Our big goofy lab and two long hair cats sleep on every quilt in the house. They hold up just fine. The way I see it, the quilts are made to be used and loved, washing frequently just helps to age them, and if they wear out, then I am justified in making more.
I agree that keeping the pet nails trimmed is helpful. And we brush/bathe/groom our pets frequently to minimize the need to wash the bedding constantly.
RST