In cats the most common causes of cobalamin deficiency are chronic and severe small intestinal disease and EPI. Hereditary cobalamin deficiency, similar to that identified in some human patients, has not yet been described in the cat. Most, if not all, cats with EPI are cobalamin deficient.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in cats?

What Are the Symptoms of B12 Deficiency? In cats, not having enough B12 can cause weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, or vomiting. Because disorders of the GI tract can interfere with the absorption of B12, the level of this vitamin in the blood is sometimes used as a test of gut health.

What causes vitamin B12 deficiency in cats?

Because cobalamin in normally absorbed from food through the gastrointestinal tract, chronic diseases that adversely affect the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients (inflammatory bowel disease is an excellent example) can lead to cobalamin deficiency.