dander

Dander is an informal term for a material shed from the body of various animals, similar to dandruff. It is composed of skin cells, and can be a cause of allergies in humans. Older etymology has it that dander is a dialect synonym of dandruff, possibly from Yorkshire in England. Dander is microscopic, and can be transported through the air. Through the air, dander can enter the mucous membranes in the lungs, causing allergies to some individuals. Skin flakes that come off the main body of an animal are dander while the flakes of skin called dandruff come from the scalp. Pet dander is generally worse in older animals than in younger animals, as older animals slough more skin cells.