Veterinarians at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University are advising pet owners to keep face masks out of reach of their dogs after seeing a rise in face mask ingestion cases.

Dogs that swallow masks can experience life-threatening gastrointestinal obstructions.

In one case, a young Labrador Retriever ingested two face masks.  X-rays revealed the metal nose strips, and an emergency surgery was needed to remove the masks that were stuck between the stomach and small intestines.

Veterinarians note that your dog may be attracted to your mask because it smells like you.  They advise pet owners to not leave masks out in accessible places like on coffee tables, and to dispose of used masks properly.

Masks made of cloth and medical grade materials do not dissolve quickly, and ties and ear loops can lead to linear foreign body obstructions, commonly seen in cats that swallow yarn, which can be especially hazardous.

As one emergency and critical care veterinarian says, “Some dog owners may be used to their pet being OK after eating a greasy paper towel or pooping out a sock. However, they need to know that cloth masks and the medical-grade paper masks don’t dissolve that quickly, and the ties or ear loops can lead to a dangerous linear obstruction.”

The vets at Tufts recommend:

• Keep your masks out of your pet’s reach. Keep clean ones stored away and put used one in the trash or laundry.
• Discard used masks properly when out of the home. Vets are concerned that discarded masks on the ground can pose a risk to dogs as well as wildlife.
• Do you make your own masks? Keep sewing supplies out of your pet’s reach too.
• Contact your vet as soon as possible if you suspect that your pet has ingested a face mask or other foreign body. Symptoms include vomiting, decreased appetite or refusal to eat, and depression.

Foreign body obstruction is one of the more common pet health emergencies we see at FACE.