Cost of Owning a Maltese
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Total cost of owning a Maltese: purchase price, food, vet bills, grooming, and insurance. Annual and lifetime budget for this small breed.
Purchase/Adoption Cost
Owning a Maltese is a significant financial commitment over their 12-15 yrs lifespan. While smaller breeds cost less for food and medications, they can still have expensive health conditions like dental disease and luxating patella.
Plan for 4-7 lbs of animal and 12-15 yrs of companionship with a Maltese; the breed-specific care considerations are the kind it pays to read up on before day one. Few breeds combine steady enthusiasm with the Maltese's distinctive character quite so effectively.
Health Predisposition Summary: Malteses show higher-than-average incidence of luxating patella, dental disease, collapsed trachea based on breed health database data. Individual risk depends on lineage, environment, and care. Work with your vet to determine which screenings are appropriate at each life stage.
First-Year Expenses
Few breeds combine steady enthusiasm with the Maltese's distinctive character quite so effectively. Malteses with moderate energy levels strike a good balance between activity and relaxation.
- Size: small (4-7 lbs)
- Energy Level: Moderate
- Shedding: Minimal
- Lifespan: 12-15 yrs
Annual Costs
Knowledge of breed-specific characteristics directly translates to better day-to-day care. Practical Malteses care is shaped by three things: small size, minimal shedding, and a known predisposition to luxating patella and dental disease.
Medical Expenses
- Maintain an occasional grooming routine
Hidden Costs
Money-Saving Tips
When preventive routines align with known breed predispositions, the downstream savings compound over the pet's life. Watch for early signs of luxating patella, maintain regular veterinary visits, and keep your dog at a healthy weight — excess weight worsens most of the conditions Malteses are prone to.
Veterinary Care Schedule for Malteses
Regular veterinary visits allow early detection of breed-associated conditions, when treatment is most effective. The recommended schedule for your Maltese. Use this as a starting point — your vet may adjust based on individual health.
| Life Stage | Visit Frequency | Key Screenings |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (0-1 year) | Every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks, then at 6 and 12 months | Vaccinations, deworming, spay/neuter (consult AVMA guidelines on optimal timing) consultation |
| Adult (1-7 years) | Annually | Physical exam, dental check, heartworm test, vaccination boosters |
| Senior (7+ years) | Every 6 months | Blood work, urinalysis, Luxating Patella screening, Dental Disease screening, Collapsed Trachea screening |
Malteses should receive breed-specific screening for luxating patella starting at 3-5 years of age or earlier if symptoms appear. The earlier you know, the more you can do about it.
Cost of Maltese Ownership
Before committing to ownership, evaluate whether these costs are sustainable long-term for Maltese ownership.
More Maltese Guides
Additional Maltese resources.
- Maltese Diet & Nutrition Guide
- Maltese Pet Insurance Cost
- How to Train a Maltese
- Maltese Grooming Guide
- Maltese Health Issues
- Maltese Temperament & Personality
- Maltese Exercise Needs
- Adopt a Maltese
What are the most important considerations for maltese?
Maltese: Budget Guide ownership involves ongoing costs for food, veterinary care, grooming, insurance, and supplies. Planning for both routine and unexpected expenses helps ensure consistent care.