B12 dosage?

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This topic has 7sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 4 months ago by Meg.

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- 02/19/2019 at 1:59 PM
  Meg
  Participant
  560 posts
  Hi all! I’d like to try giving Vitamin B12 to my bunny as part of his ongoing stasis treatment, but I have no idea what dosage would be correct. Could anyone help me?
  
  Thanks!!
- 02/20/2019 at 2:51 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17001 posts
  I tried to find info, but I couldn’t. Perhaps best to ask your vet? When rabbits are in stasis they often get warmed up fluids with vitamin B12 (or B complex) in it, so vets should know about dosage. Oxbow’s multivitamin pills for rabbits have B12, but amount isn’t stated.
  
  ETA: I just saw in your stasis thread that you have been discussing B12 with your vet!
- 02/20/2019 at 9:50 AM
  FlemishDad
  Participant
  114 posts
  There isn’t much info because rabbits normally get it from their cecotropes, and probably a lot more than they need.
  
  A 2-kg rabbit on Critical Care would get 0.24 micrograms a day. I don’t know if there’s any science behind that. It’s comparable to the US RDA for humans adjusted for weight or metabolism FWIW. So I would give at least that but probably a lot more. Animals can’t overdose on B-12 because it needs a complex transport system to be absorbed or used. Too much just gets pooped on out. OTOH, some people have absorption problems and need many times the normal dose. I wouldn’t be surprised if rabbits could have absorption problems nor if GI issues could interfere with the absorption process.
- 02/20/2019 at 8:56 PM
  Meg
  Participant
  560 posts
  Thank you SO much, FlemishDad!! I really appreciate it. I’d asked my vet and he was going to send me the dosage info, but he hasn’t… he’s super nice but overworked and often takes many days to get back to me after he says he will. You’re a lifesaver!
- 02/20/2019 at 10:40 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  All I could find was 20-50 mcg/kg for rabbits that aren’t producing (or getting?) their cecatrophs.
- 02/21/2019 at 12:00 PM
  Meg
  Participant
  560 posts
  Thank you so much, Kate! That’s very helpful. He’s producing them at a normal rate, but he’s not currently eating all of them. And if it can help stimulate his appetite, that would be great. 20-50 micrograms/kg sounds a lot easier to do that 0.24 micrograms total. In the liquid form I got, I think about 30 micrograms is about the smallest amount I could give.
- 02/21/2019 at 12:48 PM
  FlemishDad
  Participant
  114 posts
  Too much is not a problem with B12. Very high doses can even be needed for chronic deficiency because the body normally keeps large stores. It can take years for a deficient diet to cause detectable problems
- 02/21/2019 at 1:21 PM
  Meg
  Participant
  560 posts
  OK, great to know. Thank you so much!!
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