Dr. Karen Halligan has seen various cases involving household items that present risks to pets. According to Halligan, director of veterinary services for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, hundreds of pets undergo surgery each year in order to remove ingested objects from their stomach.

“It’s very common in private practice and in large institutions to be removing non-food items out of dogs and cats,” she said.

While ingested fabric items won’t show up on X-rays, a dog or a cat that has consumed a piece of clothing is likely to develop various symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite and vomiting. If this condition is left untreated, the problem may become fatal due to bacteria or dehydration.

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