Some owners have the false belief that a dog won't eat or drink something that isn't good for them when they are outdoors roaming off-leash. But unfortunately, this is a myth. Dogs make the choice of what to eat on what tastes good to them. They have no concept if a substance is harmful or poisonous. However, dogs can expel rotten or toxic substances more quickly from their digestive systems than we can since their vomiting reflex is quicker than ours. The less time a substance stays in the system, the less chance it has to create ill effects.

Anti-Freeze: Alleys, streets and garages are prime locations for small puddles of anti-freeze. Licking anti freeze, even a small amount, can be quite lethal. Just a teaspoon is enough to kill a small dog, so it doesn't take more than a few laps. Dogs really like the sweet taste; they have been known to chew through plastic containers that hold anti-freeze. Take the precaution and store anti-freeze in areas where your dog can't easily get to it. On the street, keep your eye out for it, especially in late fall and winter, and use the "Leave it" command to keep your dog away from it.

Ethylene glycol is the toxic chemical in anti-freeze. If your dog has ingested even a small amount, call your vet immediately. There is an effective drug for anti-freeze poisoning. Before going to your vet, give your dog some bread to absorb the anti-freeze and then induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide. The rule of thumb is one tablespoon per 30 pounds of your dog's body weight. You can administer hydrogen peroxide by pulling up the fold at the side of his mouth and squirting the solution into his mouth with a syringe.

In an extreme emergency, when you can't gt to a vet, you can use the following remedy for anti-freeze poisoning: After inducing vomiting, make your dog a Bloody Mary - a shot of vodka and tomato juice. In fact, any alcoholic drink (gin, vodka) will do the trick. The alcohol ties up the ethylene glycol so it doesn't precipitate into the kidneys. Give your dog one mixed drink per hour until you can get to a vet's office. For smaller dogs, use a half a shot of alcohol. Again, this treatment should only be given when you absolutely can't get to a vet's office. And under no other circumstances, except for anti-freeze poisoning, should dogs be given alcoholic beverages.

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Products such as Advil or Tylenol may work wonders in reducing pain for people, but are quite toxic when ingested by your dog. They will wreak havoc on your dog's digestive tract, so keep them safely out of reach.