Can Your Sewing Project Send Your Pet to the Vet?

There are some hobbies that you might expect to be potentially dangerous for pets, such as hunting or fishing. However you might be surprised to find out that, according to VPI’s claims data, one of the most dangerous hobbies for pets is in fact—sewing. That’s right, sewing.

While reviewing some of our submissions to the Hambone Nation blog, I began to notice a recurring theme—pets (mostly dogs) that ingested a variety of sewing implements. I then started to look through some of our claims over the past few years and sure enough—ingestions of sewing instruments showed up on a regular basis. It appears that much like razors, some dogs find pincushions and sewing needles to be delicious!

In fact, the latest issue of Veterinary Practice News included a contest for veterinarians to submit X-rays of strange objects ingested by pets. One of the submissions was of a Bichon that ate a large number of straight pins.

Here are some recent pet insurance claims we’ve received and some examples that have been submitted by readers:

• Georgia the Labrador that ate a pincushion, along with the five pins that were stuck in it. The veterinary bill was $1,200.
• A boxer swallowed a sewing needle that became stuck in his tongue and throat.
• Victor Vincent D’argo the mixed breed swallowed a straight pin that was being used to make a puppet for a school project. The result was a $1,500 veterinary bill.
• A German shepherd and Shar-Pei mix named Pepper swallowed a sewing needle with the string attached. The pincushions are now kept away in a cupboard where she can’t find them.
• After X-rays revealed staples and safety pins in its stomach, a husky had more than $3,000 in veterinary surgery bills.
• Georgia, a heeler mix, had to have a two-hour surgery after X-rays revealed a quilting needle that had perforated her stomach and lodged in her ribcage.
• A cat named Annie tried to eat a small quilting needle that ended up getting stuck in the roof of her mouth with the string still attached.
• Other incidents we’ve seen in the past year include an English springer spaniel that ate a sewing needle, and a Labrador and mixed breed dog that both ate pincushions.
• And we can’t forget 2009 Hambone Award® Nominee, Scooter, who ate a sewing need that worked its way through her throat and made direct contact with her brain!

I spoke with Dr. Silene Young, director of professional services here at VPI, who said that if a pet swallows sewing equipment and there is any string or thread visible—do not try and pull it out. The string could be wrapped around the tongue or cause severe damage to the intestines if removed improperly. Dr. Young also recommends if your pet does eat an object such as a pincushion or sewing needle, seek veterinary help immediately rather than trying to let it pass on its own.

And while it is almost impossible to completely rid your home of potential hazards, or predict what your pet will decide to eat, it is a good idea to keep any sharp objects—especially those that can be ingested—safely stored where pets are unable to get to them. This way, your relaxing hobby like sewing or quilting won’t become a stressful trip to the animal hospital.