Malasezia yeasts are commonly found in the hair coat of dogs- often with no symptoms of disease at all. In some instances if other allergic or bacterial skin diseases occur, malasezia can become an opportunistic invader. Malasezia can also be frequently found in ear infections. Dogs with this problem typically have itchy, smelly, waxy ears. Diagnosis is confirmed by taking a swab from the discharge, stained and examined under the microscope.

Treatment involves drops in the ears and weekly baths- this treatment is usually very successful.

Under the microscope the yeasts look like this:

ear infected with malasezia