Maltese - Breed Facts & Characteristics

When choosing food for a Maltese, there are many factors to consider: their age, lifestyle, activity level, physiological condition, and health, including potential sickness or sensitivities. Food provides energy to cover a dog’s vital functions, and a complete nutritional formula should contain an adjusted balance of nutrients to avoid any deficiency or excess in their diet, both of which could have adverse effects on the dog. Clean and fresh water should be available at all times to support your Maltese’s urinary health. In hot weather and especially when out exercising, bring water along for your dog’s frequent water breaks. The following recommendations are for healthy animals. If your dog has health problems, please consult your veterinarian who will prescribe an exclusive veterinary diet.

A Maltese puppy’s requirements, in terms of energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, are much greater than those of an adult dog. They need energy and nutrients to maintain their body, but also to grow and build it. Until they are 8 months old, a Maltese puppies’ immune system develops gradually. A complex of antioxidants - including vitamin E - can help support their natural defences during this time of big changes, discoveries, and new encounters. Their digestive functions are different from an adult Maltese’s, too: their digestive system is not mature yet so it’s important to provide highly digestible proteins that will be effectively used. A balanced intake of fibres, such as psyllium, can help facilitate intestinal transit and contribute to good stool quality.

Similarly, a puppy’s teeth – starting with the milk teeth, or first teeth, then the permanent teeth – are an important factor that needs to be taken into account when choosing the size, shape, and texture of kibble. This growth phase also means high energy needs, so the food must have a high energy content (expressed in Kcal/100g of food), while concentrations of all other nutrients will also be higher than normal in a specially formulated growth food. It is recommended to split the daily allowance into three meals a day until they are six months old, then to switch to two meals per day.

Throughout their life, it is important to avoid feeding your Maltese human foods or fatty snacks. Instead, reward them with kibble taken from their meal allowance, and strictly follow the feeding guidelines written on the package in order to prevent excessive weight gain.

The main nutritional goals for adult Maltese are:

Maintaining an ideal body weight by using highly digestible ingredients and keeping the fat content at a sensible level

Preserving the health and beauty of the skin and coat with the enriched addition of essential fatty acids (omega 3 - EPA-DHA - and omega 6), borage oil, and biotin

Supporting oral hygiene with a formula containing calcium chelators that help reduce tartar formation

Satisfying their fussy appetite. The size of the kibble should be very small and adapted to the miniature jaw of Maltese in order to avoid problems with picking up food. Combined with great aromas and flavours, this will stimulate their finicky appetite. Maintaining a healthy digestive system. A diet formulated with a balanced intake of fibres will help facilitate intestinal transit, and with highly digestible proteins contributes to good stool quality. Maintaining an ideal body weight by using highly digestible ingredients and keeping the fat content at a sensible level. For Maltese living mainly indoors, because of reduced activity, it is important to strictly follow the feeding guidelines written on the package in order to prevent excessive weight gain, and to do so for sterilised Maltese, as neutering is a factor in overweight dogs. Very small breed dogs are prone to urinary stones; a diet that supports a healthy urinary system is recommended.

After 8 years old, Maltese start facing the first signs of ageing. A diet enriched with antioxidants helps maintain vitality, and key nutrients, such as taurine, help support good cardiac function. Ageing is also accompanied by the modification of digestive capacities and particular nutritional requirements, so food for ageing Maltese should have the following characteristics:

Higher vitamin C and E content. These nutrients have antioxidant properties, helping to support the body’s cells against the harmful effects of the oxidative stress linked to ageing.

High-quality protein. Contrary to a widely held misconception, lowering the protein content in food brings little benefit in limiting kidney failure. In addition, older dogs are less efficient at using dietary protein than younger dogs. Reducing the phosphorus content is a good way of slowing down the gradual deterioration of kidney function.

A higher proportion of the trace elements iron, copper, zinc, and manganese to help maintain good condition of the skin and coat.

A higher quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) to maintain the quality of the coat. Dogs can normally produce these fatty acids, but ageing can affect this physiological process.

As they age, dogs increasingly suffer from teeth problems. To ensure they continue to eat in sufficient quantities, the size, shape and texture of their kibble needs to be tailored to their jaw.