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Your Maltese's Diet--
Common Questions

SHOULD I SUPPLEMENT MY MALTESE'S DIET?

Vitamin and mineral supplements are not necessary unless they are recommended by your veterinarian for the management of certain conditions.

WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY MALTESE'S SKIN AND COAT?

Improper nutrition is only one of the many things that cause poor skin and coat. After your veterinarian rules out disease as a possible cause, a diet high in energy and fatty acids such as a lamb and rice formula will usually improve your Maltese's hair, coat and skin.

ARE DRY FOODS BETTER FOR MY MALTESE'S TEETH THAN CANNED FOODS?

Feeding your Maltese a dry food will help to reduce tartar build-up. Tartar starts with a soft deposit called plaque. Hard food helps to scrape away the plaque before it turns to tartar. If you feed canned foods, biscuits or hard chew toys will help to reduce plaque. Your Maltese should have its teeth checked by a veterinarian at least once a year.

DOES MY MALTESE NEED VARIETY IN HIS OR HER DIET?

The desire for a variety of foods is learned. Scientific studies show that pet's offered a choice of foods, tend to eat the same food day after day. Your Maltese will be happy and consistently eat the correct diet if you don't introduce bad eating habits.

DO CERTAIN FOODS MAKE MY MALTESE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BLOAT?

There are many factors thought to make a dog bloat, whether it be dietary or not. Poorly digestible diets, especially if fed large amounts at one time can stretch the tissues supporting the stomach, which can allow twisting to occur. Diets containing excessive amounts of calcium may lead to changes in the stomach that have been linked to bloat. Ways to prevent bloat include:

* Feeding a balanced, digestible diet without calcium supplements.

* Dividing the amount of food given per day into several meals.

* Minimizing excitement and activity before and after a meal.

DIETARY MANAGEMENT

Different pets have different nutritional needs. The more closely you meet those needs within the diet, the better the chance of maintaining your Maltese's health. It is important you feed a diet with a correct amount, not excess amounts of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Your veterinarian will help you to determine your pet's nutritional needs. Always consult with your veterinarian about any diet you decide to feed your Maltese.
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