How do I know if my Maltese is overweight

What Should Your Maltese Weigh? Heres a Maltese Weight Chart

If youre a pet parent, its understandable to worry about your fur babys weight. Whether youre wondering if your teeny pup is gaining weight as they should, or concerned that your adult pooch might be getting a bit podgy, being conscious of their weight is sensible. But how do you know whether your Maltese weighs what they should? Lets find out.

How much should a Maltese weigh?

Every dog is different, so theres no one size fits all rule for what any dog should weigh. However, breed standards allow us to estimate the size of an adult dog of that breed, as well as how tall they should be and their ideal weight.

Using the breed standard as a guideline, an adult Maltese terrier should weigh around 4lbs to 6lbs and should be 9 or 10 inches tall (shoulder height). Theres little difference between the weight of a male or female Maltese, but males tend to be slightly taller.

Maltese weight chart

Its important to note that pups may have different growth rates, so those that start small can easily catch up if they have a later spurt of growth.

Most Maltese dogs reach their adult weight at around 9 months of age. While you might expect a puppy with a low starting weight to reach a smaller adult size than a larger pup, this isnt always the case. Pups may have different growth rates, so those that start small can easily catch up if they have a later spurt of growth. The following table gives an example of the weights you might expect from your pup as they grow, but remember, its much more reliable to look at your pups body condition score, and you can always ask your veterinarian if youre not sure your pup is the right weight.

By the way, if youre looking for weight charts for other breeds, weve also written articles on the Shih Tzu weight chart and the Chihuahua weight chart!

How much dog food should I feed my Maltese?

Maltese puppies will need more frequent meals so that their blood sugar doesnt drop too low, while older dogs wont need so many calories.

Theres no universal guide for how much to feed your dog, no matter what breed they are. The amount you feed them should be based on their activity level, their age, their body condition score, and their current weight. For example, if your dog is overweight youll want to feed them the amount recommended for their target weight rather than their current weight. Similarly, Maltese puppies will need more frequent meals so that their blood sugar doesnt drop too low, while older dogs wont need so many calories. You can find out more about the principles of feeding puppies here. Some companies have created stage-of-life specific recipes that offer recipes formulated specifically for puppies and recipes formulated specifically for adult dogs. Feeding stage-of-life specific recipes helps ensure your dog is getting the optimal nutrition needed for the life stage they are in.

What dog food should I feed my Maltese to keep them healthy?

Note that good quality protein is essential for your dogs muscles, organs, and other tissues.

Regardless of the age of your Maltese, it can be beneficial to feed them a low carbohydrate diet. Not only does this keep their blood sugar more stable and help them stay trim, but it might also reduce inflammation in their body. This anti-inflammatory action is based on glucose being used in all inflammatory processes within the body, so lowering the amount of sugar or carbohydrate in your dogs diet, may make them healthier in more ways than one. Low carbohydrate dog food allows your dog to get energy and nutrition from other, more beneficial sources like healthy fats and protein. Good quality protein is essential for your dogs muscles, organs, and other tissues.

FAQ

What is a good weight for a Maltese?

An adult Maltese usually weighs between 4 and 6 lbs. However, every dog is different, and your Maltese could be healthy at a higher or lower weight. If youre concerned about whether your dog or puppy is a good weight, ask your veterinarian for advice.

Can a Maltese weigh 12 pounds?

Its very unusual for a Maltese to weigh more than 7 lbs. If your Maltese weighs 12 pounds they may be significantly overweight or a mixed breed. If youre worried that your Maltese is overweight, your veterinarian can help you calculate their body condition score.

Can a Maltese weigh 25 pounds?

A Maltese should not weigh 25 pounds if they are healthy. If your dog is a pedigree Maltese and weighs 25 pounds, then they are likely to be obese, which poses health risks like joint pain, heart disease, and diabetes.

How much should a 7-month-old Maltese weigh?

As a guide, a 7-month-old Maltese should weigh between 3 and 5 lbs. However, puppy growth rates are not uniform, so they are hard to predict. If you are concerned that your Maltese puppy isnt growing as they should speak to your veterinarian.

Diabetes in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can affect dogs and cats and other animals (including apes, pigs, and horses) as well as humans. Although diabetes cant be cured, it can be managed very successfully.

Diabetes mellitus, or sugar diabetes, is the type of diabetes seen most often in dogs. It is a metabolism disorder. Metabolism refers to how the body converts food to energy.

To understand what diabetes is, it helps to understand some of this process.

The GlucoseInsulin Connection

The conversion of food nutrients into energy to power the bodys cells involves an ongoing interplay of two things:

• Glucose: essential fuel for the bodys cells. When food is digested, the body breaks down some of the nutrients into glucose, a type of sugar that is a vital source of energy for certain body cells and organs. The glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood, which then transports the glucose throughout the body.
• Insulin: in charge of fuel delivery. Meanwhile, an important organ next to the stomach called the pancreas releases the hormone insulin into the body. Insulin acts as a gatekeeper that tells cells to grab glucose and other nutrients out of the bloodstream and use them as fuel.

What Is Diabetes?

With diabetes, the glucose-insulin connection isnt working as it should. Diabetes occurs in dogs in two forms:

• Insulin-deficiency diabetes:This is when the dogs body isnt producing enough insulin. This happens when the pancreas is damaged or otherwise not functioning properly. Dogs with this type of diabetes need daily shots to replace the missing insulin. This is the most common type of diabetes in dogs.
• Insulin-resistance diabetes:This is when the pancreas is producing some insulin, but the dogs body isnt utilizing the insulin as it should. The cells arent responding to the insulins message, so glucose isnt being pulled out of the blood and into the cells. This type of diabetes can especially occur in older, obese dogs.

Female dogs can also develop temporary insulin resistance while in heat or pregnant.

Damage Caused by Diabetes: A Double Whammy

Whatever the type of diabetes, the negative effects on the body are the same. Excessive sugar builds up in the dogs bloodstream, and yet the bodys cells that need that sugar cant access it.

So the bad effects that diabetes causes in the dogs body are twofold:

• Cells are starved for vital fuel. Muscle cells and certain organ cells are deprived of the glucose fuel they need for energy. In response, the body starts breaking down its own fats and proteins to use as alternative fuel.
• High sugar level in the bloodstream damages many organs. Without insulin to help convert the glucose in the bloodstream into fuel, high levels of glucose build up in the blood. Unfortunately, this abnormal blood chemistry acts like a sort of poison and eventually causes multi-organ damage. This often includes damage to the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels, or nerves.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs?

Early signs. The owner will sometimes notice certain symptoms that can be early signs of diabetes:

• Excessive thirst. The dog may drink frequently and empty the water bowl more often.
• Increased urination. The dog may ask to go outside frequently and may start having accidents in the house. Increased urination (and increased thirst) happens because the body is trying to get rid of excess sugar by sending it out through urine, along with water that bonds to the sugar.
• Weight loss. The dog can lose weight despite eating normal portions. This is because the dog isnt efficiently converting nutrients from its food.
• Increased appetite. The dog can be very hungry all the time because the bodys cells arent getting all the glucose they need, even though the dog is eating a normal amount.

Advanced signs. In more advanced cases of diabetes, symptoms can become more pronounced and can include:

• Loss of appetite
• Lack of energy
• Depressed attitude
• Vomiting

Threats to health. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to devastating effects on the dogs body, which is why early detection and proper treatment are crucial. Effects of diabetes on the dogs health can include:

• Cataracts (leading to blindness)
• Enlarged liver
• Urinary tract infections
• Seizures
• Kidney failure
• Ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening acute condition that can be accompanied by rapid breathing, dehydration, lethargy, vomiting, or sweet-smelling breath; can be triggered by factors such as stress, surgery, fasting, infection, or an underlying health condition combined with low insulin level. Owners of diabetic animals should always have on hand ketone testing sticks and should test their dogs urine if any of the above occurs. If the dogs urine tests positive for ketones, an emergency vet should be called immediately.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian can do simple tests to check for diabetes, including testing for excessive glucose (sugar) in the blood and urine. Blood tests can also show other indications of diabetes, such as high liver enzymes and electrolyte imbalances.

The sooner diabetes is diagnosed and treatment begun, the better chance the pet has of a normal life.

What Can Make a Dog at Risk for Diabetes?

• Age. While diabetes can occur at any age, it mostly occurs in middle-aged to senior dogs. Most dogs who develop it are age 5 or older when diagnosed.
• Sex. Unspayed female dogs are twice as likely as male dogs to have diabetes.
• Chronic or repeated pancreatitis. Chronic or repeated pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) can eventually cause extensive damage to that organ, resulting in diabetes.
• Obesity. Obesity contributes to insulin resistance and is a risk factor for pancreatitis, which can lead to diabetes.
• Steroid medications. These can cause diabetes when used long-term.
• Cushings disease. With Cushings disease, the body overproduces steroids internally, so this condition also can cause diabetes.
• Other health conditions. Some autoimmune disorders and viral diseases are also thought to possibly trigger diabetes.
• Genetics. Diabetes can occur in any breed or mixed-breed, and it seems genetics can play a role in either increased or reduced risk. A 2003 study found that overall, mixed-breeds are no less prone to diabetes than are purebreds. Among purebreds, breeds vary in susceptibility, some with very low risk and others with higher risk. Some that may be at higher risk include miniature Poodles, Bichons Frises, Pugs, Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers, Puli, Samoyeds, Keeshonds, Australian Terriers, Fox Terriers, Cairn Terriers, and Beagles.

Treatment of Diabetes in Dogs

• Diet. Your veterinarian will recommend the best type of diet for your diabetic dog. Usually this will include some good-quality protein, as well as fiber and complex carbohydrates that will help to slow absorption of glucose. Your vet may also recommend a diet with relatively low-fat content.
• Exercise. To help avoid sudden spikes or drops in glucose levels, it is especially important that diabetic dogs maintain a moderate but consistent exercise routine.
• Injections. Most diabetic dogs will require daily shots of insulin under the skin, something that the owner will have to learn to do. Although its understandable to be apprehensive about doing this, its not as hard as it might sound. It can become a quick and easy daily routine that isnt traumatic at all for either dog or owner.

Monitoring and Managing Your Dogs Diabetes

Although some cases may be more challenging, canine diabetes can be usually managed successfully without complications. From giving injections to monitoring glucose levels daily, you will play the primary role in your dogs care, and your commitment to keeping up with his daily shots and monitoring is extremely important.

Your veterinarian will work with you to determine the best management plan for your dog. At the start of treatment this may involve frequent visits to the clinic for testing and medication adjustments, but hopefully the right combination of medication, dosage, diet, and home monitoring will soon be arrived at that will enable you to keep your dogs blood sugar consistently regulated and help him live a full, happy life.

Your dogs diabetes management plan provided by your veterinarian will probably include information about:

If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, dont panic. With good veterinary support, you should be able to provide the right care for your pet and ensure you both many more happy years together.

Note: The information above is designed to help inform you about canine diabetes and is not meant to take the place of a veterinary diagnosis. If you have questions or concerns about your dogs health or possible symptoms, be sure to contact and consult with your veterinarian right away.