How To Prevent Thiamine Deficiency In Cats

Tags: Cat HealthUpdated on Jul 09, 2022

Recently, thiamine has been in the news because of a recent study that shows that more than half of cats have a diet that is insufficient for preventing thiamine deficiency. The article will provide information on how to prevent this deficiency and provide guidance on what you should be feeding your cat.

What is Thiamine?

Thiamine is a B vitamin that is necessary to many of the cat's bodily functions. It helps with energy and muscle movement, as well as neurological function. Thiamine is water soluble and the body generally has a large enough store to last for months, so deficiencies don't occur quickly.

Symptoms of Thiamine Deficiency in Cats

1. Muscle Weakness

Muscle weakness is the most obvious symptom of thiamine deficiency and stiffness may be seen. The cat may also seem lethargic and depressed. This cat would likely have a poor appetite as well.

2. Neurological Impairment

Cats with thiamine deficiency will have trouble walking or moving around, especially on their hind legs. This can be caused by damage to the nerves in the limbs, but it can also cause muscle damage because of the muscle's inability to properly signal for movement in the limbs.

3. Numbness

Thiamine deficiency can result in numbness in the limbs, especially on the back legs. This is probably due to damage to the nerves that control movement of the back legs and muscles.

4. Weight Loss

A significant weight loss may occur if thiamine deficiency is severe enough to cause the muscles to be damaged. As the muscles become damaged, it becomes more difficult for them to function properly and provide energy for working digestive systems, etc.

5. Depression

A cat with thiamine deficiency may become depressed because it is not able to properly function. Some signs of depression may include not wanting to play or get up off the couch, even when the cat is hungry. [this is a problem only if one feeds table food, since they can't digest it! dry food is actually digestible and harmless to cats.]

6. Thiamine Deficiency Worsens Neurological Impairment

Thiamine deficiency can also worsen neurological issues such as epilepsy, blindness or deafness. [the opposite is also true: these conditions can actually make a thiamine deficiency worse.]

7. Death Can Occur

Severe thiamine deficiency can result in death if treatment is not given quickly -- symptoms can occur within 2 weeks of not having enough thiamine. [this is probably pretty rare since it would take a lot of time to starve your cat, esp if they are eating something they could get thiamine from; dry food has very little bioavailable thiamine, but raw food has plenty.

How to prevent thiamine deficiency in cats:

1. Feed the Right Diet

While some thiamine deficiency occurs on wet cat foods, it is most commonly found in dry foods. Wet cat food contains more thiamine, but also contains more phosphorus. Too much phosphorus can lead to hyperthyroidism and therefore, you should try to feed dry food instead. You should be feeding either a homemade diet or a grain-free diet in order to prevent thiamine deficiency.

2. Feed Enough

The most common cause of thiamine deficiency is not enough food. While it is probably impossible to always feed a cat just the right amount, you should strive to be aware of what your cat eats and keep them on a diet that will prevent disease and maintain their health.

3. Supplement with Thiamine

The best way to supplement with thiamine is through a high-quality biotin supplement. These are available over-the-counter in pill form and usually come in doses of .8mg each. It is recommended that you give your cat .8mg of biotin per pound of body weight daily. Keep in mind that you must also feed your cat the right diet, since this supplement is not going to fix a diet that does not contain enough thiamine.

4. Avoid Boiled Fish

If you are feeding your cat fish, make sure it is not boiled. Thiamine is an unstable compound and cooking it can destroy thiamine. You should cook or boil fish separately from your cat's food so that the thiamine does not get destroyed by the heat.

Summary

While thiamine deficiency in cats is rare, it does occur often enough to be a concern for those who do not follow a specific diet for their cats. Cats who are fed table scraps or who eat a variety of foods, such as canned cat food and dry food, are at risk of a thiamine deficiency.

References

[1] ^ PetMD: Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency in Cats