As a Maltese owner, you often share your favorite foods with your pooch. But Maltese have different metabolic systems than humans, so what’s safe for you might not be safe for your Maltese. That’s why we created a list of 37 common fruits, vegetables and snacks Maltese can or cannot eat.
So let’s dive in:
List of fruits Maltese can or can’t eat
Wondering which fruits your Maltese can eat or not? Here is a list of some common fruits your Maltese can or can’t eat:
Apples
Yes, your Maltese can eat apples.
Apples are a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber for your Maltese. They’re low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior Maltese.
However, remove the seeds and core first—they contain cyanide compounds that can be harmful to your Maltese. Also avoid processed apples like applesauce and apple pie filling—these added sugars will give your pup an upset stomach.
Avocado
Avocado is not safe for your Maltese to consume. Avocado fruit, pits, leaves and skin contain persin, which is a toxic chemical that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues in Maltese. However, avocado oil is safe in small amounts.
Bananas
Yes, Maltese can eat bananas.
Bananas are a low-calorie snack for Maltese in moderation. They are high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium but have a high sugar content. Bananas should be given as an occasional treat to Maltese. Some Maltese may be allergic to bananas so it is best to test this on your Maltese before feeding them any quantity.
You should remove the peel of the banana before feeding it to your Maltese as this part of the banana is difficult for their digestive system to break down. You can also make banana mush by blending a banana with water until smooth and then giving it to your Maltese as a treat (this is one of our favorite recipes).
You should avoid processed bananas like banana chips or puddings because these may contain added toxic ingredients that could harm your Maltese’s health if he eats too much of it.
Blackberry
Yes, Maltese can eat blackberries.
Blackberries are a low-calorie, low-sugar fruit that is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They’re also super easy to find frozen or fresh at your local grocery store.
Avoid feeding your Maltese processed blackberries like blackberry jam, jelly, blackberry-flavored ice cream and other sweetened products—these can contain harmful preservatives and additives. Instead, stick with fresh or frozen blackberries. Give them two berries per day per 10 pounds of body weight.
Blueberry
Yes, Maltese can eat blueberries. In fact, they’re a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants!
Just be sure to feed them in moderation—a maximum of four or five blueberries per 10 pounds of Maltese’s body weight is recommended. You can feed them fresh or dried (but not canned) berries. And you can mash the berries if that’s easier for your pup. You can also freeze fresh or dried blueberries to make them easier to chew and digest.
As long as you avoid processed blueberries like blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt, blueberry pie, and blueberry pancakes—which may contain added harmful ingredients—you should be fine.
Cantaloupe
Yes, your Maltese can eat cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe is a low-calorie fruit that is high in vitamin A and C and also contains fiber and moisture. However, it is also high in sugar, so you should give your Maltese this fruit in moderation. You’ll want to remove the rinds and seeds, as they can be a choking hazard for Maltese.
Cherry
Can Maltese eat cherries?
Unfortunately, no. While the fleshy part around the seed is safe for your Maltese to eat, the plant itself contains cyanide. Cyanide destroys cellular oxygen transport in your Maltese, and can lead to death if not treated.
The symptoms of cyanide toxicity include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking, redness of the tongue or gums, vomiting and diarrhea. If you suspect your Maltese has eaten a cherry or other cyanogenic fruit or vegetable, contact your vet immediately.
Grapes
No, grapes are very toxic to Maltese. Even a small amount of grapes can cause sudden kidney failure in your Maltese.
Symptoms of grape poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. Seek veterinary help immediately if you suspect your Maltese ate grapes.
To prevent accidental ingestion, keep the grapes out of your Maltese’s reach and educate your family about the danger of grape toxicity.
Mango
Yes, Maltese can eat mango. The fruit contains four different vitamins: A, B6, C and E that are essential for a Maltese’s health. It’s also rich in potassium, fiber and antioxidants.
It’s important to remove the skin and pit of the mango before feeding it to your Maltese though—the skin will cause choking if swallowed whole and the pit can block their digestive tract.
Maltese can eat fresh ripe mangoes but not processed ones like mango sorbet or mango popsicles as they may contain harmful preservatives.
One-quarter cup of fresh ripe mango once a week should be fine for most Maltese depending on their size but check with your vet if you are concerned about their weight gain or loss.
Oranges
Yes, Maltese can eat oranges in moderation.
Oranges provide Vitamin C, potassium, fiber and moisture. But as with anything else you feed your Maltese, it’s important to make sure you’re not going overboard with the amount of fruit you give them.
Give only the fleshy part to your Maltese—remove all traces of peel, skin, pith and seeds. Also, be aware that while oranges are safe for most Maltese to eat, they can cause diarrhea or constipation if they’re fed too much.
1-2 sections as an occasional treat are enough for most Maltese.
Peaches
Peaches are a great fruit for Maltese to eat.
However, it’s always important to remove the pit before serving your Maltese a peach. The pit contains cyanide, which is poisonous to Maltese. Also, avoid processed peaches like peach cobbler or peach pie, as they may contain toxic food additives.
Peaches are also high in fiber and vitamin A. They’re also low in calories, so they make a great snack if you’re looking to feed your Maltese something low-calorie that will keep him full for a while.
Pears
Pears are a great snack for Maltese, especially if they’re looking for something to help them stay hydrated.
They’re high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber—all things that are good for your pup’s health and well-being. Plus, eating the fruit can reduce the risk of having a stroke significantly.
Just be sure to cut pears into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide. Skip processed pears like canned pears as it may contain sugar syrups and other additives. One small slice is ok for most Maltese.
Pineapples
Yes, Maltese can eat pineapple. It’s a tasty snack for them.
Pineapple contains vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. It also has minerals like calcium and phosphorus. There are also bromelain and moisture in pineapples that are good for your Maltese’s health.
The soft inner fruit is safe for your Maltese to eat. You can feed him 2/3 small bites of raw pineapple per day.
Remove the spiky skin and hard inner pineapple core before feeding it to your Maltese. Do not feed processed pineapples like canned pineapple or pineapple cake because these contain added harmful chemicals.
Pumpkin
Can Maltese eat pumpkin?
The answer is yes! Pure pumpkin itself is a great choice and a very healthy snack for Maltese. Pumpkin helps with your Maltese’s skin and coat, it can help remedy both diarrhea and constipation in your Maltese, and it also helps with digestion.
Never feed your Maltese pumpkin pie mix. Canned pumpkin is ok for your Maltese but make sure it’s 100% pumpkin, not the stuff that comes in cans with spices added to it. Many pumpkin supplements and pumpkin pup treats are available on the market today, so if you have trouble getting your Maltese to eat plain old fresh pumpkins, then you can try one of these supplements or treats instead.
Amount varies with your Maltese’s size and activity level, but start with a teaspoon per day (and work up from there if needed).
Strawberry
Yes, Maltese can eat strawberries. They are a healthy snack for your Maltese, as they contain vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. Fresh and frozen strawberries have the same benefits, but always cut the strawberries in small pieces before serving them to your Maltese.
Remove the stem of each strawberry so that there are no sharp edges left behind to hurt your Maltese’s mouth or digestive system. Processed strawberries (such as those found in jelly) should be avoided because they contain added sugar that can cause stomach upset in Maltese if consumed in large quantities.
Watermelon
Yes! In fact, watermelon is a great low-calorie treat for your Maltese. Just make sure you cut it in small chunks and remove the seeds, rinds, and skin. Half a cup of diced seedless and rind-free watermelon is enough per 10 pounds of body weight.
It’s not just good for your Maltese—it’s also good for you! Watermelon contains vitamins A and C, as well as lycopene, which has been linked to cancer prevention. Plus, it’s full of moisture that will help keep your Maltese hydrated on hot days or after exercise.
List of vegetable Maltese can or can’t eat
Wondering which vegetables your Maltese can eat or not? Here is a list of some vegetables your Maltese can or can’t eat:
Broccoli
Yes, your Maltese can eat broccoli. Broccoli contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your Maltese’s health.
Broccoli stems and florets, both are safe to eat, either cooked or raw. However, always cut them into small pieces just in case they choke on them. Offer 1/4 (0.25) cup broccoli per 10 pounds of body weight of a pup.
Cabbage
Yes, Maltese can eat cabbage. In fact, it’s a very good choice for them.
Cabbage is a great choice for your pup because it contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are good for their overall health. It also has lots of fiber and moisture, so it’ll help keep your Maltese hydrated.
All types of cabbage are safe for Maltese to eat—red, green, purple—and all contain nutrients that will help them stay healthy. Red cabbage is more nutritious than green cabbage though: it has 10 times more vitamins than green cabbages do!
If you’re going to give your Maltese some cabbage, make sure it’s lightly cooked or roasted so it’s easier to digest. Just make sure there’s no seasoning with oil or salt. Give your pup one bite per 10 pounds of its body weight every day or so.
Carrots
Yes, Maltese can eat carrots. In fact, they are a great low calorie treat your pup will love! Carrots contain vitamins and minerals and fiber. This orange veggie is also great for your Maltese’s teeth because it gives them something to crunch on.
Raw, frozen, or cooked carrots are all fine to give your Maltese—cooked carrots are easier for your Maltese to digest than raw or frozen ones. If you choose to feed your pet raw or frozen carrots, make sure that you chop them into smaller pieces so they don’t get stuck in their throat.
If you’re planning on making a carrot cake for yourself this holiday season, it should be ok for your pup as long as you don’t add any harmful additives. One or a couple of baby carrots per day should be enough for an average size pup.
Celery
Yes, Maltese can eat celery.
Celery is a great low-calorie treat for your pup. Besides being low in calories, it’s also rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants that help keep your Maltese healthy. Celery is also high in fiber and moisture, which can help keep your Maltese hydrated and regular.
You can give your pet celery sticks or leaves, but be sure to use organic varieties and wash them thoroughly before feeding them to your Maltese. You should always cut the pieces into small bite-sized pieces so they’re easy for your Maltese to chew and digest. Start with one or two pieces at first, then increase the amount over time until you reach the amount recommended by your vet.
Cucumber
Yes, your Maltese can eat cucumbers.
Cucumbers contain vitamins and minerals, which makes them a healthy snack for your Maltese. Besides being healthy for your Maltese, cucumbers are also low in calories and high in water content, which makes them great for keeping your pet hydrated on hot days. They also provide phytochemicals that help freshen your Maltese’s breath.
Cucumber seed and peels or skin are safe as long as they are organic. However, avoid processed cucumbers like cucumber pickles, as they may contain harmful food additives like salt, sugar..
The recommended amount of cucumbers for Maltese is one or two pieces per day depending on the size of your Maltese.
Garlic
Garlic is toxic to Maltese. It contains N-propyl disulfide, a sulfur compound that causes hemolysis leading to anemia. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite and lethargy.
Raw and cooked cloves and bulbs of garlic are toxic to your Maltese. The toxic dose is 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight. Contact the vet immediately if your Maltese ate garlic.
Onions
Can my Maltese eat onions?
No, definitely not. In fact, it’s best to keep all onions away from your Maltese.
Onions contain a sulfur compound called N-propyl disulfide, which causes hemolysis (breaking down of red blood cells) and anemia in Maltese. At toxic levels, it can kill your Maltese. The toxic dose is 15 gm/kg of body weight—so it doesn’t take much to have a seriously negative effect on your Maltese’s health.
All parts of the onion plant are toxic to Maltese: the flesh, rings, leaves, juice, and processed powders. So if you think your Maltese might have eaten any part of an onion plant or pieces, it’s time for a vet visit.
Zucchini
Yes, Maltese can eat zucchini.
Zucchini is a low calorie treat and full of vitamins and antioxidants. It’s also high in fiber and moisture, which is great for helping keep your Maltese hydrated. Plain raw, steamed, or cooked zucchini is safe for Maltese to eat.
However, raw zucchini provides more Vitamin A than cooked ones — so if you’re looking to make sure your Maltese gets as much Vitamin A as possible, then stick with the raw veggie. The amount depends on the size of your Maltese; start with just one or two small bites at first to make sure they stay regular before giving them more.
List of some other snacks Maltese can or can’t eat
Wondering which snacks your Maltese can eat or not? Here is a list of some snacks your Maltese can or can’t eat:
Bacon
No, your Maltese should not eat bacon. Bacon is an incredibly rich and fatty food with a high salt content. If a Maltese eats too much of it, it can prove to be too much for a Maltese’s stomach to handle. Eating a large amount can cause pancreatitis, which is an inflammation or irritation of the pancreas caused by excessive fat in the diet.
However, giving your Maltese small amounts of cooked bacon infrequently should not cause harm—but it’s not recommended that you feed your Maltese raw bacon.
Beef
Yes, Maltese can eat beef.
Cooked, unseasoned lean beef is safe for Maltese in small amounts unless your Maltese is allergic to beef. Beef is a good source of protein and many important vitamins and minerals.
Beef broth, beef stew, and specialized Maltese beef jerky without an excess amount of salt are also safe for your Maltese.
Stay away from raw beef because it may contain E.coli or Salmonella bacteria which can make your pooch sick. Never feed cooked bone to your Maltese, but larger raw beef bones can be a chew toy. As a rule of thumb, for a 10 pounds pooch, half a cup of kibble or 0.15 pound of ground beef is sufficient if you opt for a raw diet.
Bread
Yes, Maltese can eat bread provided your Maltese is not allergic to it. However, only plain white and wheat bread is safe for Maltese to eat.
Bread doesn’t provide that much nutrients in your Maltese, so offer them in moderation. A crust is fine, but a whole slice is too much for your Maltese. Too much bread can cause obesity, which can lead to other health issues like diabetes and heart problems.
Cheese
Yes, a small amount of cheese is ok for the Maltese.
Cheese is a great source of vitamins and fatty acids, as well as proteins. Just be careful of what types of cheese you are feeding to your Maltese.
You can feed your Maltese mozzarella, cottage, swiss and cheddar cheese. Stay away from spicy and heavy cheese like cheesecake, blue, goat, parmesan and cream cheese.
The amount depends on the size of your Maltese. A few small bites are ok.
Chicken
Yes, Maltese can eat chicken.
Chicken contains protein, omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Boneless cooked breast meat is the best option. Avoid chicken skin because it contains a high amount of fat that can cause pancreatitis in Maltese. Amount depends on the size of the Maltese, but as a rule of thumb, give 1/8 to 1/6 cup of meat protein per 10 pounds of body weight per day if your pup is on a raw meat diet.
Chocolate
Can Maltese eat chocolate?
The answer is no, and here’s why:
Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to pups. Cocoa powder (most toxic), unsweetened baker’s chocolate, semisweet chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate—all are toxic to Maltese.
If your Maltese ate a piece of chocolate, contact your vet immediately. You may also want to consider educating your family about the danger of chocolate in Maltese as well so that you can prevent accidental ingestion from happening in the future.
Eggs
Yes, your Maltese can eat eggs.
Eggs are high in protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals and well-cooked with no harmful ingredients. They’re also a great source of phosphorus, an essential mineral for healthy bones and teeth.
Raw eggs are not recommended because avidin prevents absorption of biotin (a B vitamin) and raw eggs may contain bacteria that can make your Maltese sick.
Egg shells are fine if you grind them up into a powder or break them into small pieces that won’t be sharp for your Maltese’s mouth.
Fish
Yes, Maltese can eat fish. In fact, they should eat fish. Fish is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
However, not all types of fish are safe for your Maltese to eat. Smaller, younger wild-caught species like salmon, shrimp and tilapia are safe for your Maltese. Avoid longer-lived fish species like tuna, shark, swordfish as they can contain heavy metals like mercury. Always clean them properly before consumption by removing the skin and deboning them, then cook it adding no harmful additives. Feeding your Maltese one or two times per week in small controlled amounts is a good idea if you want to feed him some fish from the kitchen table.
Icecream
No, Maltese should not eat ice cream. Ice cream contains a high amount of dairy products and sugar, which can cause serious problems for your pet. If you suspect your Maltese has eaten ice cream, seek veterinary help immediately.
Symptoms of ice cream toxicity include diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, excess thirst or urination and weakness or lethargy. All types of ice cream are unsafe for Maltese to eat.
Peanut butter
Maltese can eat peanut butter in moderation, but you should monitor how much your pooch is consuming. Peanut butter provides protein, vitamins and healthy fats, but it’s also high in fat. Peanut butter can also contain xylitol, which is toxic to Maltese. Chocolate is another ingredient that can be dangerous for Maltese to consume, so make sure the peanut butter you buy doesn’t have any chocolate in it.
As a general rule of thumb, if your Maltese has never had peanut butter before, start with a half teaspoon per day. If they seem to do fine and enjoy eating it, try increasing the portion size by small increments.
Popcorn
Yes, Maltese can eat popcorn.
Popped corn kernels actually contain several minerals important to Maltese, like magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc, along with fiber and trace amounts of vitamins.
Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for Maltese to eat in small quantities as an occasional treat. Un-popped or partially popped kernels can be a choking hazard and may even cause damage to your Maltese’s teeth.
Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings like cheese or butter are not safe for your Maltese because they can make him sick. And if you give your Maltese too much processed food, it can lead to obesity—a serious health issue in Maltese.
Turkey
Yes, Maltese can eat turkey.
Turkey is a safe option for your Maltese as long as you provide cooked lean, white, unseasoned and boneless turkey meat. Turkey breast meat is the best option because it provides more protein, fatty acids and minerals.
Avoid turkey skin as it can cause GI upset and pancreatitis in some Maltese. Also avoid processed turkey as it may contain harmful substances such as nitrates that can be harmful to pets.
Your Maltese should have 10 grams of white meat turkey or 7.5 grams of dark meat turkey per 6 pounds body weight for his or her meal.
Yogurt
Can Maltese eat yogurt? Yes, they can. Plain yogurt is a perfectly acceptable snack for Maltese, and it’s full of beneficial bacteria that can help strengthen their digestive system. However, some Maltese may have trouble digesting dairy products. If your Maltese can digest it, the beneficial bacteria in yogurt can help strengthen the digestive system.
Avoid any yogurts with added sugar or artificial sweeteners as it can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. One teaspoon of yogurt a day is fine for most pups—just make sure you’re giving them the right kind.
Conclusion
There you have it, a list of 37 common fruits, vegetables and snacks Maltese can or cannot eat.
It’s important to ensure that your Maltese is getting a balanced diet—that means they’re getting enough protein and fats along with all their other nutrients.
Stay away from the unsafe ones and feed safe ones only to your Maltese. However, with any safe food follow the 90/10 rule: 90% calories should come from their normal food, only 10% from the treats like these.