Hypoglycemia in toy breed puppies is a very serious condition. You need to be aware of what hypoglycemia is, the signs of it, and how to prevent it. Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. It can occur if a puppy has gone too long between meals or has become stressed, over stimulated or chilled. Maltese have a higher metabolism and should be feed twice a day using a premium dog food that the breeder has had them eating. When a maltese puppy goes to a new home they can experience stress during their adjustment period and should have food available at ALL TIMES to prevent hypoglycemia. In a very short period of time the puppy’s blood sugar can drop, they can become lethargic, may possibly go into shock and can die. New owners need to watch a new puppy very closely and be ready to provide assistance. This situation is preventable, but you need to be very attentive. A puppy that has become hypoglycemic will lack energy and become listless, if you check inside their mouths, their gums might be very pale or even turning white. If this happens it is critical that you act fast. Corn syrup or honey are available sugar sources which you can give your puppy to restore its sugar balance. You can rub some honey or Karo syrup on his gums and the roof of his mouth. Nutri-cal is good to have on hand as well. Wrap him in a towel or blanket and make sure to keep him warm. If the puppy does not respond within minutes seek Veterinary assistance as hypoglycemia can be life threatening. Please get some Karo syrup or Nutrical paste into your puppy and go ahead and head for the emergency hospital.

Maltese dogs/puppies need to be groomed daily or at the very least every other day. They are a single coated breed and have silky hair instead of fur. If brushed and combed out on a regular basis you can avoid painful mats which will make your puppy dislike the grooming process and you will be able to see if anything is not as it should be on any part of his body. Grooming sprays are helpful to keep the coat in good condition and help prevent tangles. Maltese can be bathed every other week with a mild conditioning shampoo. They need to be rinsed thoroughly to prevent any shampoo residue from remaining on their skin. This would cause irritation, drying of the skin and scratching. You may use a cream rinse if you like, just make sure to rinse them very well. Also I would advise using a piece of cotton in each ear before a bath. You need to prevent water from entering the ear canal. Any excess moisture can turn into a yeast infection which is very painful and requires days of medication to eradicate. Nails need to be trimmed regularly either by the owner or a vet’s office or a groomer can do it.

Maltese can be clipped short all over in a modified “puppy clip” which makes maintenance much simpler. This clip can be refreshed every 4 to 6 weeks if you want to keep it nice and neat. This also makes it easier for you to bathe and dry them if you choose to in-between grooming visits.

There are several conditions which can contribute to tear staining on the face. Staining is a result of the hair under the eyes being exposed to constant moisture. Some puppies experience excessive tearing when they are teething, this will subside once the adult teeth are all in. Others with extremely short faces (baby doll face) have very tiny tear ducts and the tears overflow onto the face. Ear infections can also affect tearing of the eyes. The solution is to try to keep the face clean and dry, as much as possible.

Make sure the ears are clean and dry and don’t have a reddish-brown wax inside them with a foul smell. They are several products on the market that can be used to minimize the staining.

1. A Maltese puppy is susceptible to disease and Parvo until 2 full weeks AFTER their last round of vaccinations. Just because your puppy had their final vaccination, does NOT mean they are fully protected. I highly recommend not taking your new puppy out of the house until 14 days after their last vaccine. It could have serious consequences. If you absolutely must take your puppy out with you, please DO NOT let their feet touch the ground for any reason. Not even to go potty! It is that serious for your puppy’s health. Keep a pee pad with you and let your puppy pee on the pad in your car. Make sure to keep your puppy in a carrier or in your arms at all times if you take them out of the house before they are fully vaccinated.

2. In most cases your puppy will let you know when he/she is not feeling well. A puppy’s nose should always be wet. Please monitor your puppy’s intake of food and water. Make sure to clean the water bowl and provide fresh filtered water daily. It has been suggested that giving these puppies filtered or distilled water will help with the lessening of tear stains under the eyes.

3. Always use a body harness when you walk your puppy, don’t use a collar with a leash. Maltese have very delicate tracheas and the pressure from a traditional collar against their windpipe can contribute to trachea collapse. A body harness is a good idea so you can pull your puppy out of harms way if necessary. Maltese do not know they are a tiny dogs and basically have no fear. If you want to put an ID tag on the dog, you may use a breakaway/safety collar but please never, never attach a leash to a neck collar to walk your puppy.

4. Plain vanilla yogurt is great for your Maltese puppy’s digestive system. If his tummy is upset or if the puppy ever throws up, give him a little bit of yogurt to help restore the natural, good bacteria in his digestive track. But, please make sure the yogurt contains NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER. This is generally found in diet and low calorie yogurt. Sugar substitute can be deadly to a Maltese puppy.

5. Maltese are prone to dental problems and retained teeth. The tiny ones have an increased risk for retained baby teeth. Brushing your puppy’s teeth at least 2x a week will do wonders. A finger toothbrush from Petsmart or dental cleaning cloths works great. You just slip it on your finger and can easily control how much pressure you apply. Start brushing your puppy’s teeth when they are a baby so they are comfortable with it. If your puppy just does not want his teeth brushed, try letting them chew on the toothbrush bristles with a little doggy toothpaste on it. It will help clean their teeth and maybe down the road your puppy will be a little more open to having their teeth brushed. Holding them down and forcing them is not a good idea! They will hate it and associate the toothbrush with a negative experience.

6. No pork (ham or bacon) for your puppy it is just too rich for them. For a treat, a tiny amount of skinless, plain baked chicken breast is okay. Just make sure you tear it up into tiny pieces so the puppy does not choke.

7. Maltese (puppies or adults) should never, ever be allowed to jump off the couch or your bed. They can easily fracture their fragile bones. They can also develop luxating patellas (dislocating knee) from jumping off furniture and may end up requiring surgery. Pet steps are available for your pet if you want your puppy to be able to safely climb on and off beds and couches.

8. Do not allow your puppy to have Greenie chews. These are extremely dangerous to toy dogs. Greenies are well known for blocking puppy’s intestines, resulting in a very expensive surgery or possibly even death.

9. Honey-Nut Cheerios are wonderful for your puppy to snack on! The sugar helps keep their blood sugar up and prevents hypoglycemia in your puppy. Too much sugar is not good for your puppy, but I would definitely rather my puppy have a little sugar rush than to become hypoglycemic.

10. If your Maltese is a picky eater and is not eating their kibble, try mixing in some Royal Canin puppy starter canned puppy food or sprinkling some parmesan cheese on top. This almost always works and your puppy should eat with no problems.

Certain foods are extremely toxic. Please don’t take any chances with your puppy’s health. Feed your puppy only their puppy food. For a treat, a small amount of baked, skinless chicken breast is okay. You may also give him a little cottage cheese, or some plain yogurt that contains NO artificial sugar or a few Honey Nut Cheerios. They also love parmesan cheese sprinkled on their kibble. If you have any questions about what foods you can give your puppy, please call me!

Chocolate/Caffeine:

Chocolate contains theobromine, which is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. The signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, sometimes leading to death within 24 hours. Symptoms include staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma and death. These forms of chocolate contain 10x more theobromine than milk chocolate. Semi-sweet and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous. Please avoid chocolate in all forms, make certain to never leave it out in a candy dish or other container within your dogs reach.

Avocados:

Ingesting any part of this plant can lead to difficulty in breathing, causing lack of oxygen, leading to death.

Onions:

Contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and discolored urine and labored breathing. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and onion powder. Be careful of foods containing onion or onion powders. Maltese puppies are sometimes fed baby food meat from a jar. Please check and read the label because some contain onion powder!

Mushrooms:

Symptoms include abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma and death.

Grapes/Raisins:

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy. Even a handful of raisins or grapes can make a puppy ill.

Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia nuts and most other nuts have a high phosphorus content which can lead to bladder stones.

Baby Food:

Baby food is great for a puppy that is not eating well, but please check to make sure it contains no onion powder, which is toxic. Baby food that is labeled “better tasting” usually contains onion powder.

Bones from Meat Sources:

Your Maltese, whether puppy or adult, should never be given any type of bone. Can cause serious obstruction or internal lacerations.

Sugarless Gum:

Extremely deadly, even in small amounts.

Cat Food:

Cat food is generally too high in protein and fats and could cause extreme digestive distress.

Tylenol (Acetaminophen)

For dogs and cats, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is toxic (poisonous or deadly)! Relatively small doses (a single pill or even a small piece of a pill) can be toxic or deadly to any animal species. Pets may show no signs initially, or they may exhibit nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, depression, blue gums, weakness, rapid or difficulty breathing, collapse, coma, edema (swelling) of the face , dark urine, and pale or muddy gums.

If your puppy ingests any toxic foods, contact your veterinarian, emergency veterinary hospital or ASPCA Poison Control 1-888-426-4435