Which species have cited Cobalamin dosing data?

Cobalamin dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 9 species: African Grey Parrot, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Corn Snake, Crested Gecko, Dog (Domestic), Ferret, Lovebird, Umbrella Cockatoo.

Is Cobalamin a controlled substance?

Cobalamin is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Cobalamin

US brand names:Cyanocobalamin, Hydroxocobalamin

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Cobalamin is dosed at 25 µg/kg SC q7d × 6 wk, then q14d × 6 wk, then q30d in ferrets, per Hoppes SM. The senior ferret. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2010;13:107-121. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.955. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Supplement

Routes

SCIMPO

Indications

AnaemiaAnemiaAppetite stimulantChronic diarrhoeaCobalamin deficiency (EPI, GI disease)

Mechanism of Action

Essential cofactor for methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Required for DNA synthesis, erythropoiesis, and neurological function.

Side effects & warnings

Commonly deficient in cats with GI disease (IBD, lymphoma, EPI). SC injection q1-4 weeks or daily high-dose oral. Very safe — water-soluble, excess excreted renally. Monitor serum levels.

Evidence levels across 9 dose rules

Weak×5Strong×2Extrapolated×1Moderate×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 9 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 9 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	SC	250–1000 mcg per dog	q7 days x 6 weeks, then monthly	Strong	Ruaux CG. Cobalamin in companion animals: Diagnostic marker, deficiency states and therapeutic implications. Vet J. 2013;196(2):145-152. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.01.025; Steiner J. Cobalamin information. Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; https://web.archive.org/web/2021id_/http://vetmed.tamu.edu/gilab/research/cobalamin-information. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.304, Cobalamin monograph spanning p.304-306.
Cat (Domestic)	SC	250 mcg per cat	once weekly x 6 weeks, then q1-2 months	Strong

Backed by 8 published sourcesShow

· 420. Huckabee JR. Raptor therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:91-116. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.477 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds).
· 63. Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.268 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles).
· 802. Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine; Mosby, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:388-418. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.477 doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds).

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Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.268

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th Ed, Table 5.11 p.477 - Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 0.25-0.5 mg/kg IM q7d, Most species, including psittacines, raptors (refs 420, 767, 802); corroborated by Speer, Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, Appendix 1 Table 11, p.834 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds).

· Ruaux CG. Cobalamin in companion animals: Diagnostic marker, deficiency states and therapeutic implications. Vet J. 2013;196(2):145-152. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.01.025; Steiner J. Cobalamin information. Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; https://web.archive.org/web/2021id_/http://vetmed.tamu.edu/gilab/research/cobalamin-information. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.304, Cobalamin monograph spanning p.304-306.