Maltese Health Guide
Everything Maltese owners need to know about keeping their dog healthy.
Breed Overview
The Maltese is a toy breed known for being affectionate, bright, and deeply people-oriented. Historically bred as a companion dog, this breed is small but sturdy enough for family life when handled gently. From a health standpoint, Maltese are often long-lived, but their small size and breed predispositions mean owners should pay close attention to knees, dental health, liver screening in puppies, and any cough or neurologic signs. Their white coat and facial structure can also make tear staining and eye irritation more noticeable than in many other breeds.
Common Health Issues
Luxating patella
Maltese are predisposed to kneecaps that slip out of place. Owners may notice skipping, hopping, brief lameness, or a leg that suddenly returns to normal. Mild cases may be monitored, but recurrent pain, worsening lameness, or reduced activity should be evaluated by a vet.
Tracheal collapse
Toy breeds are at higher risk for collapsing trachea. Signs often include a dry, harsh "goose-honk" cough, worse with excitement, heat, pressure from a collar, or after eating and drinking. Breathing distress needs urgent veterinary care.
Dental disease and retained teeth
Maltese commonly need proactive dental care. Crowded small mouths increase the risk of tartar buildup, gum disease, retained baby teeth, pain, infection, and extractions if dental care is delayed.
Liver shunt or microvascular dysplasia
Breed clubs recommend bile acid testing in puppies because congenital liver vascular disorders can occur in Maltese. Possible signs include poor growth, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary issues, lethargy, behavior changes, circling, or seizures, often around mealtimes.
Congenital heart disease
The American Maltese Association includes congenital heart screening in CHIC recommendations, mainly to help rule out patent ductus arteriosus. A murmur in a puppy or exercise intolerance should always be checked by a veterinarian.
White shaker syndrome or other neurologic disease
Maltese can be affected by tremor syndromes and breed health statements also note inflammatory brain disease as a concern. Tremors, head tilt, seizures, circling, weakness, or sudden behavior change are not watch-and-wait problems.
Preventive Care Schedule
Maltese should follow your veterinarian’s core vaccine schedule and routine wellness exams, but this breed also benefits from a few extra prevention priorities. During puppyhood, ask your vet about bile acid testing if there are concerns about poor growth, GI signs, or neurologic episodes, because congenital liver shunt and microvascular dysplasia are breed-recognized issues. Ask breeders whether the parents completed CHIC-recommended screening, which the American Maltese Association lists as OFA patella and OFA congenital cardiac screening. Dental prevention is especially important: daily tooth brushing, early oral exams, and professional cleanings as recommended can reduce pain, tooth loss, and costly extractions later. For adults and seniors, prompt evaluation of coughing, exercise intolerance, limping, tremors, or new neurologic signs is important because these can reflect breed-linked problems rather than simple aging.
When to Use Telehealth for Your Maltese
Telehealth can be especially helpful for Maltese owners when you are deciding how urgent a problem is. Common good uses include a new cough without severe breathing distress, mild limping or skipping that may suggest a luxating patella, dental questions such as bad breath or loose baby teeth, tear staining or mild eye irritation questions, skin itchiness, picky eating, and reviewing lab results or breeder health-testing paperwork before bringing home a puppy. Telehealth is also useful for monitoring chronic issues after an in-person diagnosis, such as patellar luxation or tracheal disease. Skip telehealth and seek in-person or emergency care right away if your Maltese has trouble breathing, collapses, has seizures, shows severe pain, cannot use a leg, has major trauma from a fall or jump, or develops sudden neurologic changes.
Maltese Health FAQs
Are Maltese generally healthy dogs?
What health tests should I ask a Maltese breeder about?
Why is my Maltese skipping on one back leg?
Do Maltese need dental cleanings more often than some other dogs?
When should I worry about coughing in a Maltese?
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice. Reading this content does not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Every pet is different — always consult a licensed veterinarian before making decisions about your pet's health, diet, or care. If you'd like personalized guidance, you can talk to one of our vets. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency animal hospital immediately.