Are Chihuahuas Hypoallergenic Dogs? [IT DEPENDS]

People have different allergies; while some are allergic to certain foods, some are environmental changes, and others are allergic to some animals. If you are allergic to animals, you need to be very careful with the type of animals around you. Dogs are referred to as humans’ best friends; however, they are not best friends with everyone (people allergic to dogs.)

There is a general assumption that the small size of Chihuahuas and their short coat makes them hypoallergenic. This is false; Chihuahuas are not hypoallergenic dogs. If you are allergic to dogs, getting close to a Chihuahua can make you sick. However, this does not mean you cannot own a Chihuahua.

If you have allergies, you need to be choosy with the kind of dogs you rear; dogs that shed often might not be best for you.

Are Chihuahuas Hypoallergenic Dogs?

Considering the small size of Chihuahuas, one could easily assume that they would be hypoallergenic, i.e., they are not likely to cause allergic reactions. The dog’s size does not determine if a dog is hypoallergenic or not; their coat and shedding rate do.

As much as Chihuahuas are very small, they are not hypoallergenic. Chihuahuas might not be the best dog to breed for people with allergies, as they could trigger allergic reactions. What makes Chihuahuas not hypoallergenic is that they are capable of producing dander.

The dander usually attaches to a dog’s hair then falls off whenever the dog sheds. This is usually not good for people with allergic reactions when the dander falls off, as it could trigger the reaction. A Chihuahua would not be a great pet dog choice for people with asthma attacks.

Chihuahuas are of two varieties in terms of coats. We have long-haired and short-coated. However, what is important to know is that regardless of the coat size a Chihuahua has, it is capable of shedding. However, it is important to know that their shedding level is moderate. They are not heavy shedders like some other dogs.

Also, for many dogs, their shedding occurs seasonally, which is usually during fall and spring. For instance, when winter is fast approaching, dogs shed in anticipation for winter coats during fall. The same thing happens during spring. In anticipation of warm weather, dogs shed too.

It is important to know that despite Chihuahuas being hypoallergenic, you can help minimize the rate they shed, especially those with a short coat. So, if you love Chihuahuas and would love to get one, you could go for the short-coated ones. However, it depends on some factors we will be explaining below.

Ways of Controlling Chihuahuas Allergy

Although it does not happen often, it is possible to discover that you are allergic to dogs after purchasing one. In that case, you do not have to throw the dog away or give it out. There are effective ways of dealing with and controlling a Chihuahua’s allergy. Some ways are:

Regular Grooming

Thanks to the small size of Chihuahuas, it is easier to bath them often. By bathing your Chihuahua regularly, at least twice or three times weekly, you can easily get rid of the dander, reducing allergens. When bathing, use bathing products that help fight pet allergens.

You also need to brush the fur of your Chihuahua regularly. This helps to prevent the dander from hiding under their fur. It is important to state that the bathing and brushing should be done by someone who is not suffering from pet allergies and away from your furniture.

You should know that a Chihuahua that spends most of its time indoors requires less bathing than a Chihuahua that spends more time outdoors. If your Chihuahua goes out to play every day, you should bathe it at least twice a week; if it goes out once in a while, bathing it weekly is adequate.

Restrict your Chihuahuas from Having Access to Your Bedroom

Despite knowing Chihuahuas are not hypoallergenic, someone with pet allergies could still want to keep them at home. You need to ensure the dog does not have access to your room or rooms of anyone with allergies. You need to reinforce the rule that the bedroom is a no-go area for the dog.

Chihuahuas coming to your room increases the chances of dander falling off in the room and your bed. When that happens, your reaction will get triggered. You also need to control how often your Chihuahua jumps on the furniture and soft furnishings to control the spread of dander.

Get Rid of Dust-Capturing Fabrics

Another thing you can do to manage Chihuahua allergies is to get rid of upholstery, draperies, and carpets from your home; these trap dust, dander, and dirt which are the carriers and spreaders of allergens in your home. If you have these in your bedroom, which is restricted from your dog, you may not need to get rid of them.

However, suppose you have these fabrics in places like the living room, the hallway, or the garage. In that case, you should replace them with wooden flooring over carpets, roller shades instead of draperies, and leather couches instead of upholstery. Any place that your Chihuahua frequents should not have any dust-trapping fabric.

Ensure your Environment is Always Clean

To stay healthy, you need to live in a clean environment. If you have hypoallergenic dogs like Chihuahuas in the home, then you could get a vacuum cleaner. This would enable you to get rid of the dog’s hair and dander properly.

In addition, you could also get air purifiers in the house; this keeps the air in the home healthy and safe for breathing and captures dander to prevent it from spreading. They help in controlling dog allergies and also asthma symptoms.

Hypoallergenic Chihuahua

We mentioned earlier that there is an assumption that Chihuahuas are hypoallergenic because of their short coat. You should know that this assumption has been the reason for various negative happenings, like dog owners getting sick because they own dogs when they have allergies.

Chihuahuas are not hypoallergenic, but they are considered medium-level shedders. Although this depends on the dog’s coat; if the dog’s coat is smooth, short-haired, or long-haired.

Keep reading: How Long Are Chihuahuas Pregnant? [MONTHS & DAYS]

Are Long-Haired Chihuahuas Hypoallergenic?

Naturally, Chihuahuas are not hypoallergenic. Now, considering the ones with long hair, you should already know they have the tendency of shedding too. So, long-haired Chihuahuas are not hypoallergenic. Regardless of the type of Chihuahua you have, by regular grooming and keeping your environment clean, you could reduce the spread of dander.

However, getting long hair Chihuahuas or dogs with long hair would not be advised for people suffering from allergies. If you are to consider getting any Chihuahuas, ensure you get the ones with a short coat, and be ready to implement some of the ways we already explained above to prevent the spread of dander in the home.

Chihuahua Allergies

Pet allergies are very common in the United States of America; in fact, about 30% of the entire U.S. population is allergic to dogs and cats. This is a surprising statistic because cats and dogs remain the most popular pets, and nearly all households own either a cat or a dog.

Breeders have tried cross-breeding Chihuahuas and hypoallergenic dog breeds to produce hypoallergenic Chihuahuas. We cannot say specifically if this has been a success or not because it depends on the dominant gene.

Final Thoughts

Assumptions are not encouraged if they will affect your health. If you are allergic to dogs, this should not stop you from getting a dog you love; remember, no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. Moreover, there are simple procedures you must follow to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both yourself and the dog.

Also read:

• Why Are Chihuahuas So Aggressive? 
• Are Chihuahuas Smart? Everything You Need To Know