An adult Maltese of 3.5 kg, neutered and moderately active, needs about 181 kcal a day: portions so small that a few grams make a difference. Three findings from veterinary studies matter more than the brand: the Maltese is among the breeds most often treated for acute diarrhoea, among the most prone to calcium oxalate bladder stones, and among those most often diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt, an abnormal blood vessel that bypasses the liver and changes what an affected dog should eat.
The FCI breed standard, under Italian patronage, gives 3-4 kg, with a height at the withers of 21-25 cm for males and 20-23 cm for females. It recognises a single size: the "teacup" or "toy" Maltese of adverts is not an official variety. American guides quote lower numbers because the American Kennel Club standard asks for a Maltese under 7 lb (about 3.2 kg), ideally 4-6 lb (1.8-2.7 kg). In other words, the European standard describes a slightly heavier dog than the American one.
Plenty of owners ask how much a 5 kg Maltese should eat, and 5 kg is above the standard. That can be a bigger frame or a few hundred grams too many, and body shape tells you more than the scales: on the WSAVA 9-point body condition scale the ideal is 4-5, meaning ribs you can feel without pressing and a visible waist from above. A Maltese's long coat hides both, so check with your hands. On a dog this small, one biscuit or a few table scraps a day are enough to tip the balance.
This is the most surprising finding. In the Royal Veterinary College's VetCompass study of UK veterinary records from 2019 (over 2.2 million dogs, 1,835 verified cases of acute diarrhoea), the Maltese had 2.17 times the odds of acute diarrhoea of crossbred dogs, the highest figure among the six breeds at increased risk, level with the Miniature Poodle. In a year about 14.6% of Maltese were seen by a vet for acute diarrhoea, almost one in seven, compared with 8.2% of dogs overall. The estimate rests on only 13 Maltese cases, so read it as a strong pointer rather than a precise figure.
Across all the dogs in the study, more than 80% of cases needed only one visit. Among the suspected causes vets recorded, the most common was eating something unsuitable (9.5% of cases), a change of diet appeared in 4.6%, and dietary management was part of the treatment in 44%. There is also a more serious form, acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome: in a study of 108 dogs the Maltese was among the predisposed breeds, and in 80% of dogs vomiting came before the bloody diarrhoea. It can cause severe dehydration, but with prompt fluid therapy the outlook is good.
The Maltese is one of the breeds most prone to calcium oxalate stones. Among 124,285 oxalate stones analysed by the Minnesota Urolith Center between 2010 and 2015 it was one of 12 high-risk breeds, all of them small; in data from the University of California, Davis (10,444 stones, 2006-2018) it had 3.7 times the odds of crossbreds. In Maltese the first stone appeared on average at around 8 years of age, in roughly two cases out of three in a male, and for high-risk breeds the authors suggest screening from 5-6 years, before stones cause signs.
Oxalate stones cannot be dissolved with a diet: food matters afterwards, to lower the risk of them coming back, which is high. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus recommends more dilute urine, with high-moisture foods (over 75% water) or water added to kibble, avoiding urine acidification and avoiding diets with excessive protein, while admitting that well-designed clinical trials on recurrence are lacking. If your Maltese has already had stones, the vet chooses the food, often a specific dietetic one.
A congenital portosystemic shunt is an abnormal blood vessel that carries blood from the gut around the liver instead of through it, so substances the liver should filter, such as ammonia, reach the rest of the body. In the records of North American veterinary teaching hospitals (2,400 dogs with a shunt, 1980-2002), the diagnosis was made in 1.6% of the Maltese seen, against 0.05% of mixed-breed dogs, one of the highest proportions alongside the Havanese, Yorkshire Terrier, Dandie Dinmont and Pug.
It belongs on a food page because of how it shows up and how it is managed. Typical signs are a dull or disoriented dog, behaviour changes, poor growth and urinary problems from urate stones; the neurological signs can get worse after meals, although only 30-50% of patients show that link. Diagnosis often comes early: in a study of 78 dogs managed without surgery the median age at diagnosis was 10.8 months, and treatment started with a protein-restricted diet. There is also a Maltese quirk: in an Australian study of 195 Maltese, 79% had post-meal bile acids above the reference range, yet the ammonia tolerance test was normal in 102 of the 106 Maltese tested and liver samples from 11 dogs showed no significant disease, while a 2023 Korean study found normal average values in 30 Maltese without a shunt. A single high result is therefore not a diagnosis: your vet reads it alongside other tests. If your Maltese has been diagnosed with a shunt, the vet sets the diet, and any change of food should be agreed with them first.
Plenty of owners look for a food that stops tear stains. The reddish-brown marks appear when tears, which are rich in pigments called porphyrins, overflow onto the white coat, and the reason is often anatomical: in light-coated breeds the ducts that drain tears are frequently narrow or badly angled, or hairs and eyelids irritate the inner corner of the eye. In a study of 23 dogs operated on for excessive tearing, Maltese included, the tearing was linked to hairs or eyelids turned towards the eye, and after surgery it resolved in all of them.
No treatment works for every dog. A low-dose antibiotic, tylosin, was used in the past, but regulatory limits and concern about antimicrobial resistance have curbed it, and putting antibiotics into food is considered inappropriate. The only recent controlled trial we found gave herbal extracts to 40 Poodles and Bichons for 28 days and cut staining scores by 38-49% against a control group: it used a pet company's products, did not involve the Maltese and did not compare meats. We found no study showing that cutting out chicken makes the stains go away. Have your vet check the eyes and tear ducts, wipe under the eyes daily and keep the hair there short.
Every Pappa Fresh recipe contains one meat and lists the percentage of each ingredient on the label, so you always know what is in the bowl and can discuss it with your vet:
They are cooked in the pouch and kept out of the fridge until opened; once opened, keep them in the fridge and use within 2-3 days. For a 3.5 kg Maltese one 400 g pouch covers about 2.5 days, so it fits within that limit. With the Mix plan (half the ration alongside your dog's kibble, €1.56 a day) the same pouch would last twice as long, beyond the 2-3 days after opening, so for a dog this small the Complete plan is the one that fits the 400 g pouch best. The quarter-ration Topper is not offered, because it would not reach 10 pouches per cycle. Turkey is poultry, so if your dog has reacted to chicken, ask your vet before trying it.
An adult Maltese of 3.5 kg, neutered and moderately active, needs about 181 kcal a day: with our Chicken recipe that is about 159 g, with the richer Beef 133 g. An intact Maltese burns more, about 226 kcal. The table covers the breed standard, from 3 kg to 4 kg; if your dog weighs more, the quiz calculates the portion from its actual weight and body condition.
Compared with a bag of kibble the grams will look high, and that is normal: kibble is far more concentrated (around 350-400 kcal per 100 g, against 110-136 for our recipes), so for the same calories a wet food weighs about three times as much. For the general logic behind portions, see our guide how much should a dog eat.
| Weight | Energy need (kcal/day) neutered / intact | Grams per day neutered / intact | Complete plan | Mix (½) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 161 / 202 | 141 g / 177 g | €2.59/day | €1.30/day |
| 3.5 kg | 181 / 226 | 159 g / 198 g | €2.89/day | €1.56/day |
| 4 kg | 200 / 250 | 175 g / 219 g | €3.18/day | €1.60/day |
Grams based on the Chicken recipe (114 kcal/100 g); with Beef, which is richer (136 kcal/100 g), you need about 16% less. Prices for a neutered dog.
Figures calculated with the same method as our quiz (FEM×K: maintenance energy adjusted for breed, activity, neutering and body condition). They are an estimate: take the quiz for your dog's exact plan, and talk to your vet about any health concern.
Two minutes: enter weight, age and activity to get the exact portion, with 30% off your first order.
An adult 4 kg Maltese, neutered and moderately active, needs about 200 kcal a day, which is about 175 g of our chicken wet food; if intact, about 219 g. These are estimates: the right portion also depends on body condition.
With our Chicken recipe, an adult neutered Maltese of 3.5 kg needs about 159 g a day, and across the breed standard of 3 kg to 4 kg it ranges from about 141 g to 175 g. Wet food holds more water than kibble, so the grams are roughly three times higher for the same calories.
The FCI standard gives 3-4 kg, with 21-25 cm at the withers for males and 20-23 cm for females. The American Kennel Club asks for a lighter dog: under 3.2 kg, ideally 1.8-2.7 kg. More than the number, check body condition: 4-5 on the WSAVA 9-point scale.
We found no evidence that a particular meat or kibble makes tear stains disappear. The best documented cause is anatomical: narrow or angled tear ducts, or hairs and eyelids irritating the eye. The first step is a check-up with your vet, then daily cleaning under the eyes.
Call your vet the same day, especially if there is vomiting too or the dog is dull. The Maltese is predisposed to acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome, which can cause severe dehydration but usually improves quickly with prompt fluid therapy.
No study shows that one food type suits the Maltese better: what matters is a complete food in the right portion for its weight. If your Maltese has had bladder stones or liver problems, the vet chooses the food.
Written by the Pappa Fresh editorial team from published veterinary studies (see sources). Not a substitute for your vet's advice.
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