Pet food safety advocate and author Susan Thixton's truthaboutpetfood.com has published her official list of pet foods for 2019 that she says are safe enough to feed her own pets and, by extension, anyone else's. The pet foods on the list were chosen after detailed information about the foods was provided and the quality of ingredients was verified. (In the interest of full disclosure, I am a contributor to the website.)

The list features 19 dog foods and 12 cat foods and includes cooked-style and raw-style foods, as well as dehydrated or freeze-dried foods. There is also a brand of kibble. Most of the foods on the list are sold in the United States, while two are sold in Canada.

Because the website is funded by consumers, the complete list is only available by purchase. Go to truthaboutpetfood.com for more details.

DEAR DR.FOX: I am reaching out to you in the hopes of finding some answers about my dogs' recent illnesses and subsequent deaths.

One day this past September, our healthy dachshund/pug mix, Jaxsin, became suddenly ill. After two weeks of tests, hospitalizations, etc., he was diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). We made the decision to euthanize him after we saw he was not improving, and he appeared to be suffering.

Then recently, our very happy, healthy dachshund mix, Stella, began vomiting what appeared to be bile and having bloody stools. This started in the evening, but she seemed fine otherwise. The following morning, she got sick again, so we made an appointment with the vet later that day.

Prior to her appointment, I was sitting next to her and noticed she was very cold to the touch and barely responsive. We ended up rushing her to the vet. They took her blood, which was like molasses, and put her on IV fluids. She later had a seizure and her heart stopped.

Her blood work indicated that her liver was in bad shape. The vet said she had hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), but that there may have been something underlying going on with her liver. She died so quickly, we didn't have time to further assess what was going on with her.

After determining that our dog didn't get into any poisons or chemicals, we asked the vet if Stella's HGE could be connected to the immune-mediated hemolytic anemia that our first dog, Jaxsin, died from, and she said no. We should add that Stella did have a smoked bone from the farmers market; the X-ray showed pieces of bone in her belly. Still, the vet said that was not the cause of her failed liver and possibly not the cause of the HGE.

The diagnosis of HGE was given because she had a bloody gut, but the liver failure is a concern. Is there something we are missing?

To lose two dogs so close together -- both of them were fine one minute and dead the next. We are just searching for answers and really want to protect our other dogs. The veterinarians don't know the reasons either of these diseases happened. We would appreciate any insights from you. -- T.S., Alton, Illinois

DEAR T.S.: My condolences over the tragic loss of your two dogs, which must have been devastating for you.

In my opinion, the immune-mediated hemolytic anemia could well have been triggered by an adverse vaccine reaction. Was there recent revaccination, and if so, what was it for?

Your other dog may well have been poisoned by the smoked bone. It could have been contaminated by bacteria that released toxins damaging the liver and gut, which tried to block the toxins from entering her system but failed. A very sad situation for which you are not to blame.

I advise against purchasing all smoked and dried animal bones and other body parts like pig ears and feet because of this kind of risk.

T.S. REPLIES: Thank you for your quick response, as well as your condolences. He hadn't been recently revaccinated prior to his death, but he did get flea and tick medicine called Sentinel.

DEAR T.S.: The Sentinel could have been the trigger for the acute anemia. Veterinarian Dr. Wendy Brooks writes:

"Depending on which study you read, 60 to 75 percent of IMHA cases do not have apparent causes. In some cases, though, there is an underlying problem: something that triggered the reaction. A drug can induce a reaction that stimulates the immune system and ultimately mimics some sort of red blood cell membrane protein. Not only will the immune system seek the drug, but it will seek proteins that closely resemble the drug and innocent red blood cells will be consequently destroyed. Drugs are not the only such stimuli; cancers can stimulate exactly the same reaction (especially hemangiosarcoma)." (Taken from: veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951868.)

So your veterinarian should report this possible adverse drug reaction to the FDA and the manufacturer.

WANT A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP? LET THE DOG ON THE BED, STUDY SAYS

Women who allow a dog to sleep on their bed are more likely to sleep soundly than women who allow a cat on the bed or sleep with a human partner, researchers say.

A recent study concluded that "dogs have an innate ability to comfort us and help us sleep soundly without disturbing us."

(New Orleans' WGNO-TV, Nov. 27.)

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: My cat, Sophia, had diabetes and yet she still lived to be 18 years old. I fed her dry food, and when I changed to wet, I did not give her any injections anymore because her blood sugar was normal.

I was shocked to find out how little my vets know about the treatment. I learned all of it online. We took blood from her ear and gave her insulin accordingly. One vet suggested "just give her the shots" and not test her. However, I have read enough about low blood sugar; in fact, my niece died at age 30 because of it.

There are many people online who helped us. Please tell us what you think and how people should treat the cats with this disease. -- E.L., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR E.L.: Diabetes mellitus is so common in cats today, and I place most of the blame on the high cereal content of manufactured cat foods, especially dry kibble. The inertia of veterinary organizations to address this issue is lamentable.

Beware of "grain-free" cat (and dog) foods that substitute pea flour and other pulses, as well as soy, beet and peanut husk fiber, as binders and fillers. These may cause other health problems in both cats and dogs.

As you and many other cat owners have discovered, diabetes, when caught in time, can be reversed by providing a proper diet. (For more details, visit feline-nutrition.org.) The diabetogenic diet of high carbohydrates, especially those with a high glycemic index, puts tremendous stress on the pancreas to keep producing insulin.

The addictive qualities of dry cat kibble have been carefully researched and developed. Some cats' gut bacteria flourish on the starches and sugars, creating dysbiosis. Constipation, megacolon and inflammatory bowel disease are all-too-common feline maladies arising from such biologically inappropriate diets. In addition, cystitis and associated house-soiling and urinary tract crystals/uroliths are tied to the alkalinity and lack of moisture in the kibble, a problem compounded by the fact that many cats do not drink sufficient water.

My cat food recipe has helped countless cats, along with a sardine-a-day to keep the vet away. Most cats are not allergic to fish, and a canned sardine in water a day can give new life to old cats. For those who are unfamiliar, the bones in these fish are removed and the delicate scales are edible. (For more information, go to drfoxvet.net.)

Some cats with diabetes can be helped off daily insulin by such dietary changes and supplements, but initially avoid high-fat-content cat foods because the already-stressed pancreas could develop acute pancreatitis. Mixing a pinch of cinnamon into each meal may also help, since this spice has helped people reduce their daily insulin dose.

DOG CREDITED WITH DETECTING OWNER'S RECURRENT CANCER

A three-time cancer survivor says she owes her life to her Siberian husky, which seems to have detected her initial case of stage 3 ovarian cancer as well as two subsequent metastases. The dog became anxious and hid after sniffing areas where the tumors had grown, undetected. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online, Nov. 30.)

In prior columns, I have written about dogs that change their behavior and seem more anxious and attentive toward their human companions even prior to medical diagnosis of certain cancers.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxVet.net.)

I have been a longtime advocate of using nutraceutical dietary supplements and natural herbs, such as cannabis, in veterinary practices, and have called for more research and evidence-based clinical studies in this area.

Cannabis helps animals in many ways, such as with chronic pain, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety and depression -- as it does with humans with similar conditions. The tried-and-true complex of phyto-pharmaceuticals in cannabis can provide relief from other maladies, including epilepsy and early dementia. Government opposition on behalf of the multinational synthetic drug industry -- with its patented monopolies and, especially in the U.S., price-gouging and putting profits before ethics -- is criminal. Fortunately, many natural phyto-pharmaceuticals, such as cumin, turmeric, ginger and aloe vera, are immune from such control because they are available in grocery stores.

In my opinion, if medical cannabis were available and consumption legalized, we would not have our current synthetic opioid epidemic, and would also see less crime. Visit greenmedinfo.com for more insights, specifically the article by Dr. Jeffrey Dach entitled “Medical Marijuana and Cannabis Research Suppressed.”

“Although cannabis was a medicinal plant for thousands of years, its medical use was suppressed and banned throughout most of the 20th century,” writes Dach. “Banned in England, Canada and the U.S. in the 1930s, medical cannabis represents the first casualty in a war against natural medicine waged by the pharmaceutical industry.”

It should be a misdemeanor for anyone to give cannabis to their animal companions without veterinary sanction, especially in the states where recreational use is now legalized.

DEAR DR. FOX: Pursuant to your advice to an older couple to seek out an older dog for adoption, we searched many shelters for an older dog that met our desires, but were not successful.

With the guidance of the local SPCA counselor, my wife and I adopted a 32-pound, 1½-year-old terrier mix (possibly with a little pit bull) from a highly reputable local ASPCA four weeks ago. He developed a “kennel cough” a few days after we adopted him. After several vet visits, he seems to be fine now, healthwise. With the cough, we kept him isolated from other people and dogs, with a few exceptions. A neighbor and a friend came into the house at different times, and he was as affectionate and playful with them as with us.

We finally took him to the park last week and he seemed very comfortable with passersby, both adults and children. However, he became extremely excited when seeing other dogs. He pulled very hard on the leash while strenuously barking at any and all dogs. He actually barks when he hears barking, even on the TV.

Last night, we brought him to an ASPCA training session, but he would only bark and strain the leash around the other dogs. One of the trainers started to work with him, but could not distract him effectively during this first session. This is a challenge, since we want to take him for long walks at the park and beach. We’ve never had this experience before. Any suggestions? -- S.C., Ocean Township, New Jersey

DEAR S.C.: You adopted an adolescent, who is just maturing enough to start defending/declaring his territory by barking, but also desperately wanting to play with other dogs.

Barking at dogs and other animals he sees on TV is part of this behavior that you can reward with a pat on the head, reassuring him that it’s OK. Then tell him, “sit, quiet” and give him a treat when he complies. Alternatively, give him a squeaky toy to chase after you throw it. Redirecting is another form of behavior modification.

His barking when he sees other dogs while on the leash, I interpret as excitement. If you pull on the leash and discipline him, he may overexcite and misinterpret your behavior as inciting him to be aggressive, or he may develop a negative association to seeing other dogs when on the leash.

I think it essential at this time that he gets into a playgroup: off-leash, with other friendly dogs, and of course closely supervised. Many dogs on the leash feel restrained and therefore vulnerable, so time off-leash with another friendly dog or two is what this young dog needs. He needs to be a dog and engage in play-fighting, chasing and other interactive games, such socialization being critical for his well-being.

It may be wise to keep the leash attached to his collar initially, since you may need to pull him away if things get too rough before he learns the art of playing with other dogs.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxVet.net.)