Megan
 
Irregardless of what you've been told... whether it's by a vet or not...
 
BREWER'S YEAST AND PREDNISONE COUNTERACT EACH OTHER!
 
Brewer's yeast should NOT be given to ferrets suspected of insulinoma.
 
Brewer's yeast contains CHROMIUM which LOWERS blood glucose level.
 
Nor does Brewer's yeast (or yogurt or acidophilus) provide 'beneficial'
bacteria for ferret digestion... a ferret doesn't have that part of the
intestinal anatomy that makes that possible.
 
From the Ferret Adrenal and Insulinoma Mailing List:
Posted to FAIML July 27, 2000
 
>More on Chromium
>From:  [log in to unmask]
 
It sounds like there is still some confusion about chromium, how it works,
and what "helps to regulate blood glucose levels " actually means.
 
Chromium is an essential trace element.  Chromium supplementation is often
recommended for people and pets (dogs and cats) with diabetes.  Diabetics
are basically the opposite of insulinoma ferrets because diabetics have a
high blood glucose (sugar) level.  Chromium helps to lower their high blood
glucose levels.  This is where the phrase "helps to regulate blood glucose
levels" comes from.  Chromium also has insulin like action that helps to
increase muscle mass and decrease body fat and weight.  This is also a good
thing for diabetics, and the reason chromium is often used as a weight loss
agent.  On the other hand, the goal of medical therapy for an insulinoma
ferret is to raise the blood glucose level.  Clearly it does not make sense
to give chromium that will lower an already low blood glucose level, nor
does it make sense to give chromium that has insulin like properties when
there is already too much insulin being produced by the insulinoma.  ...
Remember chromium does not raise blood glucose levels.  It lowers the
blood glucose levels, so I would not give it to an insulinoma ferret.
 
Jerry Murray, DVM
 
You can also look it up for yourself... just do a web search on the words
Brewer's Yeast.
 
Vets CAN make mistakes!  (Doesn't mean they're bad vets... just human.
Your vet needs to know that pred & Brewer's Yeast are not compatible.)
 
Debi Christy
[Posted in FML issue 3469]