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M altese dogs are small white dogs that are very attached to their owners. But don't let their cute looks fool you: M altese dogs know what they want and have tough characters. How to care for a M altese dog? What kind of diet does M altese require and do M altese people need supplements?
M altańczykiContrary to their name, they probably do not come from M alta at all - the term "M altese" comes from the word "malat" meaning a harbor.
The first mentions of these cute white dogs come from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, where they were used, among others, in harbors to catch small rodents, as well as living mascots of the then aristocracy. The latter role was also played in later times - during the reign of Louis XIV, they accompanied the ladies of the court as pets, but also as live hot water bottles: it was believed that applying a M altese to the abdominal pain during menstruation would effectively alleviate the symptoms.
M altese: appearance
There is a reason why M altese dogs have been treated for centuries as companion and fun dogs - these cute animals rarely weigh more than 4 kg, and thanks to their white, silky and shiny hair, stroking them is a great pleasure.
The color and length of the hair is the most characteristic feature of the appearance of these dogs. Due to the fact that they have a lot of it, they often look bigger than they really are.
The "exhibition" representative of this breed has a medium-sized head, a skull longer than the muzzle, triangular, close-fitting ears and muscular hind legs (which, however, are practically invisible from under the fur).
M altese: nutrition
M altese always have an appetite, so - even right after their meal - they can assist their owners during dinner, beg for food and wait for what accidentally falls off the table. Since they can eat much more than their body needs, they tend to be overweight, which is dangerous for these little dogs. Therefore, you need to take care of their proper diet. Good-quality, ready-to-eat food for small breeds is the best - it contains all the necessary ingredients for a pet and you do not need to supplement it with additional meals. It should be given as much as recommended by the manufacturer. The food must be age appropriate - the ingredients are differentfor puppies, others for adult dogs.
An acceptable, but much more difficult option is to prepare your own meals. The meat (which should be less than half of the daily portion, i.e. no more than 60 grams) must be lean and finely chopped, possibly ground. They should be mixed with rice and vegetables. In addition to meat, rice and vegetables, vitamin and mineral supplements are important to ensure a complete food dose.
From time to time, you can give your doggy treats. Under no circumstances can he get any leftovers from the table or what the owners eat. And in the puppy period and later, the dog may require additional supplementation - the administration of minerals and vitamins can improve its condition and the appearance of the coat, but the selection of them must be decided by a veterinarian.
According to an expertdr inż. Jacek Wilczak, nutrition expert in the Noteć Valley, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life SciencesIn the case of feeding dogs such as M altese dogs, some owners choose a feeding model using a home diet. Composing it is difficult, especially for novice owners. Consultation with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist is helpful in this case.
The problem with homemade foods based on meat, rice and carrots is insufficient in terms of the amount of minerals, vitamins and the proportion of most nutrients.
M altese dogs as representatives of small breed dogs require higher amounts of energy components per kilogram of their body weight in relation to dogs of breeds. Hence, their diet must be based on meat and animal products with only a small addition of carbohydrates.
Due to the type of coat and color of M altese dogs, fatty acids (especially of animal origin, n-6 acids), vitamin E, biotin and minerals: zinc and copper are important in their diet. You should be careful with copper, or rather its sources, because it is a few micronutrients, the excess of which can cause yellowish discoloration on the dog's coat.
M altese: reproductive cycle
Like most other dogs, the first heat in a female M altese occurs between 8 and 10 months of age, although there are exceptions: it can occur after 6 months of age or (rarely) around 12 months. Standard heat lasts about 3 weeks, during which - in the case of mating - fertilization may take place. A M altese is pregnant for 63 days.
M altese can have one or more puppies.
A dog of this breed is ready for mating around 10 months of age.
Worth knowingM altese: disposition and character
M altese dogs are sociable, cheerful and intelligent, but they have "character" - they can show their teeth when needed, but it happens quite rarely. They are generally gentle, devoted to their owner, and require petting and cuddling.
They love to be the center of attention and see everything - that's why they like to sit in the window, watching the world from above.
They get along well with cats, they are also not afraid of larger dogs and are happy to play with them. They are the perfect companions for young children.
M altese: care
- combing
Caring for a M altese man's appearance takes quite a long time. As his hair grows all the time and has a tendency to become matted, it needs to be brushed regularly daily. For this purpose, it is best to use a natural bristle brush or a special grooming one. Start combing from the belly, then work your way up.
- bathing
The M altese needs to be bathed relatively often - preferably once a month, using shampoos for this breed made of natural bleaching ingredients. You can also use special conditioners for dogs, thanks to which the hair will later be easier to comb out and will not tangle. Some vets also recommend using lanolin to help prevent the M altese's hair from tangling. After washing, the dog must be combed and then dried with a blow dryer with a summer air flow.
- ear cleaning
- eye wash
In turn, the eyes should be rinsed with a sterile saline solution every day - this will prevent brown discoloration under the eyes in M altese people, caused by the discharge of tears that change the color of the hair.
- brushing teeth
The teeth of a M altese dog should be washed with a special toothpaste 2-3 times a week, without fluoride, and given chews to help wipe off the plaque.
- clipping claws
M altese claws should be trimmed once a month.
According to an expertEwa Korycka-Grzegorczyk, a veterinarianWhat do M altese dogs suffer most from?
- The eye problems arethe double row of eyelashes , which irritates the cornea and conjunctiva causes them to become inflamed. And obstruction of the tear ductscauses excessive tearing and thus the ineffective brown color of the hair below the eyes.
- Serious genetic disease isencephalitis of pugs and m altese.Symptoms of the disease appear from 6 months to 7 years and are manifested by seizures, disorientation, sometimes blindness and stiffness neck. The prognosis is cautious or unfavorable.
- Males of this breed are more likely to havecryptorchidism , where one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum. A testicle that has not descended into the scrotum should be surgically removed, as the risk of cancer in such a testicle increases.
- Young dogs often face the problem ofpersistent milk teeth.At the age of 7-8 months, the dog should have all milk teeth permanently replaced. In M altese people, the milk tooth is often stuck, and a permanent tooth grows next to it. The most common problem is in the canines. This situation causes malocclusion, the accumulation of food debris and the deposition of tartar, and thus faster caries. Persistent milk tooth should be extracted.
- M altese are predisposedto food and environmental allergies , which are most often manifested by skin problems. These are: erythema, urticaria, intense itching, sometimes dandruff, licking the interdigital spaces, erythematous-wax ear infections.
- Other conditionsoccurring in M altese are: patellar dislocation, tracheal collapse, pyloric hyperplasia, portal-lateral anastomosis, generalized tremor syndrome, glycogen storage, congenital hydrocephalus.