How We Ranked These
Every food on this list was scored using KibbleIQ’s ingredient analysis rubric, which evaluates protein quality, filler content, preservative safety, and overall ingredient transparency on a 0–100 scale. For Maltese specifically we weighted three additional factors: tiny-bite kibble format appropriate to a 4–7 lb mouth (the smallest size class in the AKC catalog), moderate-protein moderate-fat formulation that respects the breed’s elevated portosystemic shunt risk profile (PSS dogs cannot clear ammonia metabolites efficiently and benefit from controlled high-quality protein), and dental-supportive kibble shape or texture.
The 1999 Lund prevalence survey on companion-dog periodontal disease found over 80% of Maltese showed clinically significant periodontal disease by age 3 — the heaviest dental burden in their cohort by a meaningful margin. The 2013 AVMA consensus on small-breed dental care recommends a combination of dietary support (dental-shaped kibble, VOHC-accepted treats), daily mechanical brushing, and annual professional dental cleaning under anesthesia. We prioritize foods with explicit small-breed dental positioning and avoid sticky semi-moist products that accelerate plaque accumulation.
Our Top 5 Picks
1. Hill's Science Diet — B (75/100)
Hill's Science Diet leads with vet-recommended balanced formula with extensive feeding-trial substantiation and clinical-research backing. For a Maltese, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws is the standard veterinarian-recommended food for tiny-toy breeds and uses deliberately undersized kibble pieces (under 5 mm) that a 4–7 lb mouth can pick up cleanly. The brand carries decades of feeding-trial substantiation and is the most-recommended food across general-practice veterinarians — structurally important because Maltese owners typically interface with vets every 6 months for dental monitoring and the food recommendation gets reinforced at every visit. Read our full Hill's Science Diet review → · Shop on Amazon →
2. Wellness CORE — A (90/100)
Wellness CORE leads with deboned chicken + turkey + chicken meal lead with salmon oil, glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics built in. For a Maltese, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Wellness CORE Small Breed delivers high-quality animal-source protein (the kibble carries 36% protein from deboned turkey + chicken meal + chicken) at small-bite size with built-in glucosamine, chondroitin, and salmon oil. For Maltese with no PSS concern, the higher protein content supports lean muscle mass and metabolic resilience — relevant for a long-lived toy breed (median Maltese lifespan is 12–15 years). Read our full Wellness CORE review → · Shop on Amazon →
3. Fromm — A (90/100)
Fromm leads with duck + chicken meal + menhaden fish meal with probiotics, salmon oil, and moderate grain (oatmeal + barley). For a Maltese, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Fromm Gold Small Breed delivers duck + chicken meal + menhaden fish meal at moderate-protein density with one of the cleanest recall histories in the industry (Fromm has never been involved in a major recall since the 1949 founding). The family-mill production model gives Maltese owners managing a long-lived sensitive breed meaningful quality-control assurance. Read our full Fromm review → · Shop on Amazon →
4. Wellness Complete Health — B (78/100)
Wellness Complete Health leads with deboned chicken + chicken meal + oatmeal + ground barley + peas with a moderate-protein grain-inclusive backbone. For a Maltese, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. For Maltese with confirmed portosystemic shunt or persistently elevated bile acids, the lower-protein moderate-fat Wellness Complete Health Small Breed grain-inclusive formula is a defensible starting point under veterinary guidance — though dogs on active PSS management typically benefit from prescription-grade hepatic-support formulas (Hill’s l/d, Royal Canin Hepatic). For non-PSS Maltese, the formula is a credible mid-priced default. Read our full Wellness Complete Health review → · Shop on Amazon →
5. Open Farm — A (90/100)
Open Farm leads with humane-certified animal ingredients with full traceability (every bag traceable to source farms) and Ocean Wise + Certified Humane partnerships. For a Maltese, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Open Farm offers tiny-bite kibble across multiple recipes with humane-certified sourcing and full bag-level traceability — relevant for owners who want premium-tier sourcing transparency on a long-lived toy breed they’ll feed the same food to for over a decade. Open Farm’s Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish or Wild-Caught Salmon recipes are also suitable for Maltese with white-coat staining concerns (chronic tear-stain bacterial colonization often responds modestly to switching off chicken-base proteins). Read our full Open Farm review → · Shop on Amazon →
What to Look for in Food for Maltese
Tiny-bite kibble (under 5 mm diagonal). Maltese are the smallest size class in the AKC catalog. Standard small-breed kibble is often still too large for a 4–7 lb mouth. Look for “small paws,” “tiny toy,” or “extra-small bite” product positioning. Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws, Royal Canin X-Small Adult, and Wellness CORE Small Breed are the standard products. For Maltese with active dental disease, switching to wet-food, freeze-dried raw, or fresh-cooked sidesteps the kibble-shape issue entirely and reduces chewing discomfort.
Moderate-protein moderate-fat formulation if PSS is in the differential. Congenital portosystemic shunt affects roughly 3–6% of Maltese vs <1% general-population baseline per Tisdall 1994. PSS dogs cannot clear ammonia metabolites efficiently and develop hepatic encephalopathy on high-protein diets. If your Maltese has had bile-acid testing flag elevated values or shows symptoms consistent with PSS (post-meal lethargy, neurologic signs, stunted growth), work with your vet on prescription hepatic-support nutrition rather than over-the-counter formulas.
Dental-supportive kibble shape. The 1999 Lund prevalence data on Maltese periodontal disease (over 80% by age 3) makes dental support a near-universal Maltese concern. Look for kibble with explicit dental positioning — angular shapes that scrape plaque on chew, larger-than-bite-size pieces that force chewing, or VOHC-accepted dental kibble like Hill’s t/d or Royal Canin Dental DD. Pair with daily mechanical brushing (the single highest-leverage intervention in small-breed dental care) and annual professional cleaning under anesthesia.
Split portions to prevent hypoglycemia. A 4–7 lb Maltese needs roughly 250–400 kcal/day. Toy breeds carry lower hepatic glycogen reserves and adult Maltese can still trip into hypoglycemia after extended fasting. Split the daily ration into 2–3 meals (puppies under 6 months: 4 meals). Avoid free-feeding leaves behind in the bowl — the food sits, plaque accumulates, and Maltese satiety signaling is unreliable for portion self-regulation.
Bottom Line
The best Maltese food solves three problems at once: tiny-bite kibble format matched to a 4–7 lb mouth, moderate-protein moderate-fat formulation that respects the breed’s elevated portosystemic shunt risk, and dental-supportive structure that buys ground in the breed’s 80%-by-age-3 periodontal-disease prevalence rate. Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws is our top pick — vet-channel, feeding-trial substantiated, tiny-bite, dental-aware. Wellness CORE Small Breed and Fromm Gold Small Breed are the premium-tier alternatives. The single highest-leverage Maltese health intervention isn’t food choice — it’s daily mechanical tooth brushing plus annual professional dental cleaning under anesthesia. Buy a finger-brush.
Related condition deep-dive: Best Dog Food for Dental Health