Our Parker Is Gone

[Nyboy]

If you want a pet that will out live you get a large parrot.

 

[seedcorn]

If you want a pet that will out live you get a large parrot.

No thanks....

 

[valley ranch]

Aaahk ~ Parker ~ his light to your eyes ```

 

[pjn]

sorry to hear of your loss.

 

[baymule]

If you want a pet that will out live you get a large parrot.

The short answer to that......Nope.

 

[AMKuska]

So sorry for your loss. Cancer sucks.

 

[catjac1975]

Wednesday, July 11, 2018 we took pigs to slaughter. Then we ran the trailer through the car wash where my husband BJ, washed it out. When we got home, I let Parker out to potty and I started canning chicken. BJ let Parker in several hours later and he laid down, panting as it was hot outside. As I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, my husband called Parker to come get some chicken. He didn't move. BJ called again, then took the piece of meat to Parker. Parker politely took it, then dropped it. BJ called to me, "Something is wrong with Parker." Indeed, Parker never turned down food.

I got on the floor with Parker and did the pinch test on his skin. It stayed pinched up, a sure sign that he was severely dehydrated. We called the vet, who was about to leave on a farm call and would be out all evening. We made an appointment for 8:00 the next morning. We offered fresh cold water to Parker and he lapped at it, not with his usual tanking up like a camel, but lapping just a little. His eyes were dull, he tried to wag his tail, but couldn't lift it.

I mixed a sugar and salt water solution, 4 teaspoons sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. I used a syringe to dribble it in his mouth a little at a time. I got about 10 CC's in him and offered him water again. I did this for awhile and let him rest. We ran down the list of scenarios that it could possibly be. Only last year he swallowed a hickory nut that lodged in his intestines and required surgery to get it out. We figured it might be something along those lines again.

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/we-almost-lost-parker.35174/#post-471165

For the rest of the evening, I gave him the sugar/salt electrolyte solution, followed by all the fresh water I could encourage him to drink. We were terribly worried about him. But we were heartened by his perking up, wagging his tail and he went out to potty at 10:30. His kidneys were working ! Yay! His skin was doing better on the pinch test, so we thought he was doing better.

We were waiting for the vet to open the next morning. He weighed 111 pounds, up 6 pounds from his last visit. He was stress panting, the vet said he was still dehydrated and wanted to keep him all day and that night. They took him for x-rays and blood work. His blood work was all good, he had a fever and the x-rays showed nothing conclusive. The vet said he wanted to do a barium test. We left Parker and they put an IV in him.

That evening the vet called. Parker's fever was higher, he wasn't any better. The vet wanted to do exploratory surgery, he said he couldn't find what was wrong, but there was something going on and he was too worried over Parker to just leave him over night. We agreed. Hours later we received a phone call and the news was grim.

Parker had pancreatic cancer. A huge cancerous growth that was wrapped around his stomach and intestines. Parker's body cavity was full of cancer, his intestines were necrotic and pushed out of place by the cancer. I kept it together so I could make the decision I knew was coming. BJ was already crying. The vet said it wouldn't be fair to close him up, only to let him die in extreme pain in a few days. We agreed and through sobs and tears, told him to put Parker down. We told the vet we would pick Parker up the next day.

We fell apart. We went outside, both of us bawling, and Trip came up trying to comfort us. When we left that morning with Parker, Trip tried to jump in the truck to go too. We had to lift Parker in the floor of the front seat, he was unable to jump in. Trip knew something was wrong. I promised him I would bring his buddy back to him and that everything would be alright. Now, with Trip nose bumping me and BJ, trying to comfort us, we really fell apart. We couldn't bring his friend back to him.

Parker came to us on December 26, 2011. Our beloved old Labrador, Danny had died in our arms the week of Christmas and we were devastated. Our daughter, son in law and grand daughter came for Christmas and the day after, they went to the local animal shelter and adopted Parker for us. My husband was off that day, relaxing in his PJ's. They called me at work, I went home and we surprised BJ. It was love at first sight.

We named him Parker. He was a perfect fit for us. Parker was very smart and wanted to please. He hiked his leg in the house, that first day, I scolded and hustled him outside. He never again did that. Instantly house broken. He wound around our hearts in a short time. He was a big playful puppy, he got along with Polly, our inside Australian Shepherd and he got along with Paris, our back yard GP. Parker was such a joyful dog. He adored our grand daughter and let her do whatever she wanted to him. This picture was taken 2-11-2012

The animal shelter claimed he was a 6 month old Labrador. However, Parker had a very un-Labrador curve to his tail, he kept growing and growing, surpassing the size of any Labrador we had ever seen. We did an internet search of large dog breeds crossed with a Lab. When we looked at pictures of Lab/Great Dane crosses, Parker jumped off the screen, there he was. We looked at picture after picture that looked just like Parker.

He was brilliant smart. A few words, show him what I wanted, and he got it. he made me look like a real dog trainer! After learning voice commands, I taught him hand signals. Our grand daughter adored him, and he adored her right back. I taught him to play hide n' seek. He loved it, he got the game. I'd cover his eyes, she ran and hid while I counted, then I told him to go find and he took off. They played it over and over.

In March of 2012, my 88 year old Mom had a stroke. She had to learn to walk again, but she dug in and did her therapy so she could go home. She wasn't home long before she fell and fractured her pelvis. Back to rehab, then she came to stay with us awhile. Parker was so worried about her, he knew something was wrong and wanted to help. I had to get her up, into her wheelchair, take her to the bathroom, leave the wheelchair at the door and help her to the toilet. It just killed Parker that he couldn't be in the bathroom too! This picture taken 5-31-2012. Look at that worried face! What love in his eyes! Our bathroom doors were only 24" wide. What a dumb way to build a house. Later, Parked figured out how to squeeze his big self under the wheelchair and proudly joined us, licking Mom's knees. THAT didn't make her very happy!

Parker grew to be a big boy. He loved to get in the recliner with BJ, lay his big head on BJ's chest and snore. When he got in my lap and snuggled down for his nap, his back legs hung off.

My Mom wound up moving in with us. At BJ's insistence, I quit my job to care for her. Parker made her laugh. Polly, our Australian Shepherd was self appointed to make Mom pet her and would nudge Mom until she complied. Mom had never been much of a dog person, but she loved Parker and Polly. Parker was quite the clown. Mom, Polly and Parker and now all three gone, but we have pictures and memories of the good times we had.

Parker took naps with our grand daughter. 12-28-2012

He loved baby chicks.

He helped me stake tomatoes. 6-3-2013 What a goofy dog! Such a joy!

BJ came out to help.

Time rocked along and on 9-23-2014, we closed on a doublewide on 8 acres-just 8 miles from our daughter, son in law and grand daughter! Over the next few months, I went back and forth, painting and putting down new floors. A fence had to go up for the horses and a neighbor came to our rescue and got it done. He also fenced a yard for Paris.

One night when I was home, I scrolled through pages of Great Pyrenees on rescue sites. BJ asked why and I told him we would need another GP soon for the new farm. The very next day, a man came in BJ's place of work with a GP puppy for sale. We named him Trip. He and Parker quickly became friends.

So sorry. As bad as losing a human.

 

[canesisters]

Almost worse, sometimes.

 

[flowerbug]

i think for many people the closest experiences/examples they ever have of unconditional love is from a dog. some parents manage it too, but not as easily as a dog.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

My tears are running down my face. I'm so sad for you, your hubs and Parker. What a love he was - YES! I can see it in his eyes. You wrote a wonderful love filled tribute to him and the pictures sealed the love that he had for you. Strong hugs and gentle pat pat pat on your back from me to you.