Maltese are affectionate, curious, and fearful companions. As one of the oldest breeds in the world, this toy dog is relatively easy to care for. They’re people-pleasers at heart, but they’re also spunky little pups that aren’t afraid of a challenge.
Finding the right food for small and toy breeds can be difficult. While you want to get something nutritious and high quality, it should also be something that your Maltese finds palatable. It needs to be easily digested and flavorful too. This breed has various health problems that they are prone to developing, so the dog food should work for your dog, not against them.
To help you out, we have a list of reviews of the best dog foods for Maltese. Read on to find delicious, nutritious, and budget-friendly products for your tiny companion.
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The 8 Best Dog Foods for Maltese
1. Ollie Fresh Chicken Dog Food Subscription — Best Overall
| Brand: | Ollie |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver |
| Primary protein source: | Chicken |
| Food Form: | Fresh food |
| Special Diet: | No corn, wheat, or soy |
Ollie Fresh Chicken Dog Food Subscription is a fantastic option for your Maltese dog, as it’s a personalized meal plan that is designed to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. Before you sign up for Ollie’s subscription-only service, the website will prompt you to fill out a short questionnaire about your dog’s size, age, and activity level to better provide you with the right nutrition plan for their needs. The customizable nature of these meal plans is why we believe that Ollie provides the best overall dog food for Maltese.
Ollie has three main meal types: fresh, baked, and mixed. The mixed plan enables you to combine fresh and baked recipes. The fresh plan features a soft and palatable texture in pre-portioned packs to ensure that you’re feeding your Maltese just enough and not too much. The fresh meals include beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey recipes, which have fruits, vegetables, and grains. Each has high-quality protein as the first ingredient to ensure that your small breed gets the right protein amount needed to thrive.
The baked plan is easy to store and less expensive than an all-fresh diet. Ollie’s baked food recipes are available in beef or chicken flavors and feature healthy ingredients like cats, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas.
Ollie’s fresh food packs can be stored in the freezer to preserve their longevity. Unopened, they will last up to 6 months in the freezer and need 24 hours to thaw before serving.
Pros
- Can be frozen
- Customizable meal plans
- Pre-portioned meals
- Easy to adjust subscription
Cons
- Not available à la carte
- Can be pricey
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult Small Breed High Protein Natural Chicken & Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food — Budget Buy
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, peas, tapioca starch |
| Primary protein source: | Chicken |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | High-protein, grain-free, no corn, wheat, or soy |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult Small Breed High Protein Natural Chicken & Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food is a great choice for Maltese with allergies or food sensitivities. It’s also the best dog food for Maltese for the money. It’s made with chicken, peas, sweet potatoes, blueberries, cranberries, and carrots mixed to create the perfect protein, fat, and carbohydrate ratio. It is rich in antioxidants to support immune function and protein to support muscle mass.
While this food is designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs, it doesn’t work for all pups. Some dogs still have difficulty digesting it, in which case, you may need food with more limited ingredients.
Pros
- Grain-free
- High protein
- Good for food sensitivities
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Pea-derived protein in the formula
- Not tolerated by all dogs
3. ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Brand: | ORIJEN |
| Life stage: | Adult/Senior |
| First five ingredients: | Chicken, turkey, Atlantic flounder, whole Atlantic mackerel, turkey giblets |
| Primary protein source: | Turkey and chicken |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | Grain-free, high-protein, weight control, gluten-free, natural, raw, no corn, wheat, or soy |
ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is one of the best senior foods for small breeds like the Maltese. It’s almost double the price of most other dog foods. but it’s high quality and high in protein. If you’re looking for a grain-free food to support your Maltese’s health, joint, and immune functions and keep them active into their golden years, look no further.
This food contains no fillers or artificial ingredients. The first five ingredients are all proteins, while the rest are whole fruits and vegetables. It is dry food, but it’s made of freeze-dried raw food, so all the nutrition of whole ingredients is preserved.
The primary protein in ORIJEN senior food is chicken. Unfortunately, this brand doesn’t have any non-poultry varieties, so if your dog has sensitivities to chicken or turkey, this food won’t work for you. It also gives off a fairly strong fish smell, so it is best kept in a sealed, air-proof container once the bag is opened.
Pros
- All-natural ingredients
- Freeze-dried raw
- First five ingredients are proteins
Cons
- Only comes in poultry recipes
- Strong smell
- Expensive
4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley |
| Primary protein source: | Chicken |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | No corn, wheat, or soy, with grain |
Maltese require a balanced ratio of macronutrients, fat, carbohydrates, and protein to stay healthy. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is formulated specifically for small breeds, including Maltese.
The small, easy-to-chew kibble is protein-rich and enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and a blend of antioxidants to support your dog’s immune system while promoting muscle development. You won’t find any by-products or fillers in this food, only whole ingredients. Since it is wheat, corn, and soy free, it is a great choice for dogs with sensitive digestive systems.
Pros
- Whole ingredients
- No byproducts
- Easy to digest
5. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Brand: | Wellness CORE |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, peas |
| Primary protein source: | Turkey and chicken |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | Grain-free, gluten-free, no corn, wheat, or soy, high-protein |
If your Maltese has a sensitive stomach or food allergies, check out Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food. It has a complete nutritional profile, contains high-quality ingredients, and has no grains of any kind. The high protein levels provide dense energy for your small dog, and the food tastes good!
While this recipe is formulated for dogs with allergies, it still contains chicken as one of the top ingredients. Since chicken is the most common offending protein for dogs with digestive sensitivities, it won’t work for all canines.
Pros
- Grain-free for sensitive stomach
- High protein
- Tastes good
Cons
- Chicken is the primary protein source
6. Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Adult Dog Food
| Brand: | Wellness |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Deboned turkey, chicken meal, salmon meal, oatmeal, rice, barley |
| Primary protein source: | Turkey and brown rice |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | Weight control; no corn, wheat, or soy, with grain |
If your adult Maltese has a weight problem, this is the food for you. Instead of depriving your little one, give them a food specially formulated to help small breeds lose weight. The Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Adult Dog Food is tasty and low in calories but still offers complete nutrition. Added probiotics and fiber help digestion and no fillers or byproducts exist.
Wellness dry dog food has larger chunks of kibble than you might expect out of a small breed food. In most cases, this just helps your dog chew and eat slower, therefore consuming less at a time. If you have a senior Maltese with dental problems, this food might be too difficult for them to chew.
Pros
- Promotes weight loss
- High fiber
7. Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Brand: | Merrick |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Deboned beef, lamb meal, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes |
| Primary protein source: | Beef and sweet potato |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | Grain-free, no corn, wheat, or soy, gluten-free, sensitive digestion |
To keep little dogs satisfied, Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a high-protein, high-fat formula. This is the Texas beef and sweet potato recipe, but Lil’ Plates dry food comes in eight flavors. Merrick is the brand to look for if your Maltese needs a novel protein food due to a sensitivity or digestion issue.
Merrick is a food brand with large kibble that isn’t appropriate for dogs with dental issues; however, it does make the same nutritious recipes in wet food, if that is a concern. It is also a more expensive brand of food than many other small-breed choices.
Pros
- Many recipe choices
- High protein
- High fat
- Also available as wet food
8. Halo Holistic Chicken Small Breed Dry Dog Food
| Brand: | Halo |
| Life stage: | Adult |
| First five ingredients: | Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, dried peas, oatmeal |
| Primary protein source: | Chicken and chicken liver |
| Food Form: | Dry food |
| Special Diet: | With grain, non-GMO |
Halo Holistic Chicken Small Breed Dry Dog Food is well-known for having high-quality ingredients in its pet food, and this recipe for small-breed dogs is no exception. It’s made with wholesome, natural ingredients, with small kibble bites filled with dense nutrition. Although not in high quantities, there is grain in this food, and it’s enriched with vitamins and minerals to provide complete nutrition for your Maltese.
However, this food isn’t a good choice for picky eaters, as many dogs don’t seem to like the flavor. It is also a strong-smelling food, so you probably don’t want it to sit in the open for too long.
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Small kibble pieces
- Complete nutrient profile
Cons
- Not all dogs like it
- Strong smell
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Your Maltese
With so many small-breed foods available, finding one that’s reliable for your Maltese can be challenging. Hopefully, this list of reviews has helped you find one that fits your needs, but if you still can’t decide, here is a handy buyer’s guide to addressing common questions and concerns about buying food for Maltese dogs.
What to Look For in Maltese Dog Food
Whole Food Ingredients
Any time you buy dog food, your number-one focus should be on wholesome, high-quality ingredients. This means meat should be the first ingredient, followed by healthy fats and carbohydrates, ideally from whole grains.
If your Maltese doesn’t have digestive issues or food sensitivities, you don’t need to buy grain-free food. Grains aren’t bad for dogs; it’s just that they can irritate some dogs’ digestive systems, much like in people.
If your Maltese has digestive issues, food allergies, or skin issues, it’s usually best to stick to a limited ingredient.
Quality Proteins
Maltese thrive on high-protein diets, but the protein should come from real meat sources, like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, or fish. It’s okay for dog food to contain meal ingredients, like chicken meal, but you should avoid meat byproducts whenever possible.
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats promote your dog’s skin and coat health. While indoor dogs don’t need as much fat as active dogs, any canine should get plenty of exercise. Small dogs, in particular, don’t eat that much food, so they need their meals to contain as much protein and fat for energy as possible.
Ingredients to Avoid
Many dog food brands offer high-quality ingredients and great-tasting food. Unfortunately, there are also many brands that don’t. It’s easy to find a cheap dog food full of fillers, artificial additives, and low-quality ingredients. To avoid buying the wrong one, you need to know what you’re looking for.
Things to avoid include:
- Fillers: Fillers tend to be excessive carbohydrates in the formula derived from wheat, corn, rice, or starchy vegetables.
- Artificial additives: Colors, flavors, and preservatives are often found in dog food. They can make food last longer, taste better, and look better, but these are also common culprits for poor skin and coat health, digestive issues, and allergic reactions.
- Animal byproducts: Meat byproducts are the “leftovers” from meat processing that aren’t considered safe for human consumption. While these aren’t unhealthy for your dog, the problem is that you don’t know what exactly you’re getting. There aren’t any standards for which byproducts can be put into dog food. It is better to choose products that name exactly what is in the food—for example, chicken liver and chicken heart.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have a good handle on what dog foods are best for your Maltese. To recap our reviews, our recommendation as the best overall dog food for Maltese is Ollie. It has a well-balanced nutritional profile, high-quality fresh ingredients that are easy to digest, and tons of vitamins and minerals to keep your dog healthy. We also recommend Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Dog Food as the best value for the money. This budget-friendly doesn’t compromise on quality, nutrition, or flavor and is designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
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