This document discusses vitamin B12 deficiency in animals. It notes that vitamin B12 is important for normal brain and nervous system function and blood formation. Ruminants get vitamin B12 from cobalt in their diet which allows synthesis of B12 in the rumen. A deficiency can cause weight loss, anemia, and nervous system issues. The document outlines signs of deficiency in various animal species and treatments involving B12 injections or dietary supplementation.

1. Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Shahzad Hur
DVM student
University OfVeterinaryAnd Animal Sciences, Sub-campus Jhang

2. Vitamin B12
 Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin, is a water soluble vitamin
with key role in normal functioning of brain and nervous system
and formation of blood. It is one of eight B vitamins.
 All ruminants (including sheep, cattle and goats) require cobalt in
their diet for the synthesis of vitamin B12.

3. Functions
 Vitamin B12 is an essential part of several enzyme systems that
carry out a number of basic metabolic functions.
 Purine and pyrimidine synthesis
 Formation of proteins from amino acids
 Carbohydrate and fat metabolism
 Promote red blood cell synthesis and to maintain nervous system
integrity
 Vitamin B12 is as an essential cofactor for the enzymes
methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

4. Sources of
vitamin B12 for
Animals
 Young ruminants require supplemental vitamin B12 prior to full
rumen development, Milk is a good source of vitamin B12.
 Dietary supplementation of cobalt is the normal means of
meeting the vitamin B12 requirement of ruminants.
 Vitamin B12 is sometimes administered parentally to incoming
feedlot cattle as a prophylactic measure.
 Grains are also good source of vitamin B12 in fattening cattle.

5. Clinical signs
of vitamin B12
deficiency
Clinical signs include
 Weight loss, Suppressed appetite, decreased feed efficiency,
Anemia, Diarrhea, Rough coat, Scaly ears and weepy eyes.
 Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to reduced fertility, lower birth
rates, reduced growth rates and reduced growth and wool quality.
 Animals that are deficient in B 12 are likely to carry a higher worm
burden and this causes scours and damage to wall of intestine so
that less B12is absorbed in the gut and immune system is
suppressed.

6. Vitamin B12
Deficiency in
Poultry
 In growing chickens, a deficiency of vitamin B12 results in reduced
weight gain and feed intake, along with poor feathering and
nervous disorders.
 Deficiency may lead to perosis.
 Other signs reported in poultry are anemia, gizzard erosion, and
fatty infiltration of the heart, liver, and kidneys.
 Laying hens initially appear to be able to maintain body weight
and egg production; however, egg size is reduced.
 In breeders, hatchability can be markedly reduced, although
several weeks may be needed for signs of deficiency to appear.

7. Vitamin B12
Deficiency in
Lambs
 Young lambs (up to two months of age), require vitamin B12
supplementation, especially with early-weaning programs.
 In vitamin B12-deficient lambs, there is a sharp decrease of
vitamin B12concentrations in blood.
 signs such as anorexia, weight loss and a decrease in blood
hemoglobin concentration.
 At necropsy, the body of a severely deficient animal is extremely
emaciated, often with a total absence of body fat. Fatty liver,
hemosiderized spleen and hypoplasia of the erythrogenic tissue of
bone marrow can be seen.
 Vitamin B12-deficient lambs exhibit a reduced lymphocyte
response to mycobacterium paratuberculosis vaccination and
higher fecal egg counts from nematode infection compared to
lambs supplemented with adequate cobalt.

8. Vitamin B12
Deficiency in
Calves
 vitamin B12 deficiency in calves less than six weeks old that
received no dietary animal protein.
 Clinical signs characterizing the deficiency included poor appetite
and growth, lacrimation, muscular weakness, demyelination of
peripheral nerves and emaciation.

9. Vitamin B12
Deficiency in
Sheep
 Vitamin B12 deficiency in sheep can cause a number of clinical
signs such as loss of appetite, decreased growth rate, weight loss,
watery ocular discharge and anaemia.

10. Diagnosis
 The level ofVitamin B12 deficiency can be assessed easily by using
a blood test.
 In cases where subclinical deficiencies are suspected, at least 10
individuals from the most susceptible class of animal should be
tested at most critical time of year.

11. Treatment
 Intramuscular injection of vitamin B12, at the rate of 100 µg per
week, produced a rapid remission of all signs of deficiency in
animals and this is equivalent to cobalt administration orally at
the rate of 7 mg per week.
 Parenteral administration is used to treat animals with apparent
deficiency symptoms or the general appearance of malnutrition or
poor health.
 Vitamin B12 is sometimes administered parentally to incoming
feedlot cattle as a prophylactic measure.
 Grains are given, source of B12 synthesis in rumen.

12.  Indications
For use as a supplemental nutritive source of vitamin B12 in cattle,
horses, swine, sheep, dogs and cats.
 Packing size
50 ml
 Composition
Each 4ml contains:
Vitamin B12 … 1000mcg (Cyanocobalamine)

13.  Indications
Vitaject injection is indicated for the prophylaxis and therapy of vitamin
deficiencies against epithelial lesions, delayed growth, blindness, muscular
weakness, rickets, osteo-malacia, vitamin deficiency syndromes.
 Packing size
50 ml
 Composition
Each ml containsVitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) BP 80.000IU,Vitamin D3
(Cholecalciferol) BP 40.000IU,Vitamin E (dl-a-tocopherol acetate) BP 20mg,
Vitamin B1 BP 2.5mg,Vitamin B6 BP 1.25mg,Vitamin B12 BP 30mcg.
 Dosage and Administration
deep intramuscular, subcutaneous or slow intravenous Injection.
Cattle / Horse: 5 -10ml for 200kg body weight
Sheep / Goat: 2 – 4ml for 20kg body weight
Cat / Dog: 0.2-2ml
Poultry: 0.1 -0.2ml per bird

14.  Indications
For use as a supplemental nutritive source of vitamin B12 in cattle,
horse, sheep, goats and cats Cyanofar is also effective in the
deficiency of blood, weakness of muscles and in stomach diseases.
 Packing Size
50 ml
 Composition
Each ml containsVitamin B12 125mcg
 Dosage & Administration
Inject subcutaneously or intramuscularly. May be injected
intravenously at the discretion of the veterinarian.
Cattle, Horses and Sheep: 8 to 16 ml
Dogs and Cats: 2 to 4 ml