Maltese Health Issues

Common health problems in Malteses including luxating patella, dental disease, collapsed trachea. Prevention, symptoms to watch for, and treatment options.

Common Health Problems

Malteses are predisposed to several health conditions including luxating patella, dental disease, collapsed trachea. Understanding these risks allows you to screen early, prevent where possible, and catch problems before they become emergencies.

Plan for 4-7 lbs of animal, a 12-15 yrs lifespan, and a distinct combination of health considerations and temperament that matters more than a species-level view would suggest. Prospective Maltese owners should know that this small toy breed demands an informed approach to nutrition, exercise, and preventive health management.

Genetic Screening

Prospective Maltese owners should know that this small toy breed demands an informed approach to nutrition, exercise, and preventive health management. Malteses with moderate energy levels strike a good balance between activity and relaxation.

• Size: small (4-7 lbs)
• Energy Level: Moderate
• Shedding: Minimal
• Common Health Issues: Luxating Patella, Dental Disease, Collapsed Trachea
• Lifespan: 12-15 yrs

Prevention Strategies

Knowledge of breed-specific characteristics directly translates to better day-to-day care. Malteses bring a small build, a minimal shedding pattern, and breed-specific health risk around luxating patella and dental disease — each of those shifts routine care in a different direction.

Staying proactive with vet visits — based on your pet's age and breed risks — is the most affordable way to manage breed-specific conditions. Given the breed's health tendencies, proactive screening is important for this breed.

When to See the Vet

• Provide 30–60 minutes of daily exercise appropriate to their energy level
• Feed a high-quality diet formulated for small breed dogs (400–800 calories/day)
• Maintain an occasional grooming routine
• Schedule breed-appropriate health screenings for luxating patella
• Pet insurance enrolled early typically offers the best value, covering breed-related conditions before they develop

Health Testing

Bring these numbers to the vet as a starting point; the personalisation that actually matters comes from matching them to the individual animal.

Lifespan Optimization

Prevention and early detection are worth far more than reactive treatment. Watch for early signs of luxating patella, maintain regular veterinary visits, and keep your dog at a healthy weight — excess weight worsens most of the conditions Malteses are prone to.

Veterinary Care Schedule for Malteses

Regular veterinary visits allow early detection of breed-associated conditions, when treatment is most effective. The recommended schedule for your Maltese. Adjust the schedule based on your vet's advice.

Malteses should receive breed-specific screening for luxating patella starting at 3-5 years of age or earlier if symptoms appear. Proactive testing tends to pay for itself in avoided complications.

Cost of Maltese Ownership

• Annual food costs: $250–$500 for high-quality dog food
• Veterinary care: $300–$700 annually for routine visits, plus potential emergency costs
• Grooming: $30–50 per professional session (occasional home grooming recommended)
• Pet insurance: $25–40/month for comprehensive coverage
• Supplies and toys: $200–$500 annually for bedding, toys, leashes, and other essentials

More Maltese Guides

Additional Maltese resources.

• Maltese Diet & Nutrition Guide
• Maltese Pet Insurance Cost
• How to Train a Maltese
• Maltese Grooming Guide
• Maltese Temperament & Personality
• Maltese Exercise Needs
• Maltese Cost of Ownership
• Adopt a Maltese

What are the most important considerations for maltese?

Maltese Health Issuess are predisposed to certain health conditions. Regular veterinary checkups, breed-appropriate screening tests, and early detection are the most effective ways to manage these risks.