DOG ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Dogs are animals in the Canidae family of animals. Other animals in this family include foxes, wolves and coyotes.
There are 8 allergens associated with dogs, they are all allergens which affect the airways.
Can f 1, 2, 4 and 6 are all lipocalin proteins. These proteins are the most likely candidate for your allergy to pet hair. These proteins transport molecules like lipids and steroids around the body.
Can f 3 is a serum albumin protein, people who are allergic to this protein are more likely to be allergic to other mammals and very rarely can become allergic to eating mammalian meats such as beef, chicken and pork, which also contain these proteins.
Associated Syndromes
Allergy to dog dander is strongly associated with allergic rhinitis as well as worsening symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
Cross Reactivity
A dog allergy can be strongly linked to other animal allergies due to the lipocalin proteins. There is evidence of cross reactivity due to this protein with cockroaches, cows, cats, guinea pigs, horses, hamsters, mice, rabbits and rats.
This list is not exhaustive, the most up to date allergen list is on the Cross Reactivity Tool.
Resources
Websites
Allergy UK - Pet Allergy
Allergen Encyclopedia - Dog Dander
Healthline - Am I allergic to my dog?
Articles and Journals
Alpha-gal Epitopes in Commercial Cat and Dog Diagnostic Allergenic Products, 2024
Creatures Great and Small: Horse and Dog Allergy Cross-Reactivity, 2024
Why is Pet (Cat/Dog) Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) Such a Controversial Topic? Current Perspectives and Future Directions, 2024
Dogs at home and at the workplace: effects on allergies and mental health, 2023
An update on the prevalence and diagnosis of cat and dog allergy – Emphasizing the role of molecular allergy diagnostics, 2023
Sensitization to molecular dog allergens in an adult population: Results from the West Sweden Asthma Study, 2023
The diversity of lipocalin receptors, 2022
Analysis of allergen profile in patients sensitized to canine allergen and potential Can f 5 cross-reactivity with human PSA, 2021
Component-resolved diagnostics in pet allergy: Current perspectives and future directions, 2021
Dog Ownership at 3 Months of Age is Associated With Protection Against Food Allergy, 2019
Characterization of the dog lipocalin allergen Can f 6: the role in cross-reactivity with cat and horse, 2012
Prostatic kallikrein: a new major dog allergen, 2009
Molecular and immunological characterization of Can f 4: a dog dander allergen cross-reactive with a 23 kDa odorant-binding protein in cow dander, 2010
Does early exposure to cat or dog protect against later allergy development?, 1999
Molecular characterization of dog albumin as a cross-reactive allergen, 1994
Affinity purification of a major and a minor allergen from dog extract: serologic activity of affinity-purified Can f I and of Can f I-depleted extract, 1991
Purification and characterization of the major dog allergen, Can f I, 1991
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