Glass Pet Door's Blog

How to Tell If Your Pet Has Allergies

Post by: Kenzie on Jun 25th 2019

Back

How to Tell If Your Pet Has Allergies

If you’ve ever suffered from seasonal allergies, you know how miserable it is to not be able to enjoy warmer weather with itchy eyes and a runny nose. But you may not be the only one in your home to be suffering from a hypersensitive immune system. Pets can experience seasonal allergies just like us, with numerous different side effects. Here are some signs that your pet has seasonal allergies, brought to you by our pet door installation experts .

Biting and Scratching

The most common symptom of seasonal allergies in dogs–and while less so in cats, still possible–is extreme itchiness (anywhere on the body, but especially around furrowed areas such as behind their ears or between their toes). Your pet will begin scratching or biting themselves incessantly, possibly resorting to rubbing their bodies against surfaces such as your furniture or carpet to find any sort of relief from the itch. You’ll also likely notice the reaction becomes more extreme after they’ve been outside. Though the most desirable course of action is to take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible, a bath can be a temporary remedy. If the allergy is being caused by something outdoors, the water and a gentle shampoo will wash off lingering allergens such as flower pollen, grass pollen, or tree pollen.

Compulsive Licking

Paw licking is a normal part of a cat’s grooming practice, but if your pup is constantly licking their paws (or their facial and belly region) this could be a cause for concern. This response has to do with histamines. Though it’s a chemical produced naturally by a pet’s–and a human’s–body, the immune system also releases histamine chemicals during an allergic reaction, which is what causes the itching and redness. When dogs experience allergies they push the histamines out toward their extremities. You’ll often find them compulsively licking themselves in addition to scratching, biting, and rubbing.

Inflamed/Infected Skin

As a result of both allergies and continual aggravation to their skin through scratching and the like, pets frequently develop inflammation and secondary skin infections with their seasonal allergies. They may also have patches of irritated skin where they’ve come into direct contact with an allergen. Whichever way it comes about, these spots of inflamed skin–often called “hot spots”–become increasingly raw and infection prone if untreated. They can even develop into open wounds the longer your pet is left to scratch unhindered. And though this is most common in dogs, it also occurs with cats; and if it does, it can get intense quickly. They’ll end up scratching themselves so severely that skin lacerations will start to pop up across their body. It’s a painful progression, but sadly it’s the only way they can ease the pain at all on their own. If you notice your pet frequently scratching or rubbing at the skin and/or any sign of irritation or infection on their skin, contact a vet immediately to avoid further discomfort. In the meantime, you can help to soothe their skin with witch hazel or black tea bags.

Ear Infections

Extreme and chronic ear infections are a tell-tale sign your pet is experiencing seasonal allergies. A one-time occurrence may not be an allergic reaction, but if the infections keep returning over and over again you can probably point the finger to allergies as the culprit. Signs to look out for include frequent head shaking, waxy and red ears, foul-smelling discharge, and hair loss around the ears. If you think your pet has an ear infection, don’t wait to schedule them a visit with the vet. Infections are very painful for pets, and though the infection may start as an allergic reaction the ear canal can become even worse with bacteria or yeast if neglected. Treatment is also a lengthy process. It could take weeks for the infection to clear after medical care begins, so addressing the issue early is key.

It’s important to give the signs of your pet’s allergic reaction proper attention and professional medical care sooner rather than later. The longer they are exposed to an allergen and left to endure its effects, the harder their recovery process will be. True, some reactions can be mild enough to handle at home, but more severe cases require the assessment of a vet. Your pet can’t fix the problem themselves. Getting the best treatment for your pet’s allergies will ensure that they can continue to be happy, healthy, and comfortable. Do you have any questions? If your pet doesn’t suffer from allergies in the summer, give them the gift of a pet door for easy access outdoors when you’re not home to let them out. Contact Glass Pet Doors today to discuss installing the perfect pet door for sliding glass door for your pet.

What Our Customers Say

  • Lisa Jensen
    Can't say enough good about working with Trevor at Utah Pet Access to have a dog door installed at my mother's home. Very knowledgeable and professional. Thank you!
  • Michael Riggs
    Installed a large pet door at my house. They did a great job, despite the fact that my back door's decoration made it complex. I am very satisfied. Thank you!
  • Amy Romney
    Utah Pet Access was great to work with. They were very responsive. The bid and install guys both showed up on time for their appointments. They both explained everything in detail and were very knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
  • Jake Buxton
    Easily the best in the biz! There's another rag tag outfit running around using inferior product and the finished product from Utah Pet Access is far better looking. Almost as if the door came from the factory this way! Impressed!
  • Brian Long
    UPA replaced a large, fixed arched window that is on the 3rd floor. They did encounter a problem with the thickness of the gap between the panes on the day of the install but caught it before fully removing the original window. They were out the next business day to finish the job. First day it was raining; second day the wind was rather bad. No complaints from them. Also had them replace the fixed glass in french doors with ones that have the built-in blinds. We will use UPA again if the need arises.
  • Nicole Stirling
    Great experience. Fast service, good communication, excellent product.
  • Lance Beech
    Great installer did a gray job fast I have nothing but good to say about the company and the people who work there
  • sandra bithell-hottel
    professional, timely and quality workmanship they’ve done three doors for me and they stand behind their workmanship!
  • Michael St Clair
    They have done 3 pet doors for me over the last 6 years and every time they have done an amazing job. They are very professional and cleanup everything when done. It always looks great and they have amazing solutions for every house I have put a dog door in.
  • Hunter Bigelow
    We love our glass door with the pet door! One of the best purchases we have made for both us and our pets. Utah Pet Access was great to work with and were professional and knowledgeable throughout the process. Would 100% recommend them to anybody.
  • John Skedros
    They are a great company to work with. We had a small problem with the door. It was still under warranty and they came by and fixed it without any hassle to us.
  • Amanda Marriott
    Brad and Utah Pet Access has been absolutely amazing! The door is not only beautiful, but is functional. From the time that we communicated with Brad to the time the door was installed…was seamless and smooth. Great communication. The installation was precise and quick. The installer was kind and professional. Good with my 3 German Shepherds and he did amazing work. I would highly recommend Utah Pet Access for any of your door and pet door needs! Thank you!!
  • Jenny D
    We absolutely love our pet door!! The employees are very kind and pleasant to work with! I highly recommended them.
  • R.D. Parsons
    Life changing as a pet owner after we were able to get a dog door installed. Happy pets and happy owners. Pet Access was fast, professional and friendly when it came to getting the project completed.
  • Darrell Poleviyaoma
    Utah Per Access had a wonderful and great customer service. Great installation and great product will totally recommend them to someone else and family.
  • Cristian Wood
    Trevor and his team are as professional as they come! They are always going above and beyond and providing an outstanding experience. I have and would still highly recommend them.
  • Jennifer Bellows
    Great company to work with! So responsive and reliable! My large Labrador loves his large Endura Flap door. Took less than a month from the initial phone call to install. I highly recommend this company.
  • Heather Bandiola
    We had a great experience with our pet door purchase, the customer service, and installation. We not only got the pet door installed but had the glass on the other side replaced also. We had it installed over a year ago and we're still happy with it. Thank you!
  • dbbedoya
    Did an amazing job and adapted to some last minute changes to make it even more accessible for my doggie! Thank you so much! Great company to work with!
  • Lindsay Flesch
    We just recently ordered and had a beautiful patio door with dog and blind insert installed. Utah Pet Access went above and beyond to ensure that we were happy with our finished product. I would strongly recommend this company for your pet door installation. Their customer service was excellent. Thank you Utah Pet Access!
  • William B
    Great work. The dogs love it and I’ve had zero issues with the door or installation.
  • Michelle Flesher
    I love, love, love my pet door from Utah Pets. I was very worried about getting the measurements right, but with Trevor's help it was a breeze. Thanks so much.
  • candace ashby
    These guys were awesome. Great service, friendly, my dog door looks awesome. I’ve sent them to a few of my neighbors. Highly recommend!
  • Steve Uragami
    Pet door works great!! Installation was fast and clean.
  • Mark Zambrzycki
    Had an excellent experience with Utah Pet Access getting a dog door installed in my glass patio slider. Trevor was extremely responsive and helpful. He worked with my glass company to get the order done right and shipped to them. It was then installed perfectly, with no issues. Please give them a call!!!
  • David Artica
    My wife and I have loved this product. Our dog goes in and out to our backyard at will. It’s nice to not have to worry about her being stuck inside all day. Best of all I never had to buy a sliding door, or drill any holes in ours
  • Chad Anderson
    Easy to work with. Great product.
  • Jenny Yergensen
    Super easy to work with, did a fantastic job and were less than one or two other competitors that I looked at! Would definitely recommend…having a doggie door for our 2 dogs has been a complete game changer!
  • Sarah Willardson
    I looked everywhere online to find a product to install in my home that would work for my dog's needs. They were the PERFECT solution. Could not be happier with the product and service!
  • Melanie Hall
    Worth every penny that I spent on the dog door, as it has made a huge difference for my elderly dog. Great service and workmanship.
  • Jason Rabbitt
    I absolutely recommend this place. Their price was the best I found in the area and they were very kind and helpful. They answered all my questions and went over all my options. I ended up being able to keep the original glass (safely stored in my home) which means if I ever sell my town house, and the buyers don't want a doggie door, Utah Pet Access will come back to my home and install the original glass (for a very reasonable install fee). The installation was quick and they helped me store the original glass safely. I've had my doggie door for over a year now, and it still works great, the magnetic latch still works very well, and my dachshund uses it every day.
  • David K
    They were professional and installed a great looking doggy door for us. 2 years later it still works like new.
  • Andy Nichols
    High quality door and professional guidance through selecting the right door for my house.
  • Tony Washington
    The company provided us with an excellent installation of our pet door at a very reasonable price.
  • Pete Gallegos
    Utah Pet Access did a great job putting a doggie door on my 8' tall French door with the blinds inside the glass. I have recommended them to many friends and family
  • Abby Jenkins
    Utah Pet Access was responsive, friendly, and prompt with their consultation and door installation. I've had my pet door for about a year now and have had zero issues. It is well insulated, quiet, and easy to use. The cat and dog love it!
  • Kevin Edwards
    Great product and very easy to install.