Sore on my gerbils back.

Question
Yesterday I went to pick up my gerbil, Tank, To play with, and it shocked me to see a large red sore on his back.  it was red and raw, looked wet, (not dripping blood, but looked sort of 'oozy')  It is about the size of a dime which really upsets me.  He is about 3 years old and has never had an injury like this before.  He is also solitary.  I can't seem to find anything in his cage out of the ordinary that he could have injured himself on.  It is right where he scratches with his hind leg and I'm wondering if he managed to make a little thing into a big problem.  I'm thinking it may be a bug bite or something.  I waited, and watched him to see if he would act differently.  He acts as if nothing happened!  He eats, runs in his wheel, drank water, chewed on a toilet paper role, did his 'happy dance' on his hut to get a treat (he stands on his hut on his hind legs and jumps up and down with his front paws on the glass when I or my boyfriend walk past his cage, just waiting for a treat) I decided to leave him alone for a while, but I couldn't stop myself.  I put a small amount of first aid ointment on the sore, to try and prevent infection.  

I think that may have been a mistake.  Tank is a bit on the spazzy side.  My boyfriend said that out of the 4 gerbils I've had this would be the only one that would survive in the wild.  He books it into his hut as fast as he can if something surprises him.  Anyway, he scratched at the ointment, spreading it to his feet, which made the sawdust stick as well.  He flopped around and squeaked and made a mess of himself.  Ointment spread all over his body and sawdust stuck as well.  The gerbil version of tarring and feathering.  Needless to say he slept well that night.  Today he seems better.  The sore is still there, but I think he's recovered from the ointment.  

Is there anything I can do?  I've afraid he'll try and be so clean he'll make it worse

Sorry for such a long message.

Andrea, Nico, and a slightly traumatized Tank

Answer
Hi,

The best you can do is try and ensure that it doesn't become infected, as this will cause problems. What is the ointment you are using? Is it for animals, or is it a human type? If you are using a human type i would try and swap it over to a specific animal product, as this will not be harmful in any way. The best thing to clean the wound each day is hibiscrub, and you can buy this off the internet. It is meant as an antibacterial handwash, but will clear any bacteria off a wound!! Use this once a day, until it has cleared!! Whilst you wait for this just wipe with a warm wet cloth (clean). If it looks like it is becoming infected you must take it to the vets as this can easily kill a Gerbil!!!!

Hope this helps.
Charlie.