By Farah Chowdhry

We all love our furry felines and loving dogs but what causes those cold like symptoms, and the itchy red sore skin after we're done playing with them?

Pet dander may be the answer as these tiny bits of scaly skin, fur, urine and saliva can trigger cold like symptoms. This dander is extremely light weight and tiny in size, (approx. 2.5 microns) and can stay airborne for hours (1 micro = 1/25,000 in.). However not all pet dander are skin flakes. The primary cat allergen, Felis domesticus allergen 1 is a glycoprotein found in the sebaceous glands of the cat's hair roots and in their sublingual salivary glands. It is also found in the urine of male cats. This type of dander is deposited on an animal's fur once they have groomed themselves. The deposited saliva or sebum then dries and flakes off, and becomes airborne. This dander is also sticky and therefore it can cling onto our clothing and personal belongings making it easily transported wherever we go. This is the reason that pet dander has been found on public transport and public places. Its ability to remain airborne and to permeate every area possible makes it very hard to control. Therefore sufferers of pet allergies may still have symptoms even when they are not in contact with any pets.

Older animals produce more dander than young ones because their skin is drier. Animal dander is extremely light weight and tiny in size, (approx. 2.5 microns) and can stay airborne for hours. (1 micron = 1/25,000 in.)

An allergic reaction to pet dander occurs when a person comes into contact with an allergen for the first time and their immune system identifies it as a threat to its well being. In order for the body to remember this fact it produces antibodies. An antibody is a protein manufactured by the white blood cells to neutralise foreign objects for example, allergens.

The next time the body comes into contact with the allergen, the antibodies respond. This overreaction of the immune system which occurs due to the interaction of allergen and antibody causes the allergic symptoms. This produces highly reactive molecules called free radicals, which damage tissues. In many cases the damage from the allergy does not go away when the symptoms stop. Therefore allergies not only cause inconvenience but are detrimental to your health.

 

Learn more about Pet Allergy by visiting our Pet Allergy Learning Centre.

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References and Useful links

Dustfree.com

Pet Dander Images obtained from Google Image

Breakspear Medical Group

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.