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Proper Feeding for Your Maltese
Feeding Overview
There is a lot more to properly feeding your Maltese than just filling up their dog bowl a few times a day! Properly feeding your Maltese is vitally important to your pet's health. We discuss many of the important issues that are most commonly asked:
There is a lot more to properly feeding your Maltese than just filling up their dog bowl a few times a day! Properly feeding your Maltese is vitally important to your pet's health. We discuss many of the important issues that are most commonly asked:
- How much do you feed a Maltese pup?
- How much should an adult Maltese be fed?
- Human food VS dog food
- Dry VS wet dog food
- Help for an overweight Maltese...and more
How Much Dog Food Does a Maltese Need
The amount of dog food that your dog needs, will vary according to age, activity and their own bodies natural metabolism. Pregnant Maltese females will need to have much more food and should be switched over to a puppy formula.
However, there are general guidelines, specifically for the Maltese dog.
Feeding Maltese Puppies
The amount of dog food that your dog needs, will vary according to age, activity and their own bodies natural metabolism. Pregnant Maltese females will need to have much more food and should be switched over to a puppy formula.
However, there are general guidelines, specifically for the Maltese dog.
Feeding Maltese Puppies
During the first 2 years of a Maltese puppy's life, the dog's diet is vitally important to ensure proper growth. During these 2 years, a dog is growing very quickly, bones are enlarging at an enormous rate and providing the correct amount of calories, vitamins and nutrients is crucially important. At the end of the first 2 years, a Maltese will be at their adult weight and height.
Free feeding is never recommended. This method is one in which an owner always keeps dog food accessible to the dog so that he or she may eat whenever they want to. While this initially may seem like a good idea for a growing puppy, doing so will set the stage for a dog to always expect this. Adult dogs should only eat a full meal once per day; therefore free feeding is allowing the dog to learn a bad habit.
Growing puppies need about 1 ounce (28 grams) to 1.5 ounces (42 grams) of dog food per pound of body weight every day. Feeding your pup dog food formulated for puppies is important. Recommended is 2/3 dry to 1/3 wet high quality dog food especially formulated for growing puppies.
This is distributed throughout 3 to 4 meals up to the age of 6 months. For example, a 3 pound (1.36 kg) Maltese puppy should be given approximately 3 ounces ( 85 grams) of food, spread out 3 to 4 times per day. A Maltese puppy's stomach is very small so meals must be very small as well.
If you have a very active puppy or dog or any age, you may find that you will need to increase the amount of dog food.
6 Months Old Maltese puppies can work down from 4 meals to 3 meals or from 3 meals to 2 meals. At this time, you can offer 1.5 ounce (42 grams) for every 2 pounds of body weight. Teething is done and your Maltese should be able to chew on dry dog food, which not only is good for his or her teeth, but better for the digestive system.
Food should be served in the same spot, at the same times each day; this gives the Maltese pup a sense of organization and reliability. A small puppy is going through a major change from mom's milk to real dog food. Knowing when and where meals will be served is very important for the dog.
A puppy should be allowed to eat for 15 minutes. Any remaining food can be set aside for the next meal. While very tempting, do not give in to your dog's begging for human food. A Maltese, or any other breed dog, does not have an instinct to refuse food that is toxic to their body. Fruit, fruit cores, onions, caffeine, overly salty food and so much more can make a dog sick. Additionally, once an owner gives in to the begging, this can set up a lifetime of begging behavior and a lot of training must be enforced to change this. It is best to not even begin!
Dog supplements are helpful and there are specially formulated dog supplements for growing puppies. Despite any budget concerns, it is strongly recommended to not buy dog food from the grocery store. Your Maltese puppy needs a very high quality dog food made for a small breed.
If your under 2 years old Maltese does not seem to be eating enough food and you notice weigh gain ceasing or a loss of weight, bring your dog to the vet ASAP.
How Much to Feed an Adult Maltese
By 2 years old, your little, tiny Maltese is considered an adult dog and will eat less: 1/2 ounce (14 grams) of dry dog food per pound of body weight every day. Adult dogs can usually eat just one meal per day. Some owners do choose to feed 2 meals: this does not mean double the food! This means the food, divided into 2 smaller meals. Do keep in mind that if you feed your Maltese a breakfast in the morning, he or she will need to eliminate soon afterwards. This is one of the reasons that feeding 1 larger dinner time meal is usually done.
If you have a very active dog, you may find that you will need to increase the amount of dog food.
From ages 7 and on it is recommended to switch over to a high quality dog food for senior dogs.
Feeding an adult dog is much easier. You no longer need to worry about helping your dog gain the necessary weight to keep up with the growth spurts. It is still important to keep their food in one spot; preferably in a quiet corner of your kitchen where foot traffic and noise will not disturb them. One meal should be served; ideally at dinner time. Smaller breed dogs can quickly become overweight.
Snacks
Dog treats can be given at any age. Dog treats and chews should be saved for rewarding good behavior and following commands. This will make training much easier. If a dog is given snacks and chews all the time, they will lose important significance when you are attempting to train your Maltese.
Dry VS Wet Dog Food
When a Maltese puppy is 8-12 weeks old and getting used to food as opposed to their mother's milk, wet food is recommended. Their body will have a much easier time digesting the dog food. When first weaning, water can be mixed in as well. As the dog grows older, dry food is then recommended. Wet dog food, if high quality, can certainly be feed to a dog. However, some dogs have very runny bowel movements unless fed dry dog food. A mix of 2/3 dry to 1/3 wet is recommended.
Is Your Maltese Overweight?
Owners should not worry about weight gain before the dog is 2 years old, unless there is a lack of weight gain. Once the dog is 2 and older, care must be taken so that the Maltese does not become too heavy.
How many calories does your Maltese need? There is a formula to determine this. Get out your calculators!
In terms of metric:
Free feeding is never recommended. This method is one in which an owner always keeps dog food accessible to the dog so that he or she may eat whenever they want to. While this initially may seem like a good idea for a growing puppy, doing so will set the stage for a dog to always expect this. Adult dogs should only eat a full meal once per day; therefore free feeding is allowing the dog to learn a bad habit.
Growing puppies need about 1 ounce (28 grams) to 1.5 ounces (42 grams) of dog food per pound of body weight every day. Feeding your pup dog food formulated for puppies is important. Recommended is 2/3 dry to 1/3 wet high quality dog food especially formulated for growing puppies.
This is distributed throughout 3 to 4 meals up to the age of 6 months. For example, a 3 pound (1.36 kg) Maltese puppy should be given approximately 3 ounces ( 85 grams) of food, spread out 3 to 4 times per day. A Maltese puppy's stomach is very small so meals must be very small as well.
If you have a very active puppy or dog or any age, you may find that you will need to increase the amount of dog food.
6 Months Old Maltese puppies can work down from 4 meals to 3 meals or from 3 meals to 2 meals. At this time, you can offer 1.5 ounce (42 grams) for every 2 pounds of body weight. Teething is done and your Maltese should be able to chew on dry dog food, which not only is good for his or her teeth, but better for the digestive system.
Food should be served in the same spot, at the same times each day; this gives the Maltese pup a sense of organization and reliability. A small puppy is going through a major change from mom's milk to real dog food. Knowing when and where meals will be served is very important for the dog.
A puppy should be allowed to eat for 15 minutes. Any remaining food can be set aside for the next meal. While very tempting, do not give in to your dog's begging for human food. A Maltese, or any other breed dog, does not have an instinct to refuse food that is toxic to their body. Fruit, fruit cores, onions, caffeine, overly salty food and so much more can make a dog sick. Additionally, once an owner gives in to the begging, this can set up a lifetime of begging behavior and a lot of training must be enforced to change this. It is best to not even begin!
Dog supplements are helpful and there are specially formulated dog supplements for growing puppies. Despite any budget concerns, it is strongly recommended to not buy dog food from the grocery store. Your Maltese puppy needs a very high quality dog food made for a small breed.
If your under 2 years old Maltese does not seem to be eating enough food and you notice weigh gain ceasing or a loss of weight, bring your dog to the vet ASAP.
How Much to Feed an Adult Maltese
By 2 years old, your little, tiny Maltese is considered an adult dog and will eat less: 1/2 ounce (14 grams) of dry dog food per pound of body weight every day. Adult dogs can usually eat just one meal per day. Some owners do choose to feed 2 meals: this does not mean double the food! This means the food, divided into 2 smaller meals. Do keep in mind that if you feed your Maltese a breakfast in the morning, he or she will need to eliminate soon afterwards. This is one of the reasons that feeding 1 larger dinner time meal is usually done.
If you have a very active dog, you may find that you will need to increase the amount of dog food.
From ages 7 and on it is recommended to switch over to a high quality dog food for senior dogs.
Feeding an adult dog is much easier. You no longer need to worry about helping your dog gain the necessary weight to keep up with the growth spurts. It is still important to keep their food in one spot; preferably in a quiet corner of your kitchen where foot traffic and noise will not disturb them. One meal should be served; ideally at dinner time. Smaller breed dogs can quickly become overweight.
Snacks
Dog treats can be given at any age. Dog treats and chews should be saved for rewarding good behavior and following commands. This will make training much easier. If a dog is given snacks and chews all the time, they will lose important significance when you are attempting to train your Maltese.
Dry VS Wet Dog Food
When a Maltese puppy is 8-12 weeks old and getting used to food as opposed to their mother's milk, wet food is recommended. Their body will have a much easier time digesting the dog food. When first weaning, water can be mixed in as well. As the dog grows older, dry food is then recommended. Wet dog food, if high quality, can certainly be feed to a dog. However, some dogs have very runny bowel movements unless fed dry dog food. A mix of 2/3 dry to 1/3 wet is recommended.
Is Your Maltese Overweight?
Owners should not worry about weight gain before the dog is 2 years old, unless there is a lack of weight gain. Once the dog is 2 and older, care must be taken so that the Maltese does not become too heavy.
How many calories does your Maltese need? There is a formula to determine this. Get out your calculators!
In terms of metric:
- 1. Take the weight of the dog in kg and multiply this by the number 30.
- 2. Add 70 to that number and this equal the calories needed
- Take the weight of the Maltese and divide the number by 2.2
- Multiply that number by 30
- Add 70; this is the amount of calories your Maltese needs each day
