Chihuahua Information Center
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Chihuahua Allergies
Chihuahuas Can Have Allergies
There are two types of allergies a dog can have. A Chihuahua may have an external allergy. This means that your Chihuahua may be allergic to an element outside of their body such as pollen, dust, shampoo or other. The most frequent allergy is from dog shampoo.
The second sort of dog allergy is an internal allergy. This will mean that when your dog ingests something, such as a certain dog food or very rarely a medication, they will have an allergic reaction.
There are two types of allergies a dog can have. A Chihuahua may have an external allergy. This means that your Chihuahua may be allergic to an element outside of their body such as pollen, dust, shampoo or other. The most frequent allergy is from dog shampoo.
The second sort of dog allergy is an internal allergy. This will mean that when your dog ingests something, such as a certain dog food or very rarely a medication, they will have an allergic reaction.
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The majority dog allergies can be
treated by avoiding the element that is causing your Chihuahua to have
an allergic reaction. Of course, you may not instantly know what is
causing the allergy and must first recognize the signs.
Finding the Source
Over 20% of all dogs experience allergies, so if your Chihuahua is showing bizarre symptoms it may very well be an allergy. The first step is to find out if the allergy is external or internal for your dog.
External dog allergies will be something outside your Chihuahua that is causing him or her to have an allergic reaction. The most general symptom of an external allergy is itching. A lot of Chihuahua owners wonder why their dog scratches so much. If your Chihuahua clearly does not have fleas, the answer is a dog allergy.
Internal allergies that your Chihuahua dog may have will mean that something that your dog ingests into his or her body is causing them misery. The most general symptoms of this are coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, a wheezing noise and expulsion of mucus from the dog's nose or mouth.
If your Chihuahua is allergic to a certain dog food, the symptoms will be vomiting and/or diarrhea. Vomiting or having diarrhea is never normal for a dog. If you are giving a proper diet to Chihuahua, and she is showing these symptoms, most likely there is a dog food allergy.
Finding the Source
Over 20% of all dogs experience allergies, so if your Chihuahua is showing bizarre symptoms it may very well be an allergy. The first step is to find out if the allergy is external or internal for your dog.
External dog allergies will be something outside your Chihuahua that is causing him or her to have an allergic reaction. The most general symptom of an external allergy is itching. A lot of Chihuahua owners wonder why their dog scratches so much. If your Chihuahua clearly does not have fleas, the answer is a dog allergy.
Internal allergies that your Chihuahua dog may have will mean that something that your dog ingests into his or her body is causing them misery. The most general symptoms of this are coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, a wheezing noise and expulsion of mucus from the dog's nose or mouth.
If your Chihuahua is allergic to a certain dog food, the symptoms will be vomiting and/or diarrhea. Vomiting or having diarrhea is never normal for a dog. If you are giving a proper diet to Chihuahua, and she is showing these symptoms, most likely there is a dog food allergy.
What to Do
You can easily test to find out what is causing your Chihuahua’s allergic reactions. If your Chihuahua is itchy and scratches herself often and it is obvious she has an itching problem, you should immediately switch to an allergy free shampoo and allergy free conditioner. In all probability, your dog is allergic to its dog shampoo. The baths that you give your dog to keep her clean may be doing the damage and triggering the allergy. Testing may take a bit of time, but not as much as you may think.
If she lies on your sheets, use allergy free detergent. Changing to a quality allergy free dog shampoo will most likely treat the itching and scratching. You do need to give it a bit of time for the itching to go away. While the previously irritated skin is healing, you can put vitamin E oil on the skin. This will be easy if the redness or itching is on her belly. After using the allergy free shampoo for a week or two, you should see major progress.
Keep your eyes out for skin irritation that has progressed to sores and/or open leaking scabs. This will be a sign that an infection may have settled in. A vet must treat this with antibiotics.
If your dog is vomiting or having diarrhea, even if she seems to love her dog food it is time to switch to an allergy free dog food without hesitation. Beware of purchasing dog food from your grocery store. While convenient for you, it is most often not the best dog food for your Chihuahua. There are many companies that manufacture dog food specifically for the toy dog breed and have a line of allergy free dog food. There are many allergy free dog foods available online, that have no added colors, etc. You will then need to experiment with the different foods to see which one makes your Chihuahua's tummy feel better. Home cooking is a great option, that ensures that no additives, preservatives, coloring or fillers are put into your Chi's system. You can learn more about home cooking here.
Note: This is a quick overview of dog allergies to give you a general idea of what to look for. For complete information on everything you need to know, click here to learn about our Chihuahua Secrets
