To Al Horne and Chris and Scooter concerning Ear yeast -
 
>Chris and Scooter - you reported that Scooter's ears had 'yeast'... could the
>'yeast' have affected an 'inner ear', thereby causing Scooter's nausea and
>vomiting?
 
        No, Al, I don't thinks so.  All ferret ears have a small amount of yeast
in them, as do other animal ears.  It is only when there is some insult to the
ear, such as chronic moisture, an infections, ear mite problems, or even
systemic antibiotic administration, that these yeast overgrow and can take root
in the ear.  Chronic moisture is the most common cause - (so make sure your ear
cleaning materials are alcohol-based, not water based!!)
 
        At any rate, yeast infections remin confined to the outer ear, and
rarely, if ever, pass the middle ear - the eardrum forms an impenetrable barrier
in most cases.  If the eardrum is punctured by a bacterial infection, then there
is a possibility of the yeast moving inward, but that's very uncommon.
 
        Yeast (Malessezia) infections are annoying, irritating, foul-smelling,
and something you don't really want your ferret to have, but they are generally
not terribly serious.  A few weeks of good ear care should clean it right up.
 
 
Bruce Williams
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[Posted in FML issue 0779]