Introduction
Dog hair allergy is the hypersensitive reaction of a person to contact with dogs. In contrast to the cat hair allergy, the dog hair allergy is rather rare. Nevertheless, one assumes that up to 16% of the adult population suffers from a dog hair allergy.
The term is unfortunately somewhat misleading, however, since the allergic reaction is actually not directed against the dog hair itself, but mainly against certain substances that adhere to the hair, for example saliva, urine or skin scales. The component against which most allergic reactions of affected persons are directed is a protein called Can f1, which is called “‘allergen”. It is present to varying degrees in different dogs, and some breeds do not appear to produce it at all.
Dog hair allergy sufferers react differently to different breeds of dogs and also to individual dogs. On the one hand, this is due to the above mentioned differences in the extent of the formation of the protein and on the other hand, to other allergens in the animal to which humans can react. In general, the allergen potential in long-haired breeds is not as high as in short-haired dog breeds. In some breeds, for example boxers, allergies are described particularly frequently. In others, such as the Portuguese Water Dog, no allergic reactions have been found so far.
Signs of a dog hair allergy
A dog allergy manifests itself through the typical symptoms of an allergy to substances in the air – these include watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, coughing, skin itching and hives. In principle, allergy can begin at any age, although it usually first appears in children. Even adults who have owned a dog for a long time can suffer from a dog hair allergy.
It is usually conspicuous by the fact that increased allergy symptoms occur in the dog’s environment. However, symptoms can also occur outside the dog, since the dog hairs with the allergenic proteins can also be found on clothing and in the air. So it is not always easy to find out the primary cause of the allergy – often an allergy test by a pulmonologist or dermatologist must then provide clarity.
