What Are the Allergies Humans Get From Dander?

The allergies humans get from pet dander are considered inhalant allergies, meaning they enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth, lining the nasal passages, mucus membranes and lungs.

• Sleeping with pets worsens dander allergies.

Identification

• Dander is dry, microscopic flakes of skin that shed from the epidermal layer of animals on a 21-day cycle and more often in dogs with skin conditions.

Significance

• Pet dander becomes sticky due to pet saliva, acting as an adhesive for other airborne allergens such as dust mites, fleas, pollen and mold.

Considerations

• Dander allergies cause symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, leading to bloodshot, itchy and watery eyes that are tender and often pronounced by dark allergic shiners.

Effects

• Dander causes allergic rhinitis symptoms of sneezing, wheezing, coughing, runny nose and congestion, combining with allergic asthma reactions of chest tightness and shortness of breath to constrict breathing.

Benefits

• Dander can be reduced by maintaining a pet's skin and coat with pet wipes, seborrheic shampoos and antihistamine sprays and through daily dusting and vacuuming with allergenic products.

Prevention/Solution

• Limiting exposure by restricting the rooms, particularly bedrooms, in which pets live, keeping pets off furniture and preventing close facial contact may reduce the severity and frequency of allergic conditions.