Why is my Maltese losing weight

Maltese Dog Advice

Maltese dogs are a very small breed and as an average do not tend to be overweight. Maltese dogs are also fussy eaters and will turn their nose up at food which does not meet their high standard unless they are really hungry. The first thing you need to do is assess whether or not your Maltese dog is actually underweight. A Maltese dog should weigh between 3 kgs (6.5 lbs) and 4 kgs (9 lbs) as an adult. Generally a female will be at the lower end of that weight and a male towards the upper end of the weight scale. If you have weighed your dog and it is below the 6.5 lbs average minimum weight for a fully grown Maltese dog then you should look at reasons why your dog might be underweight and what you can do about it. This article will help to answer those questions and provide you with some guidance on what to do next.

To address the underweight question there are really two questions which need to be answered for an underweight or skinny Maltese dog. The first question is whether or not your Maltese dog has always been underweight or if it was a sudden loss of weight which has prompted the questions. The second question to answer is what do you need to do for your Maltese dog to help it gain some weight or to address the underlying reason of the sudden weight loss. I have split this article based on those two questions so that you can read the section which will help you the most. If you are interested in sudden weight loss in your Maltese dog then skip ahead to the section on Has your Maltese dog suddenly lost weight?.

Has your dog always been underweight and small ?

If your Maltese puppy has always beenunderweight and skinny there are several reasons which could be thecause. It may just be genetics or it could be an underlying healthissue. The main reasons a Maltese dog is underweight and smallerthan other Maltese dogs are:

• Genetics
• Health Issues
• Food Amount
• Poor Quality food

Some Maltese dogs come from a long lineof small Maltese and genetics can play a major role in the size ofyour Maltese dog. If your dog is healthy and alert then there is noreason you should be concerned that your Maltese dog is smaller thanthe average Maltese dog. If you are concerned that there issomething more than genetics which are influencing the weight of yourMaltese dog then you should consult your vet who can do a thoroughcheckup.

There are a variety of health issueswhich can cause your Maltese puppy to be underweight and skinny orsmaller than average size. These issues can include thyroid andliver problems, worms, parasites diabetes, dental issues and evenstress and anxiety. These are outlined below in the section on why aMaltese dog can lose sudden weight but it can also be a reason forlong term weight loss or long term being unable to gain weight. Ifyou are concerned that your Maltese puppy has an underlying healthissue check with your vet and they can do a detailed examination andcheck up to ensure everything is OK.

The amount of food your Maltese dogseats will influence their size and weight. Obviously the more foodthey eat, the more fat they will put on and they will grow. Thereare some health issues such as diabetes which can cause your dog toeat lots but not put on weight, but in general if your dog eats morethey will be larger. You should check the recommended food size onthe packet of food which you have as each food is different given thedifferent ingredients. if your Maltese puppy is skinny and they arefinishing all their food try giving them a bit more food. If youfind they still do not put on weight then you should consult your vetto see if there are any underlying health issues.

The quality and nutrition in the food you feed your Maltese dog can have an impact on how healthy they are and how quickly they will grow as well as retain weight. Poor nutrition in food which are high in fillers will lead to undernourishment and can mean your Maltese puppy does not grow as quickly as it should. It is always a good investment to buy a high quality dog food which is not full of fillers such as oats and barley. It needs to have enough fats and proteins to provide the required vitamins, minerals and content which your Maltese dog requires to thrive and grow. If you suspect your food needs to be changed then give it a go for at least a week. Remember in the short term your dog may not like the new food but they will eventually eat it, generally though the better quality food is also a lot nicer to eat. Also a change in diet can result in stool changes such as diarrhea if this happens ensure that you have enough water available for your Maltese to re-hydrate Kibble is also a much better choice then soft dog food as it is higher in fiber and will fill your Maltese dog quicker. Maltese are notorious for being fussy eaters though so if they will not eat the kibble try adding some soft dog food to it and mix it together.

Check out some of the reasons below aswell just in case you feel there could be an underlying health issuewhich is causing your Maltese to be underweight and skinny.

Has your Maltese dog suddenly lost weight?

Sudden weight loss in dogs can be asignal that something health wise is wrong with your dog. If your doghas lost a small amount of weight this may just be due to eatinghabits and weather. But if the amount of weight your dog is a lot(over 5% of their body weight) then you need to get a vet to assessyour Maltese dog. Maltese dogs are small already and sudden weightloss can make them very susceptible to diseases and other healthissues. Below is a list of health issues which can cause suddenweight loss in a Maltese dog:

• Thyroid Issues
• Diabetes
• Worms and Parasites
• Dental Issues
• Liver Issues
• Stress and Anxiety

Thyroid problems in Maltese dogs cancause hormone imbalances which can affect your dogs weight. Thyroidissues can make your Maltese either put on weight easily or loseweight easily depending on the imbalance. The only way to identifythat the issue is a thyroid problem is to talk to your vet and getsome tests done. Thyroid issues can be managed with medication foryour Maltese dog once the imbalance is identified. Once you are onmedication you should see your Skinny Maltese dog start to put onweight.

Diabetes in a Maltese dog can cause anincreased appetite but at the same time weight loss. The reason thishappens is because diabetes in your Maltese dog will stop theabsorption of sugar from the blood. Diabetes in Maltese dogs isusually seen in older Maltese dogs and is usually the result ofgenetics. Your vet will be able to diagnose diabetes in your Maltesedog and provide a treatment plan. The treatment plan should help addsome weight to your skinny Maltese puppy.

A Maltese dog which is infected withparasites and worms can lose weight dramatically This is because theparasites are depriving the nutrients to your Maltese dog. A commonexample is the tapeworm A tapeworm lives inside the dogs intestinesand will consume the food being eaten by the Maltese puppy instead ofit being absorbed by the Malteses body. Ensuring that you keep yourvaccinations and worming up to date will ensure that most parasitesand worms can not use your Maltese puppy as a host. Most parasitesand worms can easily be identified by your vet and treated withmedication.

Maltese dogs are known to have moredental issues as they grow older. As your Maltese dog ages if canget gum disease, rotten teeth and abscesses inside their mouth. Thismakes is uncomfortable and painful for your Maltese dog to eat. YourMaltese dog will then steer clear of any hard kibble and only want toeat soft dog food. The lack of eating can cause dramatic and suddenweight loss if your Maltese stops to eat. The only treatment fordental issues is an appointment at the vet where the rotten teeth canbe removed. Prevention is the best cure here with dog toothbrushesbeing the best treatment to keep those teeth clean and free of plaquethat cause the tooth decay.

Maltese dogs with Liver disease willhave problems breaking down toxins and creating essentialcarbohydrates and sugars to the rest of the body resulting in themlooking skinny and underweight. As the liver is unable to break downthe carbs and sugars sufficiently the body will take the energy fromthe fat deposits causing weight loss, Liver disease is more likelyto occur in older Maltese dogs. Your vet will run some tests if theysuspect this is the cause and they will be able to prescribe thenecessary treatment based on their examination.

Stress and Anxiety can cause suddenchanges in a Maltese puppy. if they are scared, nervous or anxiousthey may not want to eat as they are not hungry, or they may feel tooscared to be able to eat. If you suspect your dog is scared, anxiousor stressed take them for a walk to try and reset their mind. Alsogive them a cuddle to them know you are there and its all OK Somedogs become very stressed in thunder storms and when there isfireworks and may not eat. If you are worried they are not eatingtake them to your vet to get a checkup and explain what is happening. if you take a video of them stressed this may help your vet diagnosethe issue and help provide a solution.

How do you put weight on a skinny Maltese dog?

The following tips will help you addweight to your skinny Maltese dog. Each tip tries to fix anunderlying reason on why they may be skinny and the effectiveness ofthe tips for adding weight to a skinny Maltese dog will only work ifit addresses the underlying reason for your Maltese dog beingunderweight. The tips include:

• Address Health Issues
• Feed them more food
• Feed them higher quality food
• Check their teeth
• Reduce their stress

The majority of reasons on why aMaltese is skinny will come down to a health concern or a foodconcern. If you can identify and treat any health concerns firstthen you are able to ensure that using the other tips will allowmaximum effectiveness. Your vet will be able to identify any healthreasons on your Maltese dog being underweight and skinny and will beable to provide medication or alternative treatments to help themgain weight. Once these health conditions are under control you canmove onto the food tips.

There are two issues with food that cancause your Maltese dog to be skinny. This is the quantity and thequality of the dog food. Obviously if you are not feeding yourMaltese dog enough food they will be skinny. Some dogs will not eatall there food which means it can be hard to help them add weight. If this is the case with your Maltese dog then you should try andfind a food which they like, which is usually be chicken or a softdog food and add it into each meal to help them add weight. If youfind they only eat the food they like try feeding them there normaldinner first and then when they finish provide them with a desert ofthe food they like. Chicken is a well known and healthy additionthat can help them put on weight. Another trick is to feed themmultiple times a day so that they are continuously getting thenutrition If you can get them eating more and they have nounderlying health concerns they should start to put on weight unlessthe food you feed them is poor quality. Some dog foods are lower inquality and full of fillers such as barley and oats which add littlenutritional value for your Maltese puppy. look for higher qualityfoods which are recommended to have a higher concentration of proteinand fats. This will help ensure that all of the required nutrientsare provided to help your skinny Maltese puppy put on weight.

If your Maltese has a sore mouth itisnt going eat so ensure that you check your Maltese dogs teeth forplaque and ensure they get a brushing to keep them in top tip health. There are special dog toothbrushes you can buy to clean their teeth. It you notice your Maltese dog has rotten teeth or gum problemscontact the vet to get it fixed up as soon as possible.

The last tip is to try and reduce stress on your Maltese dog. If you dog has separation anxiety then feed them in the same room as you. if they are scared of a certain place in the house feed them in their crate or near their favorite spot. If you can reduce the stress it may help to calm them down and they will consume more food.

How did we go answering your questions on why your Maltese dog is skinny?

This article has tried to address asmany of the causes of a skinny Maltese dog so that you can make aninformed decision on whether or not you need to go see a vet. If youhave any concerns though you should always talk to your vet and getthem to do a checkup. Have you had a skinny Maltese dog? What wasthe cause ? Do you have any other suggestions on helping a skinnyMaltese dog to put on weight. Let us know in the comments so it canhelp all our readers.