Puppies affected by an inherited defect in cobalamin absorption develop inappetance and lethargy; hyperammonaemia and associate neurological signs<ref>Battersby IA, et al. Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy secondary to selective cobalamin deficiency in a juvenile Border collie. JSAP 2005;46:339-344.</ref>; [[neutropenia]] with hypersegmentation and [[Nutrition Glossary#Megaloblastic Anaemia|megaloblastic anaemia]]<ref>Fyfe JC, et al. Inherited selective intestinal cobalamin malabsorption and cobalamin deficiency on the dog. Pediatr Res 1991;29:24-31.</ref>. Adult dogs with chronic intestinal disease can develop impaired cobalamin absorption either due to the primary intestinal disease or [[Nutrition Glossary#Bacterial Dysbiosis|bacterial dysbiosis]]<ref>Berghoff N, et al. Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid concentrations in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease. AJVR 2013;74:84-89.</ref>. Clinical signs of hypocobalaminaemia in adult dogs are similar to that of the underlying intestinal disorder (e.g., [[diarrhoea]] and weight loss); the presence of hypocobalaminaemia in dogs with chronic enteropathies is a negative prognostic indicator<ref>Allenspach K, et al. Chronic enteropathies in dogs: evaluation of risk factors for negative outcome. JVIM 2007;21:700-708.</ref>.
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Puppies affected by an inherited defect in cobalamin absorption develop inappetance and lethargy; hyperammonaemia and associate neurological signs<ref>Battersby IA, et al. Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy secondary to selective cobalamin deficiency in a juvenile Border collie. JSAP 2005;46:339-344.</ref>; [[neutropenia]] with hypersegmentation and [[Nutrition Glossary#Megaloblastic Anaemia|megaloblastic anaemia]]<ref>Fyfe JC, et al. Inherited selective intestinal cobalamin malabsorption and cobalamin deficiency on the dog. Pediatr Res 1991;29:24-31.</ref>. Adult dogs with chronic intestinal disease can develop impaired cobalamin absorption either due to the primary intestinal disease or [[Nutrition Glossary#Bacterial Dysbiosis|bacterial dysbiosis]]<ref>Berghoff N, et al. Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid concentrations in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease. AJVR 2013;74:84-89.</ref>. Clinical signs of hypocobalaminaemia in adult dogs are similar to that of the underlying intestinal disorder (e.g. [[diarrhoea]] and weight loss); the presence of hypocobalaminaemia in dogs with chronic enteropathies is a negative prognostic indicator<ref>Allenspach K, et al. Chronic enteropathies in dogs: evaluation of risk factors for negative outcome. JVIM 2007;21:700-708.</ref>.
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==Diagnosing Cobalamin Deficiency==
==Diagnosing Cobalamin Deficiency==
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Diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency is based on presence of low fasted serum cobalamin level. If the patient is not fasted prior to testing, falsely increased cobalamin concentrations may be noted. [[Nutrition Glossary#Megaloblastic Anaemia|Megaloblastic anaemia]] and [[neutropenia]] with hypersegmentation may be seen on haematology profile.
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Diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency is based on presence of low fasted serum cobalamin level. If the patient is not fasted prior to testing, falsely increased cobalamin concentrations may be noted. [[Nutrition Glossary#Megaloblastic Anaemia|Megaloblastic anaemia]] and [[neutropenia]] with hypersegmentation may be seen on haematology profile. Diagnosis is also made on clinical signs consistent with deficiency and evaluation of diet.
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Diagnosis is also made on clinical signs consistent with deficiency and evaluation of diet.