Skip to content 
If you are thinking about having a Maltese as your next pet, special considerations need to be considered when it comes to maintenance and upkeep. Maltese dogs are beloved for their elegant appearance, long silky coats, and friendly personalities. To keep a Maltese looking and feeling its best, regular grooming is essential. The frequency of grooming sessions depends on several factors, including the dog’s age, coat type, and lifestyle.
In this article, we will explore the grooming needs of Maltese dogs, discussing the importance of grooming, how often grooming should be done, and the steps involved in maintaining their beautiful coats.
In my own personal situation, my Maltese needs to be groomed every six weeks. And there have been several occasions where he needs grooming once a month, This is especially true in the warmer months of the year. Here in Texas, the summer months can be brutal on long-haired pets. So it is extremely important to consider keeping your pet’s fur trimmed just a bit shorter than those of the cooler months.
Why is Grooming Important for Maltese Dogs?
Grooming is an integral part of caring for your Maltese, and it serves several important purposes:
- Maintaining Their Appearance: Maltese dogs have a long, flowing coat that can quickly become tangled, matted, or dirty if not properly maintained. Regular grooming helps keep their coat looking clean, shiny, and beautiful.
- Preventing Health Issues: A well-groomed Maltese is less prone to skin issues, infections, and parasites. Regular brushing and bathing can help prevent these problems from developing.
- Bonding and Socialization: Grooming sessions provide an excellent opportunity for bonding with your Maltese. It’s a time when you can build trust and strengthen your relationship with your furry friend.
- Comfort and Well-being: Tangled or matted fur can be uncomfortable for your Maltese, causing skin irritation and discomfort. Grooming helps keep your dog comfortable and happy.
How Often Should You Groom Your Maltese?
The frequency of grooming for a Maltese varies depending on factors such as their age, coat type, and lifestyle. Here’s a general guideline to help you determine how often your Maltese should be groomed:
- Daily Brushing: Maltese puppies and dogs with particularly long or fine coats require daily brushing to prevent tangles and mats. Employ a comb for the face of all Maltese, and extend this practice to the entire body for those with longer coats, typically in tandem with brushing. Use a soft-bristle brush or a pin brush to gently remove dirt and debris from the coat.
- Regular Bathing: Maltese dogs should be bathed every 2-4 weeks. Use a gentle, hypoallergenic dog shampoo to avoid skin irritation. Be sure to thoroughly rinse your Maltese to remove all soap residue.
- Face and Eye Cleaning – It’s recommended to gently clean the face with wipes two to three times daily. A consistent cleaning schedule is crucial.
- Nail Care – Nails should be clipped or filed down every five to six weeks to prevent overgrowth.
- Ear Maintenance – Ears should be checked and cleaned every month to prevent wax build-up and infection
- Dental Hygiene – Daily tooth brushing is ideal to ensure oral health and prevent dental issues.
- Monthly Trimming: Regular trimming of the hair around the eyes, ears, and paws is necessary to maintain a neat appearance and prevent eye irritation. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, consider taking your Maltese to a professional groomer. They provide a complete grooming service, including trimming, bathing, and styling your Maltese’s coat.
It’s important to adapt the grooming schedule to your Maltese’s specific needs. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors or is particularly active, they may require more frequent grooming. Conversely, if your Maltese is primarily an indoor pet, grooming sessions may be less frequent.
Grooming Steps for Your Maltese
Grooming your Maltese can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s essential to follow a routine to ensure your dog’s coat remains in optimal condition. Here are the steps involved in grooming your Maltese:
1. Brushing:
Start by gently brushing your Maltese’s coat to remove tangles, mats, and dirt. Use a soft-bristle brush or a pin brush, and be especially thorough around the ears, neck, and tail.
Opt for a good brush that not only cleans the coat but also promotes circulation and distributes the dog’s natural oils for a healthy shine. It’s important to avoid grooming tools like slicker brushes or raking combs, which could damage the fine Maltese hair.
For pups and trimmed coats, a soft bristle brush is ideal. For those with fuller coats, a pin brush with cushioned tips is recommended to smoothly detangle without pulling on the hair. If you want your Maltese to have a specific style, consult a professional groomer for more intricate cuts and styles.
2. Bathing:
Ensuring that your Maltese pooch receives regular baths is crucial for maintaining their overall hygiene and comfort. It’s essential to strike a balance, as too many baths can strip their coat and skin of natural oils, leading to dryness.
Here are several pointers for an efficient and safe bathing routine for your Maltese:
- Prepare all the necessary bathing supplies ahead of time to avoid interruptions.
- Choose a warm, shallow bath and secure location where your Maltese won’t slip.
- Fully saturate their fur using a handheld shower or, if unavailable, a pitcher will suffice.
- Work a canine-appropriate shampoo into your pet’s fur with gentle motions (human shampoo is a no-go).
- Thoroughly rinse their coat, taking care to shield their delicate ears and eyes from suds.
- Envelop your Maltese in a cozy towel to wick away excess water from their fur.
- A hairdryer on a low and gentle setting may be utilized to finish the drying process. Make sure your Maltese is comfortable during this process, as they may not like the noise of the dryer.
3. Detangling with Combing:
Prior to brushing, it’s crucial for Maltese with medium to longer coats to undergo combing. This step is essential for catching and gently removing any mats, which if left unaddressed, can tighten and cause discomfort. For the delicate areas such as the face, paws, and other small spots, a comb is indispensable. An excellent tool for the task is the Dual-Sided Comb, featuring a wide-tooth side for the body and a fine-tooth side for smaller, intricate areas.
4. Conditioning with Spritzing:
A high-quality leave-in conditioner is a must for safeguarding the Maltese’s delicate single-layer coat. Benefits include:
- Shielding from harsh sun rays
- Protecting against dryness, especially in winter
- Minimizing friction damage
- Keeping hair ends split-free and smooth
- Serving as a detangler to prevent mat formation
- Helping the coat stay clean and repelling dirt and irritants Plus, many conditioning sprays offer a pleasant scent to keep your Maltese smelling fresh. For shorter coats, a light mist during brushing will suffice, while longer coats may require a more targeted approach, spritzing close to the roots and then brushing through to the tips.
For regular upkeep, a leave-in conditioner can be used daily, though a minimum of two to three applications per week is essential for maintaining a healthy coat.
5. Dental Hygiene Commitment:
Your Maltese’s dental health is your responsibility. The act of chewing on toys does not suffice for dental care. At-home dental hygiene should consist of the following:
- Daily brushings of 3 to 5 minutes using quality dog toothpaste and a toothbrush or finger brush designed for dogs.
- A daily dental chew to help maintain oral health.
- Optionally, consider adding a dental care water additive to combat plaque buildup.
Caring for your Maltese’s dental health is a task that falls to the pet parent. Toys can help, but they’re not enough to keep those pearly whites in top shape.
6. Caring for a Maltese’s White Coat and Eyes
Having a Maltese means you get to look after their beautiful white coat, which is super soft and sometimes has a little bit of color on the ears. But if you don’t clean it regularly, stains can show up pretty easily.
The hair around their mouth and chin might turn a bit yellow, and the area around their eyes can get stains that look pink, brown, or like rust. This happens because their eyes can water a lot, which leaves marks on the fur.
Here’s what you can do to help:
For daily cleaning, it’s important to choose gentle and effective pet wipes, especially for wiping around the eyes. A good wipe to use might be something like ‘Gentle Care Doggie Wipes’.
Try to wipe down your Maltese’s face after every meal, which would usually be two or three times a day.
If you’re out for the day, remember to clean your dog’s face when you get home. For stronger stains, especially under the eyes, you might need to use a special tear stain remover along with your daily cleaning. This will help keep those stains from getting too dark.
Trim the hair around your Maltese’s eyes, ears, and paws with safety scissors. Be cautious not to cut the skin, and if you are unsure, consider seeking professional help.
7. Tackling Mats in the Coat:
Finding a mat in your Maltese’s fur can be distressing, but it’s crucial to handle it promptly. Ignoring a mat will only lead to it becoming larger and more painful for your pet as it pulls on the skin. To resolve this, start by trying to gently tease the mat apart with your fingers lubricated with a bit of conditioner. This may be time-consuming, so take breaks to keep the process stress-free for both you and your pet.
If the mat proves too stubborn, you may need to cut it out. Special grooming tools like the ‘Safely Snip Mat Remover’ are designed to remove mats without damaging the surrounding coat, featuring safety tips to prevent skin nicks and sharp blades for a clean cut, promoting healthy regrowth.
8. Maintaining Overall Cleanliness with Grooming Wipes:
Even though frequent baths are not advisable (every three weeks is the standard), the striking white coat of a Maltese can easily trap dirt and debris. Here’s how to maintain their coat’s cleanliness in between baths:
Use regular brushing and grooming wipes for a full-body clean. Grooming wipes are beneficial for multiple reasons:
- They help alleviate the discomfort of allergies by removing pollen and other allergens.
- They clear away fine particles that dull the coat’s whiteness.
- They clean off urine and feces, which are particularly visible on white fur.
- They mitigate odors, ensuring your pet remains fresh and pleasant-smelling.
9. Nail Care Considerations:
The frequency of nail trimming for a Maltese can vary. Some natural filing occurs as dogs walk on hard surfaces, but this isn’t sufficient for complete nail care. Overgrown nails can curl and cause discomfort or even grow into the paw pads.
A good rule of thumb is to trim your Maltese’s nails approximately every 6 weeks. The sound of nails clicking on the floor is a clear indicator that it’s time for a trim. While some pet owners prefer professional grooming services for nail care, which can cost between $10 and $15, home grooming is also an option.
For those choosing to trim their Maltese’s nails at home, you can use either a traditional nail clipper or an electronic nail filer.
Due to the small size of the Maltese, select a sanding band that is appropriate for their delicate nails, like the 100-120 grit size. This will ensure a smooth, rounded nail edge and a comfortable experience for your furry friend.
Here’s a table summarizing the grooming process for your Maltese:
| Grooming Step | Frequency | Tools Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Brushing | Daily (for long coats) | Soft-bristle brush or pin brush |
| Regular Bathing | Every 2-4 weeks | Hypoallergenic dog shampoo |
| Monthly Trimming | Monthly | Safety scissors |
| Facial and Eye Cleaning | Daily | Facial and Eye Wipes |
| Teeth cleaning | Daily | Toothbrush, canine toothpaste |
| Spritzing (short puppy cut) | Every 3 days | Spray bottle with grooming spritz |
| Ears cleaning | Every 4 weeks | Ear cleaning solution, cotton balls |
| Nails trimming | Every 5 to 6 weeks | Nail clippers or nail grinder/file |
| Professional Grooming | Every 4-6 weeks | Professional grooming service |
How often do anal glands in small dogs like Maltese need to be expressed?
In small dog breeds like Maltese, the frequency of anal gland expression can vary, with some needing attention every few weeks, while others may go longer without issues; however, it’s not uncommon for glands to refill and potentially rupture within a month, especially if the previous expression was external and not thorough.
Internal expression, typically performed by a veterinarian, is recommended for a complete release and can be done every three months or as needed.
Groomers may not offer internal expressions, so owners should consider learning the technique or using products like Glandex to support gland health. If a dog experiences recurrent anal gland problems, veterinary intervention and possibly dietary changes are advisable.
Regular grooming may not always prevent issues, but vigilant observation for symptoms such as scooting or licking can prompt timely veterinary care to avoid impaction or rupture.
It’s beneficial to consult with your vet about incorporating gland expression into routine health maintenance to ensure your dog’s comfort and well-being.
Conclusion
Regular grooming is a vital part of caring for your Maltese fur baby. It not only maintains their beautiful appearance but also contributes to their overall health and well-being. By following a grooming routine tailored to your Maltese’s needs, you can ensure that your furry companion remains happy, healthy, and comfortable.
FAQ Section
Can I groom my Maltese at home, or should I always go to a professional groomer?
While some aspects of grooming can be done at home, such as brushing and basic maintenance, it’s advisable to seek professional grooming services every 4-6 weeks. Professional groomers have the expertise and tools to keep your Maltese looking their best while ensuring their comfort and safety.
Are there any specific products I should use for grooming my Maltese?
Yes, it’s essential to use high-quality dog grooming products, including a gentle, hypoallergenic dog shampoo, a soft-bristle brush or pin brush, and safety scissors for trimming. Consult your veterinarian or professional groomer for product recommendations.
How can I prevent tear stains in my Maltese’s coat?
Tear stains are common in Maltese dogs due to their eye shape and fine fur. To prevent tear stains, keep the fur around the eyes clean and dry, and consider using tear stain removers recommended by your veterinarian or groomer.
What should I do if my Maltese’s coat becomes matted or tangled?
If your Maltese’s coat becomes matted or tangled, it’s essential to address the issue promptly. Gently work through the tangles with a brush, starting at the tips and working your way toward the skin. If the mats are severe, consult a professional groomer to avoid causing your Maltese any pain or discomfort.
Are there any specific health concerns related to grooming my Maltese?
While grooming is generally beneficial, it’s essential to be cautious when handling your Maltese’s ears and eyes, as these areas are sensitive. Be gentle and avoid getting water or shampoo in these areas. If you notice any signs of discomfort or irritation, consult your veterinarian.
What special considerations are there for a Show Maltese?
Show Maltese requires specific grooming for the show ring, and it’s beneficial to seek guidance from breed clubs like the American Maltese Club.
How important is nutrition for a Maltese’s coat and health?
A well-balanced diet, vitamins, and healthy treats are crucial for a healthy coat and overall well-being.
You can find more dog grooming tips here!
