ferret lumps

Question
my young adult male ferret had a scab on his ear,it healed up but a few weeks later a pea sized lump has formed. It was filled with a thick hard fibrous pus. It left a flappy hole.I cleaned the area daily and it healed up, but now the lump has returned, can my vet do something to stop it from returning?

Answer
Hello Melissa,

It sounds like that could be a small abscess that is not healing properly.  These form when there is an injury and the skin heals faster than the wound, creating a pocket of infection inside.  

The best way to treat an abscess is by having your veterinarian lance and clean the wound and treat your ferret with oral antibiotics for several weeks. By opening and cleaning the wound, the infection will clear out of the pocket and allow it to heal from the inside out.  Also, the oral antibiotics will help prevent another infection.

-Cindy P.