Basic Sciences Bldg. 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. By Kimberly Meenen Information Specialist University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Old. It doesn't matter. No cat or dog is immune to yeast ear infections.
Ear infections can cause a host of problems including pain and, if severe, hearing damage.
These infections are more common in dogs than cats. Some veterinarians believe droopy-eared dogs or dogs that swim frequently are more prone to yeast infections because moisture gets trapped inside the ear. According to veterinarians at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana, the yeast organism is a normal inhabitant of the ear in low numbers. An infection occurs when a pet's ear is traumatized due to excessive scratching or excessive moisture or wax buildup. Such conditions cause the yeast to grow in large numbers.