Unwell Hamster

Question
My hamster is suddenly unwell seeming.  She has been sleeping a bit more than normal lately, but has seemed fine but today she is shaking and jerking.  She isn't really interested in food or water.  Her eyes are closed and she isn't opening them.  She has climbed her tube, and she has run in her wheel a bit and has been walking around fairly normally, except for the shaking and keeping her eyes shut.  Right now she is sort of half laying in her wheel, half out and just sort of panting.  Definitely not normal behaviour for her.  She was a rescue hamster and a full grown adult when we got her about 27 months ago.  I've called the vets and no one has an appointment for today or tomorrow for a small animal.  I could take her to the emergency clinic on the other side of the city, but its expensive and I'm afraid of transporting her because she seems so fragile.  Any thoughts?

Answer
Hi Mandy,

    Given the age of your hamster and the way she is acting, It seems to me that she is getting close to passing, so sorry. This process can last hours or days. You could try giving her water by hand with an eye dropper and foods like apple, carrots or bananas.
    If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thank you for writing.