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Supplements

Supplements for Maltese Puppies and Dogs

Overview

A dietary supplement for a dog is a vitamin, mineral, botanical, amino acid, enzyme, or extract that is taken orally to supplement the diet. These can be found in several forms including pills, gels, chewable tablets, powders, or liquids.

If your Maltese is healthy and is eating a high-quality manufactured food, you may be wondering if any supplements are needed. Hint: the answer may surprise you. Alternatively, if your Maltese is having an issue, you may be in search of supplements that can help. 

This section will cover the circumstances in which a supplement can be beneficial to a Maltese puppy or dog and recommended supplements for several important categories.  

Does My Maltese Need a Supplement? 

In some cases, no. If your Maltese is a puppy or is an adult dog under 6 years old, is at a healthy weight, has no health conditions, is eating a high-quality manufactured dog food, does not suffer from stress or anxiety (acute or chronic), does not try to eat grass or feces, has healthy bowel movements, and does not develop motion sickness during travel, chances are that no supplements are needed. 

If that description does not fit your Maltese, then chances are that a supplement can improve your little guy or gal’s health or situation. 

Let’s take a look at the different types of supplements that can help a Maltese puppy or dog. 

A Daily Vitamin and Mineral Supplement

For: Maltese on home cooked diets.

What to know:

Making homemade meals for your Maltese can be a good way to provide a healthy diet while avoiding the many pitfalls of some manufactured kibbles. You’ll know right off the bat that there will be zero artificial preservatives, flavoring, or coloring. And, you’ll be avoiding by-products, fillers, and other subpar ingredients. 

This said, a couple of downsides include the absence of a dry, crunchy consistency which helps keep teeth and gums healthy and helps keep bowels firm, and time element of needing to prep and cook the food. 

But, in regard to supplements for your Maltese, the one thing to know is that no matter how healthy the ingredients you choose, it is near impossible to offer recipes that contain the recommended daily vitamins and minerals that puppies and dogs need to have. Even top-quality kibbles with well-balanced ratios of protein, carbs, and healthy fats must add in vitamins and minerals. So, if you are making meals for your Maltese, you will need to add these in as well. 
Recommendation:  


This is a great multivitamin that contains what you would expect: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, niacin, and folic acid, plus vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3 and, E. However, it also contains biotin which helps metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids and works to keep skin and coat healthy and bromelain (from pineapple) which is a digestive enzyme that can the body absorb nutrients from food and is even thought to help in some cases of coprophagia. 

Note that these are chewable tablets with liver flavor, are soy and dairy free, and are made in the USA. 
Cuteness break!
Maltese dog with a red bow
Maltese dog with a red bow
Lexi, photo courtesy of Sonia

Glucosamine and Chondroitin with CoQ10 and MSM

For: 
  • Any Maltese age 6 years and older - Each year that a dog ages, the body produces less glucosamine and chondroitin. This inevitably leads to joint pain and stiffness, and eventual wear and tear bad enough that osteoarthritis can develop. A whopping 80% of dogs age 8 and up have some level of osteoarthritis. 
Because osteoarthritis can be quite painful and limit a dog’s mobility, it is wise to be proactive about this by offering it before problems develop. While it cannot entirely prevent the disease, it can slow it down. 
  • Any Maltese that has or has had hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, or other joint or bone-related injuries or conditions - Any damage to joints can cause lasting mobility issues and also increases a dog’s chances of developing osteoarthritis in that area. Therefore, this supplement can help a dog recover and help slow down the development of issues in the future.
  • Any Maltese diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Though it is best to preemptively give a dog glucosamine and chondroitin before any level of osteoarthritis sets in, if a Maltese already has this diagnosis, this supplement will surely be prescribed by the vet. 
What to know: 
Glucosamine and Chondroitin (with or without CoQ10 and MSM) is commonly referred to as a joint supplement. These substances are very beneficial for keeping a dog's joints strong and cartilage healthy: 

  • Glucosamine produces glycosaminoglycan, which repairs body tissue and cartilage (from normal wear and tear or issues stemming from injury or age).
  • Chondroitin works along with glucosamine by maintaining proper fluid levels in the tissue around the joints for good shock absorption and lubrication and also supplies nutrients to the cartilage.  
  • CoQ10 is a naturally occurring enzyme found in cells throughout a dog’s body. It has a great many roles; however, its main functions involve supporting the immune system and ensuring proper function of blood vessels, as well as serving as an antioxidant. 
  • MSM is not naturally produced by the body. This is an organic compound that helps increase flexibility and reduce pain and inflammation. 
Recommendation:
Top choice: Doggie Dailies Advanced Hip and Joint Supplement.

This is a fantastic supplement that has the 4-ingredient formula as mentioned, but additionally has the added benefits of yucca schidigera plant extract which has anti-inflammatory properties and hyaluronic acid (HA) which shows promise as an ingredient that can thicken joint fluid to provide extra cushioning. 

These are chicken flavored soft chews and Maltese dogs (under 15 lbs.) only need 1 chewable per day, so one container of these supplements lasts over 7 months. 
Cuteness break!
Maltese puppy at 9 weeks old
Maltese puppy at 9 weeks old
Lily, at 9 weeks old, photo courtesy of Diana Boggs

Omega-3 Fish Oil

For: Maltese that have allergy symptoms, skin and/or coat issues, or arthritis. 

What to know: 

Omega fatty acids are vital for good skin (quality, proper moisture, and elasticity) and coat health (optimal texture, health, and ability to grow). It can help with issues related to allergies (dry skin, itchy skin, skin sores), it can help with seborrhea, and in some cases, it can help prompt the coat to re-grow (often in conjunction with other remedies). This supplement can also be effective in helping to help reduce pain and inflammation in dogs with arthritis or joint conditions such as patella luxation.  

Several types of oils contain omegas including flaxseed, canola, walnut, and soybean. These only provide omega-3 ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Some algae provide omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). But, it is a combination of omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA that you will want your Maltese to have, as these the most effective. 

Omega EPA and DHA are only found in fish; farmed or wild. Of these two, wild fish is superior since farmed fish may be fed food pellets containing oils that can interfere with EPA and DHA extraction. 

Fish oil can be delivered via pills, gels, or liquids. A liquid supplement is recommended since this is very easy to add to meals and dogs generally love both the scent and flavor. 

Recommendation:
Top choice: Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil.

This is a highly recommended fish oil for several reasons. It is made from wild salmon caught off the Alaskan coast, contains no additives (has only the fish oil and a vitamin mix used as an all-natural preservative – will show as mixed tocopherols), and is made in the USA. And, importantly, this is a liquid that is super-easy to add to meals and mess-free since it comes in a handy pump container. 

You’ll want to add your Maltese’s daily dose into their meal(s). Do be sure to mix it well; if it is only on some pieces of kibble, you may find that your little guy or gal only eats those pieces, since most dogs find this to be exceptionally tasty.

How much you’ll add depends on your Maltese’s weight. For most (those under 12.5 lbs.), it is just 1/2 pump. So, this bottle will last quite a while.  
Cuteness break!
male Maltese dog posing
male Maltese dog posing
Milo, at 5 months old (3.5 lbs.), photo courtesy of Lorraine Gato

Probiotics

For: Maltese with certain stomach issues.  

What to know: 

Within the digestive tract of canines (and humans), there are both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. When the balance of these is thrown off, with more ‘bad’ than ‘good’, it can cause diarrhea, runny stools, constipation, or other related issues. Sometimes, this balance can be disturbed for unknown reasons; though, certain health conditions can be to blame. 

Probiotics (‘good’ bacteria) supplements can help restore gastrointestinal health (barring any underlying health conditions) and also aids in keeping the immune system strong. 

This type of supplement may also help with issues of coprophagia (eating feces) and ingestion of grass since it may improve the body’s ability to properly absorb nutrients from food thus stopping dogs from looking to alternative food sources. 

It’s important to note that there are many different species of ‘good’ bacteria. Some supplements only contain one species and therefore may not help at all. It is best to offer one that contains multiple species. 

Recommendation:
Top choice: Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs.

This probiotic is highly recommended for several reasons. This contains 22 different species, which is quite fantastic, it has no soy, wheat, fillers, or artificial flavors, and is made in the USA. This is a fine powder that is innocuously mixed into food (most dogs have no idea that it’s been added). 

Best of all, your little guy or gal will receive these benefits in a very small amount of powder. Maltese (and any dog under 50 pounds) only need 1 scoop per day which is 1/4 of a teaspoon. 

High-calorie Nutritional Supplement 

For: Maltese puppies that struggle with weight gain or adults that have trouble maintaining weight. 

What to know:

This type of supplement is meant to deliver nutrition and calories to puppies that are struggling to gain weight or adults struggling to maintain weight and is only recommended once all possible underlying health issues have been ruled out and/or treated.  

This works by delivering nutrition (calories, vitamins, and minerals) in a small serving that does not need to be chewed. It is typically a gel that even puppies and dogs that balk at eating are receptive to. It can be fed out of the tube or on a small spoon. 

Note that this is not a meal replacement, but rather a method of offering calories short-term when a dog has trouble eating enough. Be sure to use this along with your veterinarian’s instructions to stabilize your Maltese’s weight. 

Recommendation:

This is a highly reputable nutritional gel that tastes yummy while delivering protein, healthy fats, and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. There are 28 calories per teaspoon. Maltese puppies, up until about 9 months old, need approximately 55 calories per day for each pound of body weight. So, for example, a 5-pound pup requires about 275 calories per day and two teaspoons of this delivers over 20% of those needed calories. 

Note that there are two different formulas, one for pups and one for adult dogs. 
Cuteness break!
cute baby Maltese
cute baby Maltese
Cece, photo courtesy of Elaine Sylvia 

Calming Supplements

For: Maltese of any age that become stressed when traveling, suffer from severe separation anxiety, become highly stressed during certain circumstances such as thunderstorms or when visitors are in the home, and those with generalized anxiety.

What to know:

Canine calming supplements are not regulated by the FDA, which means that there are very few real studies proving or disproving their effectiveness. This said, there is a lot of antidotal evidence that certain ones can indeed help to some extent. While these may not completely tranquilize your Maltese (and you may not even want that), they can take the edge off. 

Ingredients common to these include a colostrum complex (thought to have a calming effect on animals), L-theanine (found in many teas and said to provide a calming effect), thiamine (vitamin B; the body does not naturally produce this and dogs with low levels of vitamin B are prone to stress), and valerian root (an herb with mild sedative qualities).

For stress that develops when traveling (car, airplane, etc.), it can help to use a combination of both calming ingredients and other types of herbs that help with stomach queasiness such as ginger root and chamomile. 

Recommendations:
Top choice for stress when traveling: Strawfield Calming Treats for Dogs. 

This works two-fold. It contains valerian root to calm nerves as well as l-tryptophan (the compound found in turkey that may be linked to feeling relaxed) and also has chamomile and ginger root which both work to help ease tummy woes. There is also a 5th ingredient, passion flower, which may help with both stress and stomach issues. 
These are chicken flavored soft chews that are made in the USA. Maltese should be given one chew 30 minutes before traveling. After those 30 minutes, a second chew can be given. You will not want to exceed two chews within 24 hours. 
Top choice for stress due to separation anxiety, high-stress circumstances, and generalized anxiety: Pet Naturals of Vermont Calming Supplement.

This is a blend of three ingredients that all work to help reduce anxiety: L-theanine, thiamine, and colostrum complex, so if you want to see if supplements can help your Maltese feel better, this is worth a try. 
These are chicken and liver soft chews with no artificial ingredients or wheat and are made in the USA. 

For full-day relief, Maltese should be given 1 chew each day; though you can easily tear a chew in half and offer one-half in the morning and one-half in the afternoon or evening. If you'll be offering this just for specific events, give this to your Maltese 30 minutes beforehand. 
Cuteness break!
Maltese playing outside
Maltese playing outside
Louis, at 6 months old, photo courtesy of Carol

A Final Word

While supplements for dogs cannot replace prescribed medications when a Maltese has certain health issues, they do have their place to help in a variety of ways, from easing stomach issues to calming a stressed dog, and even helping prevent the onslaught of osteoarthritis. Since our little guys and gals depend on us to keep them healthy, it is worth looking whether dietary supplements may be appropriate for your Maltese puppy or dog. 

Never hesitate to ask your veterinarian questions regarding supplements and be sure to use as directed to avoid exceeding recommended dosing. 
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