Folic acid supplementation

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Alice Courtney — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:20:09 GMT

My DGM notes say Lexpec 0.5-2.5mg/d, or 0.1ml/cat/day, up to 0.5ml/cat/d for hyperthyroid cats.

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:50:44 GMT

I feel a case of Wittgenstein's Poker coming on to see who else was in the room on that fateful day (I see you're in Aberdeen, so am assuming I was at same NoS BVA CPD evening in Inverurie I think it was?)

A brief google search (which I'm sure you already tried) hasn't helped much, but in case of any use:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/190218.htm

"Folic acid (dogs: 5 mg, PO, sid; cats: 2.5 mg, PO, sid) is available in both oral and parenteral formulations. Significant toxicity is not associated with therapy. Indications for therapy include inadequate intake due to administration of selected drugs (eg, methotrexate, potentiated sulfa drugs, some anticonvulsants [eg, primidone and phenytoin]), liver disease, malabsorption, or other chronic debilitating diseases."

Now, assuming 2.5mg/5ml Lexpec, sounds like the 1ml per cat per day would sound more sensible (or at least more in line with magnitude of dose in Merck's recommendations).

Going back a further 50 years, and:

Title: The domestic cat as a laboratory animal for experimental nutrition studies. 4. Folic acid deficiency.
Authors: CARVALHO DA SILVA, A.; DE ANGELIS, R. C.; PONTES, M. A.; MANSUR GUERIOS, M. F.
Author Affiliation: Dept. Physiol., Fac. Med., Univ. Sao Paulo.
Journal: Journal of Nutrition 1955 Vol. 56 pp. 199-213
ISSN: 0022-3166
Record Number: 19561400425

Abstract

For previous parts see Absts. 831, Vol. 21; 1951, Vol. 22. Folic acid deficiency was produced in cats receiving a purified diet of casein, sucrose, lard, groundnut oil and salt mixture, with vitamins and sulphaguanidine or sulphathalidine. Loss of weight, macrocytic anaemia and leucopenia were the signs of deprivation. The results were more uniform in cats which did not have sulphonamide during a preliminary period, and the blood changes appeared to develop more rapidly when sulphonamides were then added to the diet. The average time for appearance of signs was 172 days in cats which had had sulphonamides from the beginning of the experiment, and 85 days after institution of sulphonamides in those which had previously received the diet without folic acid for several months. Blood clotting time was increased and plasma Fe values were low. For full recovery of the normal blood picture a single dose of 2 mg. folic acid was enough. The response was better if vitamin B₁₂or liver extract was given with the folic acid. Bodyweight increased with a single dose of 1 mg. folic acid or 0.8 mg. folinic acid, but the red and white cell counts were not normal. A. M. Copping.

which would suggest you don't need to give very much at all (at least if artificially induce deficiency)?

I gather that while it's a B-vitamin, it might not be elimenated quite as well as other water-soluble B-vitamins, so while obviously will have high therapeutic index, would be good to figure out what DGM's recommendation (presumably based on costly repeat testing of clinical cases) is - perhaps an email?

Have sent a few clients to chemist over the years for a bottle, and always went for the 0.1ml/cat/day, but no guarantee that I'd got that right first time round??

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Cat Henstridge — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:12:31 GMT

I was treating a dog with IBD last year and he had Lexpec at a dose of one teaspoon a day on his food, he was a Border Terrier.

Cat

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Mark Holmes — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:05:32 GMT

[quote user="David Beattie"]

Vaguely remember DGM saying 0.1ml per cat per day and form was Lexpec I think (the one with just folic acid in it - I'm assuming just one strength available, if not then commonly used one costing about £15 a bottle I think).

Disclaimer: this is purely from memory of a CPD evening a few yrs ago...

[/quote]

Yes thats the thing I have notes from that saying 1ml/c/d and other notes saying 0.1ml /c/d 10 fold difference. Cannot find anything for clarity.

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:02:06 GMT

Disclaimer: this is purely from memory of a CPD evening a few yrs ago...

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Mark Holmes — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:54:46 GMT

Danielle Gunn Moore advocates its use is elderly cats particularly those with hypert4. I can never find the damn dose.

Re: Folic acid supplementation

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:51:56 GMT

Are you expecting?

Do we even recognise it as a deficiency in animals? Folic acid tablets are listed on Dunlops 28 X 5mg.