Re: Bad odors from ears:
 
        There are all gradations of "bad odors".  What smells bad to one person
may be okay for another, and may even be normal for a ferret.  Ferrets have
large numbers of scent glands in and around the ears which may produce a heavy
scent.  Also, ferrets with a large buildup of ear wax, from various causes, can
also have a heavy odor to them.  And then there is the occasional bacterial or
yeast infection in the ear, which usually follows a precipitating cause - ear
mites, water in the ears,etc.
 
        Probably the best thing to do is to see your vet and pick up an ear
cleaning solution.  Clean the ears for several days and see if that doesn't help
the problem.  If your ferret has a problem with chronically heavy amounts of
wax, ear mites hould be suspected, and an office call to the vet is in order.
Let the vet decide whether there are mites or a bacterial infection, and how to
treat it.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 0981]