Best Dog Food For Maltese: 12 Options And How To Choose

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A Maltese is a toy breed, and a small dog eats a small amount, so the food you choose matters at every meal. This page covers what to look for on the bag, how a Maltese’s size and health shape the choice, and twelve foods to compare.

PDSA lists the health problems Maltese are prone to as luxating patellas (kneecaps slipping out of place), dental problems, heart disease, cataracts, entropion (inward-turning eyelids) and a few rarer conditions. Food does not cure any of these, but weight and teeth are two things you can influence every day.

We describe each food below from its Amazon listing. We have not tested any of them, and a listing is not a review. This is general information, not veterinary advice: your vet knows your dog, so ask before changing food, especially for a puppy, a very small adult or a dog with a medical condition.

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What To Look For On The Label

The Global Nutrition Committee of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) says a pet should be fed a complete and balanced diet for its species and life stage from a reputable company. In the United States, the AAFCO statement on the bag tells you whether the food is complete and balanced for that life stage. In Europe, look for a statement that the food is complete rather than complementary.

WSAVA also says an ingredient name does not tell you a food’s nutritional quality, digestibility or bioavailability, and that a “by-product” is not automatically a poor ingredient. So a long list of ingredients to avoid is a weak way to choose; the life-stage statement and your dog’s condition are better guides.

Small Breed Food For A Small Mouth

Choose a food made for small or toy breeds, with small kibble your dog can pick up and chew. The foods below are listed for small or toy breeds for that reason.

PDSA says dental disease is a common, painful problem in dogs and that many dogs keep eating even when their mouth hurts. It recommends a vet check at least once a year and daily tooth brushing. A Maltese’s small mouth is a good reason to ask your vet about teeth at every check.

Keeping A Maltese At A Healthy Weight

A small dog has little room for extra food. PDSA recommends checking your dog’s shape, not only the scales: you should be able to feel the ribs with a light touch, see a waist from above and from the side, and the tummy should tuck in. If you cannot feel the ribs, or there is no waist, ask your vet about the right portion.

Treats count, so reduce the meal if you give a lot of them, and keep training treats small. Use the feeding guide on the bag as a starting point and adjust to your dog’s shape. If your dog is already heavy, see our guide to dog food for weight loss.

A Note On Grain-Free Food

Some foods below are grain-free. In 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began investigating reports of heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM) in dogs that mostly ate grain-free diets. The AKC reports that the cause is still not fully known. If you are weighing a grain-free food for a Maltese, talk to your vet first. Most of the foods we list contain grain.

Feeding A Maltese Puppy

The AKC says puppies should be fed a food made for puppies. It gives a general timeline: four meals a day from 6 to 12 weeks, three from 3 to 6 months, and two from 6 to 12 months. Small breeds can switch to adult food at 7 to 9 months, or later if your vet advises.

A very small puppy who skips meals needs a vet’s advice, not a wait-and-see.