I just read Kat Parsons post regarding the devastation ear mites can cause
and I am here to tell you of my experiences with them.  At my peak ferret
ownership, I had 16 ferrets.  One day I noticed a few of them profusely
scratching their ears.  I did not think too terribly much about it until 5
days later when they were all scratching their ears at various intervals.
I had my Tigger actually wake up from a dead sleep and scratch at his ears
wildly.  I took 3 of them to the vets and ear mites were diagnosed.  It
was a real job cleaning out 16 ferrets ears and then medicating them.  I
washed the bedding, treated their ears and did everything the vet told me
to do.  It seemed to help.  About a month later the same thing happened.
This time my Bear was walking with his head tilted sideways and falling
over.  When I got him to the vet he had not only ear mites but they were
so bad in him that he ended up with an ear infection which nearly killed
him as he is not a young fert anymore.  I am here to say that I FINALLY
obliterated the little suckers once and for all but once ear mites take
hold it is truly a pain in the butt to get rid of them and they can cause
everything from ear infections to the ear drum bursting which can lead to
death but most often deafness.  Always check to make sure any new addition
to your business of ferrets is mite free before incorporating them.  These
little varmints spread like wildfire and are hard as hell to get rid of
and if you own as many ferrets as I do it is loads of fun dealing with ear
after ear.  Just remember that the bedding has to be cleaned also as well
as the cage and actually the entire room if you are as thorough as I am.
Mites are a social disease that can be potentially deadly if left alone.
 
Diane
[Posted in FML issue 3707]