Getting the right nutrition is important to all of us, whether we’re a sturdy human or a petite little fur baby, like a Maltese. The food that we feed to our white balls of fluff doesn’t only have to taste good – there are a lot of picky eaters out there, as I’m sure some of you are well aware of – it also should contain all the goodies that will keep your dog happy and healthy.
So, how do you find the best dog food for Maltese? There’s a jungle of dog food out there, all with different ingredients and promises, and it might seem difficult to find the one that’s perfect for your precious sweetheart.
Best Dog Food for Maltese
Nutro Wholesome is made especially for smaller dog breeds, who have a faster metabolism than their larger cousins and need more calories.
Key Specifications
- Flavor – Chicken, brown rice, and sweet potato
- Contains Grains – YES
- Added Vitamins – YES
- Why It’s Recommended – Contains a variety of nutrients
Maltese are lively, playful little creatures full of energy and should have food that goes with their fun-loving personality.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials is a mix of farm-raised chicken, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables – something that wouldn’t look out of place on your plate! The natural fiber in this food will help your pooch’s digestion so that he will have a happy belly and a happy life.
It’s also packed with antioxidants (so that you won’t have to share your green tea with your pup), vitamins such as vitamin E, and minerals – no multi-vitamin pills needed! With all the nutrients your best friend needs in one place, you don’t have to worry about her finishing her peas or her broccoli.
Brushing your Maltese is a lovely activity and will help keep the coat clean and smooth, but a shiny, healthy coat tends to come from within. With this food, you don’t have to feed your dog pure fish that contains the fatty acids that are great for good skin and soft fur, because it has Omega 3 and 6 added in!
Pros
- Healthy gums
- Good kibble size
- Helps with a full, long, healthy coat of hair
- Picky dogs like it
- Only need small portions
Cons
- Can be clumpy
- Has an unpleasant smell
- Some dogs have allergies to some of the ingredients
- Might cause gas
Something that Nutro Wholesome does not contain though, is artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Great news, because we don’t want to feed our babies anything that might not be good for them. Of course, we don’t. Because they are our babies.
2. Blue Buffalo
Nothing is more stressful than having a pup who won’t eat no matter what you do, so finding the right dog food can be a real blessing. Maltese are known for being picky – or perhaps discerning? – eaters and Blue Buffalo is tasty enough even for a pooch who knows that she only deserves the best.
Key Specifications
- Flavor – Chicken and brown rice
- Contains Grains – YES
- Added Vitamins – YES
- Why It’s Recommended – Recommend by veterinarians and animal nutritionists
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula contains loads of goodies for your fluffy baby, such as chicken, whole grains, garden vegetables, and fruit. Doesn’t that sound tasty! If not, ask your dog, who might be of a different opinion.
It’s packed with both vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, a precise blend that suits the needs of smaller, active dog breeds. Sounds like good Maltese dog food, doesn’t it? There are also ingredients that are a good source of Omega 3 and 6 acids, such as fish meal and flaxseed. All the fishy goodness, but without the smell!
Veterinarians and animal nutritionists have helped put this formula together, so this is a dog food recommended by professionals, and contains everything your dog needs.
There is no corn, soy, or wheat that might cause allergies in this food, no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, and no preservatives or artificial flavors. It’s as clean as a whistle!
Pros
- Recommended by veterinarians and nutritionists
- No corn, wheat, or soy that might cause skin allergies
- Healthy stomach and coat
- High energy food
- Easy to chew
Cons
- Has a strange, crumbly consistency
- Sometimes a bit clumpy
- Can cause gas
Blue Buffalo is also easy to chew, which makes it good for dogs with teeth problems, a common condition for this breed. Sounds pretty good to me!
3. Purina Pro Plan
A long time ago, Maltese were used for rodent control, just like cats and other small breeds. But in these modern days, we can offer our lovelies food that is tastier, contains more good stuff – and they don’t have to catch it themselves!
Key Specifications
- Flavor – Chicken, and rice
- Contains Grains – YES
- Added Vitamins – YES
- Why It’s Recommended – Specially made for smaller breeds
The white fluff balls should be fed food that fits their size and active lives, and Purina Pro Plan is made with the needs of smaller snouts and mouths in mind. There is both chicken and rice in this food, as well as lots of vitamins and minerals that are good for your toy dog.
Calcium helps with strong teeth and bones, so with a belly full of this tastiness your dog will be able to play catch whenever you want to – and probably even more often than that. The kibble size is suitable for small dogs, and they are filled with nutrients, including wheat bran that will help your fluffy friend with her digestion.
And I think we all would like to avoid having to clean small accidents off the carpet, given the chance. In fact, pups with a sensitive belly might very well benefit from this food, so it’s worth giving it a go if you have a little one who needs to make a bit more often than you’d like.
Pros
- Good for sensitive stomachs
- Good kibble size
- Gives your dog a great coat and healthy teeth
- Some picky eaters like it
- Easy to chew
Cons
- Contains poultry by-product meal
- Might not be to every dog’s taste
- Contains corn and wheat
Maltese stomachs can be quite delicate, so finding the right food such as Purina Pro might bring lots of improvements for both of you.
4. TruDog
TruDog is a little different compared to most other kinds; it is almost exclusively made of raw meat, organs, and bones that have been ground and then freeze-dried. The only thing added to it is herring oil and mixed tocopherols, that contain vitamin E.
Key Specifications
- Flavor – Turkey
- Contains Grains – NO
- Added Vitamins – YES
- Why It’s Recommended – All-natural, no grains or additives at all
It doesn’t have any grains, other kinds of fillers, preservatives, or added flavors or colors. At all. It’s pretty much as natural as it gets and would be a good, more convenient alternative to feeding your dog raw meat, that would need to be frozen and thawed and kept in the fridge. A bit of a hassle, really.
All you need to do is add some water, and the meaty goodness is ready to be wolfed down by your miniature wolf. Since it’s all-natural, it suits dogs who have allergies or other physical conditions.
It’s also easy to digest, and while it isn’t made just for small breeds, it can be eaten and enjoyed by all sizes and age groups in the canine family. If you’d like some more greens and veggies for your pooch, you could always give him a little of that on the side, but that is completely up to you – and your dog’s taste buds, of course.
Pros
- A limited amount of ingredients
- Soft and easy to eat
- No chemicals at all
- Good for dogs with allergies or other conditions
- Good for picky eaters
Cons
- Just meat, no vegetables or fruit
- Need to add water
- Smells like liver
TruDog works well on its own as a complete and balanced meal, or it can be used as a treat or in combination with kibble. It’s very versatile!
5. IAMS ProActive
Dogs are known for eating almost anything; it doesn’t matter if it’s muddy or old, they have no problem devouring it as long as they find it tasty. This doesn’t apply to all four-pawed fur friends; however – Maltese dogs often have a much too refined palate to eat just anything.
Key Specifications
- Flavor – Chicken
- Contains Grains – YES
- Added Vitamins – YES
- Why It’s Recommended – Recommended by veterinarians
IAMS Proactive Health is tailored for toy pups so your picky sweetheart won’t have to go to bed on an empty stomach with this food. It contains chicken, as well as wholesome grains, vegetables and fruit, and lots of added vitamins and antioxidants, all of which will help keep your pup healthy.
It also contains Omega fatty acids, great for a full, shiny coat. And while we would love our fluffy babies no matter what they look like, a nice-looking coat means a healthy dog, and the well-being of our loved ones is the most important part of all.
It’s recommended by veterinarians too and helps with both the immune system and bone strength, great for active little ones. On top of that, there’s no soy or wheat, which both can cause itchiness and allergic reactions. Pretty great!
Pros
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Good for their coat
- No soy or wheat
- Contains fruit and vegetables
Cons
- Contains corn
- Contains chicken by-product meal
- Kibble can be too large for some dogs
You could always have a chat with your own vet and see if IAMS would be a good fit for your dog, or if you have any more questions about food and nutrients. They will know, and in case they don’t, your pooch will most definitely let you know if this is the food for her.
Bottom Line
There is indeed a lot of dog food to choose from, but we would definitely go with Nutro Wholesome Essentials. Not only does it contain chicken as well as whole grains, garden vegetables, and fruit, but it doesn’t have any soy, wheat, or corn.
It has all the nutritional goodness that a small dog needs, including vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, but doesn’t have any of the ingredients that may cause allergic reactions and itchy skin. Sounds like a winning combination, doesn’t it?
On top of all that, both veterinarians and animal nutritionists have helped put the recipe together, so you know that it is of high quality. Many other types of food may seem good too, but I would certainly put my trust in our pet professionals.
And since this food tastes great too, according to our fluffy friends anyway, it really seems like a no-brainer to me.
The Review
Best Dog Food for Maltese
Maltese can be very fussy eaters. It can be hard to know what brands to try at the risk of losing your money! So here are the 5 best dog foods for Maltese rated & reviewed.
Review Breakdown
- Nutro
- Blue Buffalo
- Purina Pro Plan
- Trudog
- IAMS ProActive
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