Best Dog Food for Malteses

A Maltese weighing 4 to 7 lbs needs roughly 160 to 280 calories per day, depending on age and how active they are. Split that into two meals. Weigh portions instead of eyeballing. It's easy to overfeed without realizing.

Malteses are known to develop White Dog Shaker Syndrome, Patellar Luxation, Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Look for foods that address these: and omega-3 fatty acids for overall health.

Malteses do well on 25–30% protein. The first ingredient should be a named meat like chicken, beef, fish, or lamb. Skip foods where corn, wheat, or soy is listed first.

Most Maltese puppies can move to adult food around 10 to 12 months. Your vet can check growth progress and give you a more exact timeline.

Same as all dogs: chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol (check sugar-free gum labels), onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, and cooked bones. Small breeds like Malteses are more sensitive to toxins, so even tiny amounts can be dangerous.

Malteses live about 12 to 15 years, so they start hitting senior territory around age 10. That's when you might want to look at lower-calorie formulas with joint support and easier-to-digest protein.