Dog and Cat Allergies: Current State of Diagnostic Approaches and Challenges

Allergies to dogs and cats affect 10%-20% of the population worldwide and is a growing public health concern as these rates increase. Given the prevalence of detectable dog and cat allergens even in households without pets, there is a critical need to accurately diagnose and treat patients to reduce morbidity and mortality from exposure. The ability to diagnose cat sensitization is good, in contrast to dogs. Component resolved diagnostics of sensitization to individual allergenic proteins will dramatically improve diagnosis. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding allergies to dogs and cats, recent advances, therapies such as subcutaneous immunotherapy, and discusses important areas to improve diagnosis and therapy.