Most Common Allergies

Animal Dander

Pets are another common source of allergies, though it's actually not the animal itself that's the problem. Instead, it is the proteins found in the creature's dander, saliva, and urine causing the reaction. Animal dander is another word for the tiny flakes of skin animals like dogs and cats shed. Pets can also be a source of secondary allergens from outdoor mold spores and plant materials that may collect on and stick to the animal's coat when they come inside.

The proteins from a pet's dander are not normally harmful, which is why an individual who isn't allergic can be around pets with no reaction. It's the over-reaction from an individual's immune system that causes the problem. Common symptoms of a pet dander allergy include skin redness at the point of contact with the animal, itchy eyes and nose, skin rash, coughing, wheezing, inflammation, and redness in the eyes. It's important to note no breed of dog or cat is truly hypoallergenic. Some individuals may react less to certain breeds, hence why some are called hypoallergenic, but regardless of fur type, the animal will still shed dander.