Chihuahuas cure asthma

[snopes]

Comment: I have heard from numerous people that Chihuahua's are good for
people with asthma.I wanted one,and when talking to a friend that had one
I originally heard this.Afterwards,when talking to Chihuahua owners,I
mentioned it,and several had heard the same thing.As usual,the origins of
this and exactly how it works is a little murky.More prevalent in the
Mexican/hispanic community.

Possibly hairless Chihuahuas are better for people with asthma than other dogs, because they have less dander and release fewer allergens? I've heard that hairless cats are hypoallergenic.

[Brad from Georgia]

Gosh, this is something that's been around for years. I had asthma as a kid (have mostly outgrown it now) and remember that back in the fifties people told my mom she should buy a chihuahua to cure my asthma.

[Chloe]

It's true, but they're extremely difficult to swallow.

[Nonny Mouse]

Originally Posted by Chloe

It's true, but they're extremely difficult to swallow.

And even harder to inject.

Nonny

[Bonnie]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

Gosh, this is something that's been around for years. I had asthma as a kid (have mostly outgrown it now) and remember that back in the fifties people told my mom she should buy a chihuahua to cure my asthma.

In fact, belief that chihuahas could cure asthma was not only the topic of a paper appearing in a 1956 issue of The Kentucky Folklore Record, but it was also the subject of a brief report that appeared 10 years later in the Journal of the Florida Medical Association. (Neither of which I've actually read, of course.)

http://msgboard.snopes.com/message/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/74/t/001154/p/1.html#000003

-- Bonnie

Can anyone confirm what the myth actually was? This site says:

While the old remedy of holding a chihuahua to transfer asthma to the dog isn’t likely to be effective

Transfer??? Poor little chihuahuas!

Here is a similar version:

It has not been uncommon for people living in the Southwest to get a Chihuahua for a child or family member with Asthma or Allergy problems. The dogs sometimes lie near that person’s mouth while they are sleeping and later become ill. At the same time, the person involved would wake up feeling better. The idea was that the problem was transferred from the suffering human to the dog.

Uh, I really don't think that asthma is transferable ...

My mother has a chihuahua and asthma, so no they don't cure asthma and they also tend to have respiratory problems themselves. So giving a chihuahua asthma would not be a good idea.

Originally Posted by lazerus the duck

they also tend to have respiratory problems themselves.

AHA!

I was wondering about that. Some of the sites I just looked at theorised that the benefit of having a chihuahua was that it had a calming affect on the asthma sufferer and this is what made them feel better. Or at least think they felt better. If you couple this with the fact that chihuahuas can get a little wheezy themselves I think we can see how the urban legend came about.

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

Originally Posted by evilrabbit

Possibly hairless Chihuahuas are better for people with asthma than other dogs.

Uhhh. Chihuahuas are a coated breed (either smooth or long-haired). You might be thinking of Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli, or a Peruvian Inca Orchid.

[FrogFeathers]

Hi, my name is Patty and I have asthma. I also have a Chihuahua.

I've had this Chihuahua in my house since May 2006.

I still have asthma.

Is there a time limit on when we can tell if my Chihuahua has cured my asthma?



I'm not trying to sound as snarky as this seems.

I've actually heard this myself, many times. But I never believed it and still don't.

[Thera]

I have asthma and have never heard of this. I have always had dogs though and am not allergic to them. Cats, on the other hand...

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Nonny Mouse

And even harder to inject.

Nonny

They make lousy suppositories, too.

[Debunker]

Originally Posted by Lainie

They make lousy suppositories, too.

Like most asthma meds, you have to inhale them.

Uhhh. Chihuahuas are a coated breed (either smooth or long-haired). You might be thinking of Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli, or a Peruvian Inca Orchid.

I thought there were hairless chihuahuas; I'm probably thinking of something else.

[Sylvanz]

Originally Posted by evilrabbit

I thought there were hairless chihuahuas; I'm probably thinking of something else.

I think a lot of people get these little guys mixed up with Chihuahuas Mexican Hairless
I have a Chihuahua, a son with asthma, and I suffer with asthma myself. We've had our dog since I think 2001 and oddly enough we still have asthma. I have never heard this myth though my mom used to tell me it was "all in our heads" I felt like kicking her after she read Dianetics.

P&LL, Syl

Originally Posted by Sylvanz

I have never heard this myth though my mom used to tell me it was "all in our heads" I felt like kicking her after she read Dianetics.

P&LL, Syl

Ah I always love the it's all in your head line, I've got chronic fatigue syndrome and have heard that a lot (even from myself). I wish someone would tell my effing body that so I can get on with my life.

[Morrigan]

Originally Posted by Sylvanz

I think a lot of people get these little guys mixed up with Chihuahuas Mexican Hairless
I have a Chihuahua, a son with asthma, and I suffer with asthma myself. We've had our dog since I think 2001 and oddly enough we still have asthma. I have never heard this myth though my mom used to tell me it was "all in our heads" I felt like kicking her after she read Dianetics.

P&LL, Syl

My reply disappeared...stupid computer.

Anyway, the Mexican Hairless is also called the Mexican Hairless Chihuahua, which is probably where the confusion happens.

Morrigan

You know, now that you mention it, my asthma went away when we got our chihuahuas....

[franjava]

Originally Posted by lazerus the duck

Ah I always love the it's all in your head line, I've got chronic fatigue syndrome and have heard that a lot (even from myself). I wish someone would tell my effing body that so I can get on with my life.

I have trichotillomania (I pull my hair out - usually eyebrow and eyelashes.) My mom saw a bald area in my eyebrow and her advice to me was "You need to stop that." DUH!!!! Hijack over.