Skin contact with animals and animal-derived products occurs in numerous occupations. Animal contact can cause allergic, irritant, or toxic skin reactions, parasitic infestations, and zoonoses. Skin hazards, especially from insect, reptile, and marine life, differ greatly in different climatic areas. Proteins of animal origin constitute a major group of allergens able to cause immediate-type IgE-mediated contact urticaria (CU) or protein contact dermatitis (PCD) and less often delayed-type allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Contact urticaria (CU) can be either immunologic (IgE-mediated) or non-immunologic and refers to a wheal-and-flare reaction appearing usually within 30 min of contact with the causative agent. The clinical picture of protein contact dermatitis (PCD), although IgE-mediated, is chronic contact eczema, but there can be acute phases of pruritus and wheals within minutes of skin contact with the causative animals or animal products. High-risk occupations are those that work in direct or indirect contact with animals like laboratory animal workers, veterinarians, health and animal care workers, food industry, or in any occupations dealing with natural environments. Atopy is a risk factor for animal sensitization and respiratory symptoms can precede skin symptoms by many years.