Eye Problem

[cworrall]

I just got home from work, and my 5 month male panther is not opening his right eye. There is no obvious abrasion, and no drainage. He keeps flexing his extraocular muscles as if to rub his cornea against the inside of his eyelid. I assume this is a some kind of corneal abrasion or conjunctivitis. My questions are:
1.) Do I need to find a 24-hour clinic and bring him in?
2.) Is there anything I can do right now to help? (Such as drip sterile saline on it?)
3.) Would it be better to bring him to a generalist tonight or a herp specialist in the morning? (I'm assuming I might not be able to find one at this time of night, but I'll keep looking of course.)

Thank you so much! I'll add all the cage/diet info if anyone would find that helpful; he has been otherwise healthy so I thought maybe this question could be answered without that info.

Christine

 

[jojackson]

Possibly some dust, dirt or other debris in it, the saline may help to flush it. How long has this been going on? It may not be an emergency, as they do this to clean the eye, though normally breifly (but more often if shedding, possibly to loosen skin there).
If its otherwise ok, you can wait till morning.

Please do fill out the questions fully anyway, more info always helps.