5. Although many people on the East Coast or outside the United States will have never heard of Foxtails, for those living in the South Western United States they can be a very serious danger. Foxtails are a grassy weed that grows west of the Mississippi and whose seedpods resemble foxtails. Tiny barbs along the edge of the foxtails mean they easily get caught in the fur and will only travel in one direction. Foxtails commonly get stuck in the nose, ears, eyes, paws and even the urethra. They work their way into the skin with alarming speed and a foxtail that enters through a paw can travel all the way to the animal's internal organs causing serious repercussions. If you live in an area with foxtails, you should check your pet over whenever they have been playing in grassy area.

4. Don't let your dog drink from puddles on the street or the ground. Not only could your dog ingest spoiled food or germs, it could swallow a small amount of some far more dangerous compound like antifreeze. It only takes one teaspoon of antifreeze to kill your pet. Whenever you add antifreeze to your vehicle you should take great care in hosing off the surrounding area.

3. Never leave your dog unattended in a car. The temperature rises very quickly even if the windows are left ajar. The temperature can rise over 30 degrees in as many minutes creating an extremely dangerous situation for your animal. If your dog is suffering from heat exhaustion you should immerse him in cold water immediately to lower his body temperature and call your vet.

2. Many common plants are very poisonous to your dog including, but by no means limited to: amaryllis, azaleas, birds of paradise, cyclamen, gladiolas, irises, kalanchoe, lilies, morning glories, narcissus, oleander, onions, philodendron and tulips. Check the website for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal which has an Animal Poison Control Center section with a good list of toxic plants. Know which plants pose a danger to your dog and eliminate them from your house and garden, especially if your dog has shown an interest in eating plants.

1. Take care in what you feed your dog as well as how much and when. Many people have heard chocolate is toxic to dogs but far less are aware that raw fish, caffeine and apple seeds are toxic as well. But the most serious danger facing your pet of which many dog lovers are blissfully unaware of is bloat. Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, involves the stomach filling with gas and twisting around, putting extreme pressure on all the other internal organs. This is such a tragic way to lose your dog as the animal will be in perfect health one moment and in a critical life-threatening situation the next.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about bloat and every dog owner should take some time to research the affliction on the internet, but in general the scenario involves a large, deep-chested dog and some combination of vigorous exercise or excitement, eating too fast, gulping air and drinking too much water. Even with treatment as many as a third of the dogs who suffer bloat will die, and those that survive face serious complications. Again, there are a lot of theories on what causes and how to prevent bloat but it is generally agreed that feeding your dog several smaller meals a day and limiting its water intake will reduce the risk. Some warning signs are excessive drooling, extraordinary restlessness, unsuccessful attempts to vomit or defecate and indications of abdominal pain. Bloat is one of the most dire medical emergencies your dog may face in its life and if you observe these warning signs you should contact your veterinarian immediately.