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Just like humans, Chihuahuas too suffer from allergic reactions. Although the allergy usually doesn’t pose any serious threat to their lives and health, it may sometimes cause temporary immobility. The Chihuahua allergies can be classified into three major categories:

• External
• Internal
• Inhaled

External causes of allergies

As the name suggests, external allergic causes are triggered by external elements or those elements or factors which are outside a Chihuahua’s body. These triggers can be caused by several things being that they occur externally. Things like soaps, conditioners and shampoos are some of the most common causes of Chihuahua external allergies. Most of Chihuahua owners don’t realize that these products contain dyes and fragrances that a Chihuahua isn’t simply used to. Using such ingredients and chemicals while bathing a Chihuahua can result to it experiencing an allergic reaction.
Insect bites including fleas, ticks and the likes are also common causes of external allergies affecting the Chihuahuas. A single insect bite can trigger serious allergic reactions to a Chihuahua.

Internal Allergies

Internal allergies are caused or triggered by factors inside a Chihuahua’s body. A major cause of internal allergy is Chihuahua’s food. For a Chihuahua’s owner to precisely diagnose this type of allergy, extreme vigilance needs to be upheld at all the feeding times. Should any of the symptoms be noticed, chances are that the Chihuahua is allergic to the type of food it’s being fed on. Table food or human food is known to trigger internal allergic reactions to a Chihuahua. Some medications can also trigger internal allergic reaction to Chihuahuas. Once more, a Chihuahua owner must remain highly alert of how it behaves immediately after administering any kind of medication.

Inhaled allergies

Chihuahuas can be severely affected by inhaled allergies. It might take time before its owner can discern what exactly the cause of such an allergic reaction is. Inhaled allergies in Chihuahua are mostly caused by tree pollen, weeds, grass and even dust mites. A Chihuahua puppy may develop allergies as it grows or it might be born with it.

Symptoms

There are several and varied symptoms to each of Chihuahua’s allergy. It’s also worth to note that all Chihuahuas respond to allergies in various ways. It’s therefore highly unlikely that all Chihuahua will exhibit all of the listed symptoms. Common Chihuahua allergic symptoms include;

• Hair loss
• General body weakness or lethargic
• Excessive nose discharge
• Itchiness associated with scratching
• Red irritated eyes accompanied with discharge
• Ear infection
• Sneezing and wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting
• Excessive licking, mostly around the paws
• Dry skin which is peeling off
• Sores
• Diarrhea

Depending on the severity of the situation, a Chihuahua suffering from allergies may require medical attention, or it may simply need to wait it out. The real problem occurs when the allergic reaction creates new concerns of its own. If you believe your Chihuahua is suffering from allergies, the first thing you should do is consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of treatment.

Remedies

Since dogs aren’t humans and thus they will never directly communicate what’s ailing them, the very first step in treating a Chihuahua suffering from an allergic attack is to talk to or visit a veterinary. Only an experienced and professional veterinarian can precisely diagnose a Chihuahua’s condition caused by an allergy and prescribe suitable medication. It is not advisable to administer any kind of medication to a Chihuahua without a vet’s advice. The veterinary doctor can recommend a number of remedies to handle the situation depending on what exactly triggered the allergic reaction. The most common remedies are:

• Creams – for skin irritation
• Change of diet – if the allergy is caused by the food
• Time – your dog will overcome many of the allergies by itself. If you notice that the symptoms do not disappear in a few days, go to the vet