How much to feed a Maltese: daily portions in grams and kcal
An adult, neutered Maltese weighing 3.5 kg needs about 285 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 80 g of dry food or 285 g of wet food. A 3 kg Maltese gets by on about 255 kcal (70 g), a 4.5 kg one on around 345 kcal (95 g). With such small portions a kitchen scale is worth it – just 10 g of extra dry food a day is about 13 per cent too much.
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Adult weight
- Weight:
- 3–4 kg
- Height:
- Male 21–25 cm, female 20–23 cm
According to FCI standard no. 65. The American standard is stricter and prefers 1.8 to 2.7 kg (4–6 lb).
Activity type
Companion dog from the Bichon family (FCI Group 9) – a toy dog with correspondingly small portions.
Breed watch points
Teeth, liver, tear stains
Calculate how much to feed your Maltese
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
80 g
Dry food per day
≈ 285 kcal · 2 meals of 40 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 70–90 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 40 g
- Energy
- 285 kcal (260–315)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 3.5 kg^0.75 ≈ 179 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 285 kcal per day.
285 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 80 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Maltese feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | |||
| Calm | 225 | 65 | 225 |
| Normal | 255 | 70 | 255 |
| Active | 320 | 90 | 320 |
| 3.5 kg | |||
| Calm | 250 | 70 | 250 |
| Normal | 285 | 80 | 285 |
| Active | 360 | 100 | 360 |
| 4.5 kg | |||
| Calm | 305 | 85 | 305 |
| Normal | 345 | 95 | 345 |
| Active | 435 | 120 | 435 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 3.5 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 3.5 kg^0.75 ≈ 179 kcal × factor 1.6 = 285 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 80 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Teeth: a constant issue in toy breeds
The American Kennel Club writes that Maltese are prone to dental disease as they get older and, as with all toy breeds, recommends daily brushing with dog toothpaste and regular dental cleaning at the vet. A VetCompass study of 22,333 dogs shows why weight plays a role: dogs under 10 kg had more than three times the odds of periodontal disease of dogs weighing 30 to 40 kg.
For the daily ration this means: chews and dental snacks bring calories with them, and with a daily requirement of 285 kcal each one makes a difference. According to the American Maltese Association, many Maltese puppies do not lose their baby teeth – especially the canines – in time, so they have to be extracted.
- Brush the teeth daily if possible, using toothpaste for dogs.
- Deduct chews and their calories from the daily ration.
- After the change of teeth, have the vet check whether any baby teeth have stayed in place.
Liver and tear stains: what food can do – and what it can’t
The Maltese is one of the toy breeds in which a congenital liver shunt is more common. In an analysis of 2,400 cases from US veterinary hospitals, its share was 1.6 per cent, compared with 0.18 per cent across all dogs. Typical signs are episodes of staggering, head pressing or seizures that become more pronounced after eating. A protein-adjusted liver diet is part of the treatment after a diagnosis, not a preventive measure. Good to know: according to a study in the journal In Vivo (2023), bile acids in the blood of Maltese can be above the reference range even in healthy dogs – so a raised value on its own does not mean a shunt.
According to the American Maltese Association, tear stains are caused by increased tear production. There is no evidence for a food that reliably prevents them. The American Kennel Club advises seeing a vet if tearing is heavy, to find the cause – only then is it worth looking at the food, for example if an intolerance is suspected.
Maltese puppies: low blood sugar and teething
Very small puppies of toy breeds have few reserves and, according to the American Kennel Club, can develop low blood sugar between meals, especially when they play hard, get cold or are stressed. Small, frequent meals help: up to about three months four a day, after that three.
During teething some puppies eat less well because of swollen gums; according to the American Maltese Association, soaked food can help during this time. According to the calculation, a 1.5 kg puppy under four months needs about 285 kcal a day.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Maltese
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Maltese – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Maltese
How much food does a Maltese need a day?
A neutered Maltese weighing 3.5 kg with normal exercise needs about 285 kcal a day – roughly 80 g of dry food with 360 kcal per 100 g or 285 g of wet food. Because the amounts are so small, a kitchen scale is worth having.
How heavy does a Maltese get?
The FCI standard gives 3 to 4 kg at 21 to 25 cm (males) or 20 to 23 cm (females). The American standard even prefers 1.8 to 2.7 kg. For the food amount, what counts is your dog’s weight at a good body shape.
Does a different food help against tear stains in a Maltese?
There is no solid evidence for that. Tear stains are caused by increased tear production, and the cause should first be clarified by a vet. If a food intolerance is suspected, an elimination diet supervised by a vet will help.
My Maltese has raised bile acids – does it have a liver shunt?
Not necessarily. In Maltese, bile acids can be above the reference range even in healthy dogs. Whether there is a shunt is something the vet will clarify with further tests; a liver diet only comes after a diagnosis.
How often should a Maltese eat?
Adult Maltese usually get two meals a day. Puppies need small, frequent meals – four up to about three months, three after that – and should not skip any.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 65: Maltese (Malteser) – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Maltese – Breed Information – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Epidemiology of periodontal disease in dogs in the UK primary-care veterinary setting (O’Neill et al., 2021) – Journal of Small Animal Practice
- Association of breed with the diagnosis of congenital portosystemic shunts in dogs: 2,400 cases (1980–2002) (Tobias & Rohrbach, 2003) – Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Comparison of Serum Bile Acid Concentrations Between Maltese and Other Breeds of Dogs With Portosystemic Shunt (Kim et al., 2023) – In Vivo
- Portosystemic Shunts – American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS)
- Dental Issues – American Maltese Association
- Tear Staining – American Maltese Association
- Hypoglycemia in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment – American Kennel Club (AKC), mit Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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