Background
While many people are familiar with allergies to the family dog or cat, other animals including rodents, fowl, and large farm animals, can trigger allergy symptoms as well. Your medical professional may test for an animal’s dander (small skin flakes), hair, feathers, or secretions/excretions to uncover the actual source of the reaction. Interestingly, most allergies to dogs, cats, and horses are caused by hypersensitivity to proteins found in the animal's saliva and dander, while allergies to rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs are caused by hypersensitivity to proteins in the animal's urine.
Incidence and Prevalence
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 15-30% of all people with allergies have an allergy to dogs, cats, or other animals. The leading causes of pet allergies are cats, with roughly 10 million people in the United States exhibiting an allergy to cats.
Cause and Risk Factors
Pet allergies are caused by an immune system response to proteins present in the animal saliva, dander, or urine. Allergies to dogs, cats, and other animals tend to run in families. In most cases, animal allergies are inherited and result from a genetic hypersensitivity to these proteins. Allergy to animals may take up to two years
Animal allergens, which are carried through the air, are sticky and collect on surfaces (e.g., bedding, clothing, furniture). Petting, grooming, animal activity, vacuuming, and dusting increase the amount of allergens that are released into the air. Animal allergens can remain on surfaces and in the air for months.
List of Allergens
Angora
Bovine Serum
Budgerigar Droppings
Budgerigar Feathers
Budgerigar Serum
Camel
Canary Droppings
Canary Feathers
Canary Serum
Cat Hair/Dander (Std.)
Chicken Droppings
Chicken Feathers
Chicken Serum
Chinchilla
Cow Dander
Deer Hair / Dander
Dog Dander
Dog Epithelium
Duck Down
Duck Droppings
Duck Feathers
Ferret
Finch Feathers
Fox
Gerbil Hair
Goat Epithelium
Golden Hamster Epithelium
Goose Droppings
Goose Feathers
Guinea Pig Epithelium
Hare
Horse Dander
Horse Serum
Human Hair
Llama
Lovebird Feathers
Mink Epithelium
Mouse Droppings
Mouse Epith./ Protein
Mouse Epithelium
Mouse Serum
Mouse Urine
Parrot Droppings
Parrot Feathers
Parrot Serum
Pig Epithelium
Pigeon Droppings
Pigeon Feathers
Pigeon Serum
Rabbit Epithelium
Rat Droppings
Rat Epithelium
Rat Epithelium / Protein
Rat Serum
Rat Urine
Sheep Epithelium
Turkey Feathers
