What food is suitable for a Maltese: Royal Canin, Monge, Acana

The Maltese is a toy breed, so choosing dry food is about more than ingredients and calories. Kibble size, age, dental condition, skin and coat quality all matter. You can read more about the breed on our Maltese breed page.

This is not a ranking of the “best” foods. It is a practical list of complete diets from popular brands that can suit a healthy Maltese. The final choice should take age, weight, activity and individual tolerance into account. Dogs with medical conditions should have their diet discussed with a veterinarian.

Up to about 10–12 months

Royal Canin

• Royal Canin Maltese Puppy — a breed-specific puppy formula where it is available.
• Royal Canin Mini Puppy can be considered as a small-breed alternative.

Monge

• Monge Natural Superpremium Mini Puppy & Junior with Chicken and Rice — designed for small-breed puppies from around 6 weeks to 12 months.
• Monge Natural Superpremium Extra Small Puppy & Junior Rich in Chicken — an option for very small dogs with small kibble.

Acana

• ACANA Puppy Small Breed — formulated for growing small-breed puppies.

From about 10–12 months

Royal Canin

• Royal Canin Maltese Adult — specifically formulated for adult Maltese dogs from 10 months of age.

Monge

• Monge Natural Superpremium Mini Adult Rich in Chicken — for adult mini-size dogs.
• Monge Natural Superpremium Mini Adult Monoprotein Salmon with Rice — a salmon-and-rice option in the Mini Adult range.

Acana

• ACANA Adult Small Breed Recipe — a complete food for adult small-breed dogs.

For a senior Maltese

Early signs of ageing may appear from around 8 years, while the Maltese senior life stage is commonly shown as 12+. A senior formula should not be chosen by birthday alone: body condition, activity, teeth, muscle mass and veterinary findings also matter.

Royal Canin

• Royal Canin Mini Ageing 12+ — for small dogs up to 10 kg from 12 years of age.

Monge

• Monge Natural Superpremium Mini Senior Rich in Chicken — for senior mini-size dogs under 10 kg.

Acana

• ACANA Senior Recipe — a senior formula for dogs of all breeds. Portion control is especially important for a Maltese because it is not a toy-breed-specific formula.

What matters besides the brand

• Kibble size: toy, mini or small-breed formulas are usually easier for a Maltese to eat.
• Calories: it is easy to overfeed a very small dog.
• Skin and coat: a complete, balanced diet with adequate essential fatty acids is important for the breed’s long white coat.
• Dental care: small breeds require particularly consistent oral hygiene.
• Tolerance: persistent itching, vomiting or loose stools should be discussed with a veterinarian rather than managed by repeatedly switching brands.

How to switch foods

A gradual transition over about 7 days is commonly used: increase the proportion of the new food while decreasing the old one. Dogs with sensitive digestion may need a slower transition.

This article is for general information and healthy dogs. Product names and availability can vary by country.