titrate to the underlying disease and serum response.