Dog allergy
Fine with some dogs, sneezing with others? Dog allergens come from skin, saliva and urine, and the amount varies a lot from dog to dog. Our test checks for IgE sensitisation to seven dog markers as part of 300 allergens and allergen components, so you see dog next to cat, dust mite and the rest.
- Group
- Animals
- Also known as
- dog allergy, dog dander, Can f 1, Can f 5, allergic to my dog
Where you meet it
- Homes with dogs, including bedding, sofas and carpets
- Cars and offices where dogs travel or visit
- Schools and public places, carried on clothes
- Dog parks, kennels and grooming salons
Where dog allergen comes from
Dogs shed several allergenic proteins in dander (skin flakes), saliva and urine. The best known is Can f 1, found mostly in saliva and on the skin. It settles into fabric and dust and spreads through a home much like cat allergen, though usually in lower amounts in the air.
Another protein, Can f 5, is made in the prostate gland, so it is produced by male dogs and much less by neutered males and females. Some people are sensitised only to Can f 5, which can explain why they react to some dogs and not others.
What people commonly report
Reports include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes and itchy skin after a lick or a cuddle. People with asthma may notice their breathing gets worse around dogs.
If you only react in some homes, think about the dog itself (male or female, how much time indoors) as well as other triggers in that home, such as dust mite or a cat.
- Sneezing and itchy eyes around dogs
- Red, itchy skin where a dog licked you
- Symptoms in dog homes, even when the dog is out
Hypoallergenic dogs
Breeds that shed less, such as poodles, are often sold as hypoallergenic. Studies measuring allergen in homes have not found these breeds to be reliably lower in allergen than other dogs. Individual dogs vary more than breeds.
How the test checks dog
The lab measures IgE to seven dog markers in your finger-prick sample as part of 300 allergens and allergen components. Cat, horse and other animals are on the same panel. Some animal proteins (serum albumins and lipocalins) look similar across species, which can make results for several animals rise together.
A positive result shows sensitisation, not a confirmed allergy. Your lab report gives each value a class from Negative to Very high, a pattern to discuss with a doctor, especially before big decisions like rehoming or adopting a dog.
- Can f 1 and Can f 2: lipocalin proteins from saliva and skin
- Can f 3: dog serum albumin, similar to albumins in cat and horse
- Can f 4 and Can f 6: further lipocalins; Can f 6 resembles proteins in cat and horse
- Can f Fel d 1-like: a dog protein similar to the main cat allergen
- Male dog urine extract, which contains the prostate protein Can f 5
Known cross-reactions
Sources
- Consensus document on dog and cat allergy. Allergy, 2018.
- Prostatic kallikrein: a new major dog allergen. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2009.
- Dog allergen levels in homes with hypoallergenic compared with nonhypoallergenic dogs. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, 2011.
- EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (EAACI), 2023.
Page last updated
300 allergens. One test.
A finger-prick sample at home, sent by post. A detailed lab report typically 5 days after the lab receives your sample, and our plain-English guide to reading it. €300, €1 per allergen.
Questions
Why do I react to some dogs but not others?
Dogs differ in how much allergen they produce. One protein, Can f 5, comes mainly from male dogs that are not neutered, and some people are sensitised only to that. The panel includes a male dog urine marker, which contains Can f 5. A doctor can interpret what that pattern means for you.
Are hypoallergenic dog breeds safe for people with dog allergies?
No breed is allergen-free. Studies measuring allergen levels in homes have not found so-called hypoallergenic breeds to be reliably lower. Spending time with the specific dog is more informative than the breed.
Is my test result a dog allergy diagnosis?
No. It shows whether your blood contains IgE to dog, which is sensitisation. Whether that causes your symptoms is something a doctor assesses with your history.