Creatures Great and Small: Horse and Dog Allergy Cross-Reactivity

Cat, dog, and horse aeroallergens can cause allergic disease in susceptible individuals. Allergy cross-reactivity occurs when the body recognizes the protein of one allergen as being similar to a different protein, leading to an allergic response. Cross-reactivity has been demonstrated among animal species such as cat, dog, and horse. These allergens fall into the same protein families, with the lipocalin family predominating. We present a case demonstrating cross-reactivity among cat, dog, and horse allergens. Additionally, our case highlights the difficulty of managing and receiving allergen immunotherapy within the military health system due to the disruption of therapy due to frequent moves and temporary duty assignments.