From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2001-06-10 01:21:00 UTC
Subject: Re: brewers yeast
>These comments lead me to three issues of concern then.
>1. Why is Brewers Yeast then added to all ferret food and considered an
>essential ingredient if it is harmful?
>2. Why, as a breeder, was I always told I should add extra Brewers Yeast to
>aid in the jills milk production?
>3. Why is Brewers Yeast sold as an standard animal product as a needed
>nutritional supplement and directions even say to double amounts for
>pregnant or lactating animals?
>
>Almost every post I have seen on this list suggests the Brewers Yeast is
>junk, harmful and should not be given.... yet every where else it is
>promoted as a valuable supplement?
>
>Susan
My suspicion is that how much is too much is one of those things
which is still a mystery of the universe. :-) Hey, much of ferret
medicine is. Chances are that ferrets need some chromium, but how
much? Well, the possible blood sugar reducing aspect wasn't known
till recently, so it's a work in progress. Nutrient needs can differ
with all sorts of factors from pregnancy demands, to specific
diseases, to medications taken, to age, etc. It was only recently
that anyone noticed that megadosing Vitamin C can work be bad for
some patients by shielding against some cancer treatments like
radiation therapy. Dietary studies are still delving into many
mysteries, even for humans, so having mysteries for a less studied
species like domestic ferrets is no surprise, and I am sure that many
nutritional surprises will come out in the the coming years for our
family members, four and two footed.