Ferrett abrasion/ear bitten or scratched?

Question
Our Ferret (Mischief) as an abrasion on the edge of her outer ear lobe - She either scratched it or her larger brother (Orson) nibbled on it - They do play rough sometime.  I have cleaned the wound with soap and H2O - Can you apply antibiotic ointment or what else can we do to help this heal?  Thank you for your help

Answer
Hello Susan,

Sorry for my belated reply, I was buried in a bunch of back to back exams.

Poor Mischief.. I guess she lives up to her name!  The best thing to do is keep the ear clean as it heals.   If it gets dirty, use mild soap and warm water to clean the area (it's an abrasion, not an open wound, right?).  I wouldn't put any antibiotics on it since her brother might ingest it by licking her ear.  Also, it is not a good idea to use any medication without the ok of your vet.  Some animals can have serious reactions to common medications that you would not expect. For example, in the clinic I have seen problems with triple antibiotic ointment in cats.  

Also, you might want to consider separating your male if he keeps irritating her ear.  Grooming the area would inhibit the healing process or make the abrasion worse.  

In the meantime, keep an eye on the abrasion.  If it looks infected, swollen, or very red it might need attention by your vet and a course of oral or topical antibiotics.  

If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask!

-Cindy P.