Maltese Dogs

Maltese Dogs

Maltese dogs are a breed of dogs that belong to the toy group, so-called because of their small size and playful nature. The Maltese is covered from head to foot with silky, white hair, often grown long.

Like all other breeds that have long hair, Maltese dogs require frequent grooming. If cared for properly, the Maltese breed does not shed, which makes it one of those few breeds in the toy group that are hypoallergenic, right along with other toy dogs like Poodles and Bichon Frise.

Read below for some tips on how to properly groom Maltese dogs.

Grooming the Ears

The ears are an important area to check when grooming Maltese dogs. This is because the Maltese breed is drop-eared, which means it has excessive hair in the ears. You can usually figure out a problem when there is increased sensitivity in the area, heavy wax buildup, inflammation, strong odor, or debris. Also, if your dog frequently shakes its head, scratches the ears, or tilts its head to one side, then you might want to check with your veterinarian.

Caring for the Toenails

The toenails of Maltese dogs grow much the same way as human fingernails and toenails do. Usually, dogs would clip their own nails when they run on concrete. However, for Maltese dogs, it is advisable to clip the toenails every two to three weeks.

Long toenails can have adverse effects. They can scratch you. They can also affect how your Maltese stands or moves.

The trick is to cut only the tips of the toenails. This is important to remember because it is only the tips of the toenails that are dead tissue. The rest are live tissue and it hurts when you cut them. You probably know based on personal experience alone.

For young Maltese dogs, you might have to clip the nails much oftener than every two weeks. In fact, regularly clip the toenails of your 6-8 week old Maltese pup every week. And the best time to do that is usually after a bath when the nails are soft.

Removing Mats

Even with frequent grooming, at some point it is inevitable that Maltese dogs will have mats on their coats. If you find one in your Maltese, the first thing you should do is to try working it out with your fingers. Be gentle about it. But more importantly, don't try to immediately brush it through, because that would only result in hair loss.

If your efforts fail, try using a detangler spray. You can also use a coat conditioning oil. Again, try to work out the mat with your fingers gently. After pulling apart the mat, use a comb to try to loosen the hairs.