The best kind of food for a Maltese
A Maltese, typically weighing only two to four kilograms as an adult, does best on a genuinely small kibble sized for a tiny jaw, since even a small-breed formula from some ranges can still be larger than ideal for a dog this size. Tear staining and a reputation for fussy eating are the two things that come up most often with this breed's diet.
Feeding a Maltese
A toy breed
An adult Maltese typically weighs 3–4kg, so a healthy Maltese eats a small amount — often under 100g of dry food a day compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A toy breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
How much should a Maltese weigh?
Adult 3–4kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.5–0.7 kg | 18% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 0.9–1.2 kg | 30% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 1.8–2.4 kg | 59% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 3–4 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a toy breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Maltese
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Maltese's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Why size matters more than usual here
The Maltese is one of the smaller toy breeds, and their jaw and mouth are correspondingly tiny, which means checking the actual kibble size of a food, not just whether it is labelled 'small breed', is worth doing. Some small-breed ranges are still noticeably larger than what a two to four kilogram Maltese finds easy to eat comfortably.
Dental crowding is also common in very small-mouthed breeds like the Maltese, since a full set of adult teeth in a very small jaw leaves little spare room, which can make chewing harder-textured food less comfortable and makes proper dental care alongside diet particularly important for this breed.
Tear staining and diet
Maltese are well known for tear staining, the reddish-brown marks that can develop under the eyes, and diet is one of several factors sometimes discussed in relation to it, alongside tear duct anatomy and general eye health. The evidence that diet alone causes or fixes tear staining is genuinely mixed, so it is worth treating as one possible factor rather than the guaranteed explanation.
A consistent, good quality diet supports overall health including skin and coat condition, which may help somewhat, but persistent or worsening tear staining is worth mentioning to a vet to rule out other causes such as blocked tear ducts or an eye irritation needing treatment.
Managing a fussy eater
Maltese have something of a reputation for being selective eaters, and sticking with one consistent, good quality recipe rather than switching flavours frequently in response to a fussy phase often works better long-term, since constant changes can actually reinforce fussy behaviour rather than solve it.
If a Maltese genuinely will not eat a food consistently, checking that the kibble size and shape suit their small mouth, and that there is no underlying dental discomfort making eating unpleasant, is worth doing before assuming it is simply pickiness.
Common questions
- Does my Maltese need a specific tear-stain diet?
- There is no single diet proven to reliably fix tear staining, since it has several possible causes beyond food. A good quality, consistent diet supports overall health, but persistent tear staining is best discussed with a vet to check for other underlying causes first.
- Why is my Maltese so fussy about food?
- Some individual dogs are naturally choosier, but frequent flavour switching can also reinforce fussy behaviour over time. Sticking with one good quality recipe consistently, and checking kibble size suits their small mouth, often helps more than repeatedly trying new foods.
- What size kibble is right for a Maltese?
- Look specifically at the kibble's actual dimensions rather than relying on a 'small breed' label alone, since sizing varies between brands and some are still larger than ideal for a two to four kilogram dog with a very small mouth.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.