One thing in favor of the antibiotic ointment is that maybe the others will
leave her alone because of a chemical smell...
I tend to feel, though, that if it isn't infected, just keep it clean. IMHO
we (healthcare people and lay people both) do way too much "treating" and
"preventing" infection with antibiotics (well, it's not just MHO, it's
well-documented). Believe it or not, unless there is some reason to think a
human or gerbil body is compromised somehow (like being sick or
deconditioned or pregnant) *that body can fight off infection on its own*.
Saline is similar to the body fluids, unlike peroxide, and therefore helps
the body do its job (it can't fight the infection with its own defenses well
if the tissues dry out or become damaged from caustic chemicals.) We would
have far fewer iatrogenic (meaning "caused BY the treatment")
diseases/injuries if we would just support the body as it does its thing
only stepping in as the body no longer can defend itself. I'll step down
from my public health soapbox now...
Oh! Now I *would* use peroxide (half-strength) if there were dried
secretions on a wound. Nothing breaks through gunk like peroxide...Just
flush with saline afterward.
