Vitamin B12 for Kittens
How to Give Kittens Supplemental B12 Injections
What is B12 and why is it important for kittens?
B12 is an essential vitamin for all cats, playing a crucial role in their digestive system, immune system, and nervous system. Providing supplemental B12 can be beneficial for kittens with a variety of health issues. Learning how to administer injectable B12 will help kitten caregivers advance their supportive care skillset in order to give the best care to the most vulnerable kittens.
Why might a kitten need a B12 injection?
Cats naturally obtain vitamin B12 through their food. Unfortunately, many kittens have difficulty properly absorbing nutrients in the gut, and can easily become become deficient in B12. For this reason, oral supplements may be ineffective in kittens; an injectable vitamin will be a more reliable way to ensure that the kitten benefits from supplementation.
Kittens with the following health issues may benefit from a B12 injection as one part of their supportive care plan:
Gastrointestinal distress
Malabsorption
Inappetance
Diarrhea
Constipation
Lethargy
Weight loss
Vomiting
Anemia
FIP
Panleukopenia
While B12 alone cannot resolve these issues, it can play a role in supporting the kitten’s gastrointestinal and immune health throughout their treatment and recovery.
Supplies Needed
Injectable vitamin B12 from a veterinarian
Dosing and Frequency
Talk to your veterinarian about what dose and frequency is appropriate for your kitten’s weight and symptoms. Dosing will vary case by case. A safe rule of thumb for young kittens under 2 pounds is 0.1cc (of a 1000mgc/ml solution) weekly.
Note that vitamin B12 is water soluble. Kittens will generally urinate out what is not absorbed by the body; you may notice a bright magenta color to their urine after injection. This is normal.
Always follow your veterinarian’s guidance for B12 injections.
Safely Administering B12
Anyone can learn how to give a kitten supplemental B12, but there are always risks involved in injections—so please seek hands-on training from a veterinarian. You can also watch Kitten Lady’s video about how to give a vitamin injection to a young kitten.
Using a sterile needle and sterile syringe, pull up the appropriate dose of B12.
Pull back on the syringe, remove the needle, and put a new needle onto the syringe.
Lift the back of the scruff away from the spine. Holding the needle parallel to the body, carefully insert the needle into the skin and inject the B12.
Another fantastic option is to include B12 in a subcutaneous fluid injection. Kittens who are receiving subcutaneous fluids can simply have their dose of B12 added to their fluids so that you can cut down on the number of injections they receive. Simply use a sterile needle to insert your B12 dose directly into your fluid syringe before administering the fluids. Learn more about subcutaneous fluids here!
Shop for B12 Injection Supplies:
Recommended videos:
