B12 Deficiency in a West Highland Terrier

Molly41

Hello,
Wondered if anyone had this problem with their furry friends'?

It has flummoxed the vet for a while as my 11 year old suffered bouts of colic - gurgling tummy, no passing wind, no sickness but keeps me up all night with her as it is obviously excruciating for her. I literally have to rub her tum all night in a circular movement until it passes - about 12 hours:eek::eek::eek:

It has been going on for a few years but initially one off then no more for a few months but frequency increasing.
Well it has happened two nights out of 3 this past week (mostly happens at night) and Molly the Westie has been at the vets a couple of times for bloods and tests. In between she is happy (a bit of a princess) and healthy.

She has had all the usual tests,bloods etc for pancreatitis etc and stool samples - all clear. Yesterday she came back with a B12 deficiency. Now she is on James Welly and a bit of chicken. She has actually put a bit of weight on as she is very fussy with her food. It has the vets flummoxed and me very tired:(

I know all about B12 as I actually suffer from it too and know it is easily corrected - like Mother like doggy :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: But no laughing matter at 2.30 am

mardatha

Don't suppose she would eat raw liver maybe minced and hidden in food? I don't know anything abt dogs but I have a hubby with pernicious anaemia and he suffers from gurgling too (although I draw the line at massaging his tummy all night..)

Molly41

I was thinking beef might help. Interesting as I have a gurgle now and then and massage in a clockwise direction really helps. Maybe he could massage his own tummy?

mardatha

:D:D Aye maybe he could, cos nobody else will! lolol

mardatha

Can you get digestive enzymes for dogs? Or probiotics?

loopymadlover

have you thought about milk thistle it helps with digestion and liver function Dorwest do a specific dog tablet with easy dosing instructions 1 tab per 5kg weight.

mtbbuxton

Ask your Vet to check the folic acid level too as it often goes hand in hand with a B12 deficiency. Sometimes it's high, in which case there's usually a problem with the gut bacteria levels. In my boy's case it's low, indicating a malabsorption issue. My lurcher has been having both supplemented for the last 7 years after suffering from some horrible gastric symptoms :eek: We're currently on daily folate tablets and B12 injections every 3 weeks and this keeps him stable.

Hope you get it sorted out and your girl is feeling happier soon.

M x

Molly41

mtbbuxton wrote: »

Ask your Vet to check the folic acid level too as it often goes hand in hand with a B12 deficiency. Sometimes it's high, in which case there's usually a problem with the gut bacteria levels. In my boy's case it's low, indicating a malabsorption issue. My lurcher has been having both supplemented for the last 7 years after suffering from some horrible gastric symptoms :eek: We're currently on daily folate tablets and B12 injections every 3 weeks and this keeps him stable.

Hope you get it sorted out and your girl is feeling happier soon.

M x

Thank you - I am going with her tomorrow for her first injection so will ask for that to be checked. It does sound similar. Im so worried about her because she is nearly 11 but gets mistaken as a pup on a regular basis. Glad your doggy is stabilised :T