Dog allergy
Allergy to dog dander and saliva.
About dog allergy
Dog allergy is a common IgE-mediated reaction to proteins in a dog's dander (skin flakes), saliva and urine, not to the fur itself, although hair helps spread the allergens around a home. Several dog proteins are recognised, with Can f 1 among the best established. Because these proteins are shed continuously and stick to clothing, carpets and soft furnishings, they linger indoors and turn up in places dogs do not go. Despite popular belief, no breed is truly hypoallergenic: all dogs produce the relevant proteins, and shedding less hair does not reliably mean fewer allergens.
Symptoms usually appear within minutes to hours of contact and include sneezing, a blocked or runny nose and itchy, red eyes. In people with a tendency to asthma or eczema, being near a dog can bring on wheezing or a skin flare-up. As the allergen spreads so widely, some notice symptoms in public settings or others' homes without direct contact. These reactions are generally unpleasant rather than serious.
Diagnosis is confirmed by a skin-prick or specific-IgE blood test, considered with your history. Rehoming the dog is most effective but often not wanted, so reduction measures help: keeping the dog out of bedrooms, HEPA filtration, regular cleaning and washing hands after contact. Antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops ease symptoms, and immunotherapy is used in selected cases. See your GP if symptoms persist, or promptly if asthma is involved.
Common triggers
- Dog and products containing it
Symptoms
- Sneezing and a runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Skin redness where the animal licked or touched
- Coughing or wheezing
- Worsening of asthma
Avoidance & management
- Limit contact with the animal
- Keep pets out of bedrooms
- Wash hands and clothes after contact
- Use air filtration and vacuum often
- Take prescribed antihistamines
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.