Best Food for Maltese (2026 Guide)

A breed-specific food guide for Maltese owners — what to look for, what to avoid, and our top picks based on this breed's size, energy and known health profile.

Photo: Joe Caione / Unsplash

The Maltese is tiny, elegant lapdog with a flowing white coat. devoted and brave for their size. Their nutritional needs reflect their 3–4 kg body weight, 12–15 years lifespan, and the breed-specific health considerations covered below.

Why feeding a Maltese is different

Feeding the Maltese well is mostly about avoiding the classic mistakes: overfeeding (especially in food-driven breeds), cheap fillers, and inappropriate life-stage food.

Lower-energy Maltese dogs gain weight fast. The portion on the bag is for an active dog; cut by 20–30% for a couch-loving individual and weigh portions, don't eyeball them.

The Maltese's coat needs omega-3 + omega-6 in roughly a 5:1 ratio for skin + coat condition. Fish-oil supplementation or a salmon-first food are the cheapest ways to get this right.

Below: a specific list of what to look for, what to avoid, plus our daily-calorie estimate for an average Maltese.

What to look for in food for a Maltese

A complete-and-balanced food labelled for dogs that meets FEDIAF or AAFCO nutritional standards.
Named animal protein as the first ingredient (e.g. "chicken", "salmon"), not "meat derivatives" or "animal by-product".
A moderate-calorie maintenance formula — these breeds gain weight easily.

What to avoid

Free-feeding (food always available) — choose scheduled meals.
Anything containing onion, garlic, raisins, xylitol or chocolate flavouring (common kitchen toxins for pets).

For an exact daily portion based on your dog's weight and activity, use our food portion calculator. To check current weight is healthy, use the body condition score.

Feeding a Maltese: common questions

How much should I feed a Maltese?

A Maltese typically weighs 3–4 kg, but the right daily amount depends on age, exact weight and activity — not the breed average. Start from the feeding guide on your chosen food (or our food portion calculator), weigh the portion rather than eyeballing it, and adjust to keep your dog lean enough that you can easily feel the ribs.

How many meals a day should a Maltese have?

Two meals a day suits an adult Maltese; puppies need three to four smaller meals until around six months, then settle to two.

What should I look for in food for a Maltese?

Choose a complete-and-balanced food formulated for dogs that meets FEDIAF or AAFCO standards, with a named meat as the first ingredient rather than "meat derivatives", and match the life stage — puppy, adult or senior — to your Maltese's age.