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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Maltese

Don't let the floor-length white coat fool you — the Maltese is a small, willful athlete with a fast metabolism, a tiny stomach, and a habit of gaining weight quietly. How and how often you feed one matters far more than its seven-pound frame suggests.

Here is exactly how to feed a Maltese on freeze-dried raw: in small, nutrient-dense meals timed to a toy breed's needs, with the nutrition that protects their knees, liver, teeth, and that signature silky coat.

  • Adult weight4–7 lb
  • SizeToy
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan12–15 years
  • CoatLong, silky, single — low shedding
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A healthy Maltese
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Maltese's body needs

Every Maltese trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Tiny stomach, fast metabolism

    Needs: Small, nutrient-dense meals

    Freeze-dried raw is calorie- and nutrient-dense in a tiny volume, so a Maltese gets complete nutrition from portions that fit a toy-breed appetite — no bulky fillers crowding a small stomach.

  • Prone to weight gain

    Needs: Precise, lean portions

    At only a few pounds, a handful of extra treats is a lot of calories. Measured freeze-dried raw, fed by weight, keeps a Maltese lean — the single biggest lever for a longer, healthier life.

  • Luxating patella risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, and omega-3s calm joint inflammation — while staying lean keeps load off those small, slipping knees.

  • Long, silky, low-shedding coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping that famous white coat soft, lustrous, and less prone to dryness and matting.

  • Toy-breed dental crowding

    Needs: Clean, low-sugar whole foods

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy, sticky fillers that feed plaque — supporting the dental health every small breed has to work to protect.

How much to feed a Maltese

Quick answer: a healthy adult Maltese (4–7 lb) needs about 0.6–1.1 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
4 lb 0.6 oz 0.3 oz
5 lb typical Maltese 0.8 oz 0.4 oz
6 lb 0.9 oz 0.5 oz
7 lb 1.1 oz 0.5 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Maltese

For a Maltese we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. Rehydrated, it is soft and easy for small mouths to eat.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit weight-watchers and sensitive tummies, while Salmon adds skin- and coat-loving omega-3s. Just add water and serve in toy-sized portions.

Recipes for Malteses

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Daily support for Malteses

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Treats Malteses love

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Feeding a Maltese by life stage

  • Puppy: Tiny Maltese puppies are prone to low blood sugar, so feed small meals 3–4 times a day until about 4 months, then move to two or three meals. Use nutrient-dense raw so each small portion is complete.
  • Adult: Most adult Maltese do well on two small meals a day, morning and evening. Feed to a lean, visible waist using the chart below as a starting point, and adjust to body condition rather than appetite.
  • Senior: Activity slows but the appetite often doesn't. Trim portions to hold a lean weight, keep protein high to preserve muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common Maltese concerns — and the diet connection

  • Luxating patellaLargely inherited, but keeping a Maltese lean plus joint nutrients (natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) helps ease day-to-day comfort and takes strain off small knees.
  • ObesityOn a tiny frame, even small overfeeding shows up fast. Measured raw feeding and a lean body condition lower the strain on joints and support overall longevity.
  • Dental diseaseToy breeds are prone to crowded teeth and plaque; a clean, low-filler whole-food diet avoids the sticky starches that feed tartar, supporting the at-home dental care every Maltese needs.
  • Coat & tear stainingA whole-food, omega-rich diet supports the skin barrier and a healthy, lustrous white coat from the inside, complementing the daily grooming this breed requires.
  • Liver sensitivitySome Maltese are screened for congenital liver issues; a clean, high-quality, moderate-protein diet of real ingredients — fed under your veterinarian's guidance — keeps the daily nutritional load gentle and digestible.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Maltese: what to know

Because a Maltese is so small, young puppies can run low on blood sugar if meals are spaced too far apart. Feed puppies three to four small meals a day until around four months, then settle into two (or three) meals as adults.

Feed to body condition, not to the bag: you should feel the ribs easily and see a slight waist. On a dog this size, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them — a tablespoon too much, every day, adds up fast.

Maltese feeding questions

How much should I feed my Maltese?
A healthy adult Maltese (around 4–8 lb) needs only about 0.6–1.2 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two small meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's far less by volume than kibble — weigh it and feed to a lean waistline.
How often should a Maltese eat?
Puppies should eat 3–4 small meals a day until about 4 months to avoid low blood sugar, then transition to two or three meals. Most adults do best on two small meals, morning and evening.
What is the best food for a Maltese that gains weight easily?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean single proteins like Chicken or Cod makes portion control easy on a tiny frame. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than to your Maltese's appetite.
How do I switch my Maltese to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Rehydrate it so it's soft and easy to eat, and start at the lower end of the range since it's rich and nutrient-dense.
Does raw food help a Maltese's coat?
It can. Whole-food animal and fish fats supply the omega-3s that feed the skin barrier from the inside, helping keep that signature long white coat soft and lustrous alongside daily brushing.

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  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.