In a discussion of nutrients I asked Dr. Tom Willard a question to which
I have not been able to get an answer:
 
>I wonder if thickened gelatin like in Cheweasels would be a good
>replacement for some fat and starch content since it also binds
>things well or is it is just too low calorically?
 
Here is what Dr. Willard taught me:
 
NO!  NO!  Gelatin is an unbalanced protein.  It is totally lacking in an
essential AA and because of this will adversely affect the metabolism of
the total diet.
 
Nutritional health and well being depends on the diet (those total
nutrients taken in and digested in a 24 hour period) as a whole.  This is
why I advise against supplements.  Supplement only adds a few nutrients
and not a balance of any.  For example, if calcium is added because
someone has been told that growing ferrets need extra calcium, then it
can imbalance the phosphorous, the potassium and the sodium.  These
will then affect certain vitamins, which will cause a problem with
the absorption of certain AA.  This is where most veterinarians get
themselves in trouble because they don't look at the overall picture of
the nutrient intake but rather treat supplementing like a medicine by
giving a supplement for a specific problem.  Another example is, if
calcium is given to rapidly growing animals that may be receiving a
balanced diet for all the essential nutrients, can cause the development
of rickets because adding the calcium imbalances the other essential
nutrients in bone development.
 
I go back to my original statement: feeding a well balanced, complete
diet specifically designed and tested for the species intended, is the
best way to manage any disease because it provides the nutrients needed
by the body to heal itself and rebuild tissue and the immune system.
 
Hope this helps.
Tom Willard
 
 ---
So, in three paragraphs he answered not only that question but also
some questions that have recently arisen in relation to calcium and
to rickets.
[Posted in FML issue 4154]