Dear Annonymous, A very safe , gentle and protective ointment to use is Calendula Gel. It is now available in MANY places. Health food stores, drug stores, even the organics section of supermarkets. I have been using this on ferrets since 1998 in the pre melatonin days when bald ferrets arrived with hot spots, cracked & bleeding skin etc., It is miraculous in the way it heals quickly. It protects the skin, yet allows air to heal. I also recently purchased this for my own mother who suffered skin burns form urin etc in the nursing home. It si a small blessing in a tube IMO. The best thing is it is NOT harmful if ingested- in fact one use of clandula is for upset stomach. I hope this helps a LOT of ferrets. Alicia Drakiotes www.ferretwise.org [Posted in FML issue 5235]