Health Problems With Maltese Dogs
The Maltese is a popular breed of all-white, long haired small dogs. It is unknown how old the breed is, but "Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds" claims that the Maltese was described in Greek writings as far back as 300 BC. Although one of the healthiest of the toy breeds, Maltese are prone to some health problems.
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Ear Problems
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"The Veterinarians' Guide to Your Dog's Symptoms" points out that some Maltese dogs are prone to deafness in one or both ears. Also, if the coat is kept long, the ears can be prone to infection due to lack of air circulation.
Skin Problems
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The Maltese can also be prone to skin allergies, which can worsen if the coat is dirty or stays damp much of the time. Signs of allergies include red spots, bald patches and constantly licking at the same spots.
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Digestion Problems
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The Maltese is one of the few breeds that can be picky about what food they will eat. Also, like most toy dog breeds, their teeth tend to rot and fall out when they age. This also leads to bad breath.
Mobility Problems
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The Maltese can be prone to knee problems (called luxating patella). They also can get hydrocephalus ("water on the brain"), which causes the head to expand.
Other Problems
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Maltese dogs have also been reported to suffer from inverted eyelids, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia and heart problems. Some male Malteses' testicles never descend.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image from Wikimedia Commons.
