Maltese Feeding Calculator
Get your Maltese's portions right — calculated for their weight, life stage, and the exact food in your bag. Because the chart on the bag doesn't know your dog.
Values auto-fill from the food you pick. Can't find yours? Choose “My food isn't listed” in the search and copy the numbers from the bag's Calorie Content (ME) label — dry foods typically run 3,300–4,200 kcal/kg.
Maltese feeding notes
At 3-4 kg, a Maltese needs only about 250-300 kcal/day, so tiny measurement errors compound fast — weigh food with a gram scale instead of using a scoop. Toy-breed puppies should eat 3-4 small meals a day to guard against hypoglycemia until around 6 months. Crowded teeth are a breed issue: dry small-breed kibble plus VOHC-accepted dental chews help slow tartar buildup, and annual dental checks matter.
Maltese puppy growth chart — male & female
Healthy weight ranges by age. A puppy slightly lean is healthier than slightly heavy — especially for growing dogs.
♂ Male
| Age | Range (kg) |
|---|---|
| 2 mo | 0.9 – 1.2 |
| 3 mo | 1.6 – 2 |
| 4 mo | 2.1 – 2.7 |
| 5 mo | 2.5 – 3.1 |
| 6 mo | 2.9 – 3.5 |
| 8 mo | 3.2 – 3.8 |
| 12 mo | 3.4 – 4 |
| 18 mo | 3 – 4 |
♀ Female
| Age | Range (kg) |
|---|---|
| 2 mo | 0.9 – 1.1 |
| 3 mo | 1.5 – 1.9 |
| 4 mo | 2 – 2.5 |
| 5 mo | 2.3 – 2.9 |
| 6 mo | 2.6 – 3.3 |
| 8 mo | 2.9 – 3.5 |
| 12 mo | 3.1 – 3.7 |
| 18 mo | 2.8 – 3.7 |
Reference: Weights: FCI standard 3-4 kg (7-9 lb) via Wikipedia (AKC page weight stats are client-rendered and unavailable server-side); female range ×0.92 of male (estimate); growth midpoints per size-class developmental ratios (estimate). Always confirm against your vet's assessment — individual lines vary.
Feeding guide by growth stage
Meal frequency and food type for a growing Maltese:
| Age | Meals | Food type | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8–12 weeks | 3–4 × daily | puppy formula | Soak kibble warm water 10 min if still soft; weigh weekly. |
| 3–6 months | 3 × daily | puppy formula | Peak growth — feed to the chart, never free-feed; keep puppy lean. |
| 6–12 months | 2 × daily | puppy formula | Growth slows; reduce portions if ribs get hard to feel. |
| → adult (10–12 months) | 2 × daily | adult formula | Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing adult food. |
Maltese milestones
What happens when — eyes, teeth, maturity, and when hard exercise is safe:
Frequently asked questions
How much should a Maltese eat per day?
A typical 3.5 kg neutered adult needs about 285 kcal/day (RER 179 × 1.6) — under three-quarters of a cup of a 400 kcal/cup dry food. That tiny margin is why a gram scale beats a measuring cup: a 20 kcal over-pour is 7% of the entire day's calories.
How much should a Maltese puppy weigh?
Expect roughly 0.9-1.2 kg at 2 months, 1.6-2 kg at 3 months and 2.9-3.5 kg at 6 months for males (females slightly lighter), with the adult 3-4 kg reached by 9-12 months. Toy puppies vary a lot genetically — the trend line matters more than hitting any single number.
Why do Maltese puppies need frequent small meals?
Toy-breed puppies have minimal glycogen reserves and can develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if they fast too long, showing weakness, wobbliness, or shivering. Feed 3-4 small meals a day until about 6 months; if a puppy becomes wobbly, rub a little honey or corn syrup on the gums and call your vet (canine hypoglycemia first aid, Veterinary Nursing Journal, 2022).
Do Maltese need special dental food or chews?
Their small jaws crowd a full set of adult teeth, so plaque and tartar build faster than in large breeds — dental disease is the top mouth problem in toys. Dry small-breed kibble plus VOHC-accepted dental chews (tested to reduce plaque and tartar) slow it down, but most Maltese still need professional cleanings under anesthesia despite good home care.
How long do Maltese live, and does weight affect it?
A 2024 UK study of veterinary records (McMillan et al., Scientific Reports) puts Maltese life expectancy at 13.1 years — above the 12.7-year purebred average. Weight matters: in the Purina LifeSpan study (Kealy et al., 2002), lean-fed dogs lived about 1.8 years longer. For a 3.5 kg breed, just 0.5 kg of excess weight is 14% overweight, so weigh monthly.