When getting a dog, an important issue is what the chosen dog breed can and cannot eat. Chicken is a popular meat for many dogs and is included in many dog foods. But are Maltese dogs allowed to eat chicken?
Maltese dogs are generally allowed to eat chicken. However, there are individual Maltese that may be allergic to chicken. chicken is a great source of protein and omega-6 fatty acids. However, you must never serve your Maltese raw chicken. You should also never give your Maltese chicken bones.
Chicken is a great source of protein for your Maltese. Most Maltese also tolerate chicken well and like it too. However, Maltese can be picky eaters. So don’t be surprised if your Maltese spurns the tasty chicken.
In the following, we will go into more detail about whether Maltese can eat chicken. We explain what nutrients chicken offers and whether Maltese can eat raw or cooked chicken. We also discuss the signs of chicken allergy in Maltese.
Furthermore, we reveal what to look for when serving chicken to your Maltese. Finally, we explain the best way to serve it to him.
Can Maltese Eat Chicken?
In general, Maltese can eat chicken without hesitation. But there is one exception.
Some Maltese can be allergic to chicken meat. In this case, you must not give your Maltese chicken to eat.
Usually, a food allergy is accompanied by an environmental allergy. So if your Maltese is allergic to pollen or something similar, he might also have a food allergy.
In most cases, however, chicken is safe for Maltese. In fact, most Maltese like it quite a bit. They prefer to eat it as a tasty meal with a few vegetables thrown in.
What Nutrients Does Chicken Contain?
Chicken meat is quite low in fat and offers a lot of good nutrients. It is an ingredient that is usually very good for your Maltese.
The following table lists the nutrients contained in 100g of chicken.
| Nutrients in Chicken | Amounts per 100g |
| Calories | 239 |
| Fat | 14 grams |
| Saturated Fatty Acids | 3.8 grams |
| Cholesterin | 88 mg |
| Sodium | 82 mg |
| Potassium | 223 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 0 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 grams |
| Sugar | 0 grams |
| Protein | 27 grams |
| Vitamin A | 7 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.18 mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 5.05 mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.4 mg |
| Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0.3 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Vitamin D | 2 IU |
| Calcium | 15 mg |
| Magnesium | 23 mg |
| Iron | 1.3 mg |
| Phosphorus | 184 mg |
| Zinc | 2.54 mg |
What Are the Health Benefits of Chicken For a Maltese?
We have seen that chicken has some valuable nutrients. With these nutrients, of course, come some health benefits.
In detail, chicken has the following benefits for the health of your Maltese:
- Prevention of anemia
- Support of the immune system
- Additional protection against infections
- Prevention of stress
Can Maltese Eat Raw Chicken?
It’s not a question to ask yourself if you should eat raw chicken. Raw chicken can make people sick and cause food poisoning.
Perhaps you have experienced it yourself. It is not pleasant, and it is usually accompanied by stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
The same is true for dogs, with limitations. The trigger for nausea after eating raw chicken is often salmonella or other bacteria found on the chicken.
However, dogs have more robust stomachs than humans. Their stomachs have a higher acid content, which makes them more resistant to bacteria and other germs.
Still, there is some danger to your Maltese when he eats raw chicken. Most veterinarians advise against feeding raw chicken to dogs. It is not worth the risk to their safety and health.
However, if you do want to feed raw chicken, it should be as fresh as possible. Bacteria multiply rapidly on raw chicken if it is left to stand. Especially if it is unrefrigerated.
You should also be sure to wash it thoroughly before serving. This way you can reduce the germ load at least a little. Nevertheless, it is safer not to feed your Maltese raw chicken.
Can Maltese Eat Cooked Chicken?
Bacteria are no longer found in properly cooked chicken. This danger for your Maltese is therefore eliminated by cooking.
However, there is another danger lurking in cooked chicken for your Maltese, and that is chicken bones. Cooking makes the bones porous and they can break easily.
Unfortunately, the chicken bones are also very sharp when they break. So your Maltese can sustain serious injuries from chicken bones if he accidentally eats them as well.
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of thoroughly removing the bones from the cooked chicken, just buy a piece of boneless chicken. A tasty chicken breast can be safely eaten by your Maltese.
if you are serving chicken to your Maltese for the first time, give him a small portion at first. pay attention to whether he likes it and whether he tolerates it well. You can increase the portion sizes over time, but you should also never serve too much chicken as a general rule.
It is best to incorporate the chicken into his regular meals. Serve it with other meats and vegetables or with vegetables only. Chicken does contain a lot of protein and other nutrients, but they are not the only nutrients your Maltese needs.
Maltese can be picky eaters. If your Maltese doesn’t eat the chicken, just try it again another day. However, he may not like it as a matter of principle, in which case you should accept that.
How to Recognize Chicken Allergy in Your Maltese
Some Maltese are prone to allergies. These include food allergies. One possible food allergy is chicken allergy.
If your Maltese has a chicken allergy, you should know how to recognize it. If so, do not give him any more chicken meat, and also have the allergy checked by a veterinarian.
The most common signs of a chicken allergy are:
- Hair loss or thinning coat
- Dry and itchy skin
- Dull coat
- Intense scratching or chewing on oneself
- Rash on the skin
- Ear inflammation
- Eye discharge
- Restless stomach
- Vomiting
- Cough
- Wheezing sounds
If you notice one or some of these symptoms, it could indicate a food allergy. However, it does not necessarily have to be a chicken allergy.
Maltese can also be allergic to other foods. The most common food allergies in Maltese are:
- Dairy products
- Chicken
- Chicken eggs
- Fish
- Beef
- Lamb
- Wheat
- Corn
- Grains
- Soy
But Maltese can also be allergic to fruits or vegetables. On the other hand, if you have too much fruit, it could also be a reaction to a large amount of sugar if your Maltese is unwell. Fruits like bananas contain a lot of sugar, so you should only feed them in moderation.
If your Maltese is allergic to one food, there is a high probability that he is allergic to other foods as well. If you suspect a food allergy, the best thing to do is seek advice from your veterinarian. He can examine your Maltese and determine where the problem is.
If your Maltese really does have food allergies, you will need to put him on a hypoallergenic diet. You can also try the process of elimination to identify the foods he is allergic to.
If the allergy symptoms worsen over time, it is likely that he is suffering from an environmental allergy. Dogs, just like humans, can have seasonal allergies to certain pollens or the like.
What to Be Cautious of With Chicken For Your Maltese
We have already discussed a few things to look out for when serving your Maltese chicken. Here we would like to review all the relevant points that you should pay attention to.
Do Not Serve Your Maltese Raw Chicken
Raw chicken is less dangerous for dogs than it is for humans. However, it can still be dangerous. Therefore, it is better not to serve raw chicken to your Maltese.
With cooked chicken, you avoid the risks of your Maltese getting his stomach upset or salmonella poisoning.
Do Not Serve Your Maltese Cooked Chicken Bones
Cooking makes chicken bones porous and can break them into pointy and sharp pieces. If your Maltese eats these, he can seriously injure himself or even choke on them.
Therefore, be sure to thoroughly remove all bones beforehand. Or you can buy boneless chicken to be safe.
Watch Out for Allergic Reactions
Maltese can be allergic to chicken meat. Watch out for the symptoms of allergy that we discussed above. When in doubt, skip the chicken meat and talk to a veterinarian about it.
Often a food allergy goes hand in hand with other food allergies. You can try to find out which foods your Maltese is allergic to by omitting individual foods.
Maltese Are Picky Eaters
Maltese can be very picky eaters. Your Maltese may not want to eat chicken. He may also eventually lose his desire for chicken meat.
Do not try to force him to eat chicken. It probably wouldn’t work anyway. Switch to different meat instead. Other meats also have valuable nutrients for your Maltese.
Do Not Give Your Maltese Dark Meat Or Drumsticks
Dark meat and drumsticks can be quite tasty. Many people like to eat this meat very much. However, it is not good for your Maltese.
Dark meat and drumsticks can cause pancreatitis in dogs. This is something you should avoid with your Maltese.
Therefore, it is best to leave these meats out.
Do Not Give Your Maltese Fatty Pieces
Chicken is very lean meat. Nevertheless, there are fatty parts in chicken as well. First, there is chicken skin, which is very fatty. But there are also fatty parts in the meat itself.
Cut these parts away when you cut up the chicken for your Maltese. Fatty meat does not have the nutrients that muscle meat has. And it can also lead to obesity and disease if your Maltese eats it regularly.
Do Not Give the Chicken to Maltese Puppies Until They Are 10 to 12 Weeks Old
If you acquire your Maltese very young, you should wait before serving him chicken meat. You should definitely not give it before 8 weeks of age.
It is best to wait until your puppy is 10 or better yet 12 weeks old. Then your puppy should get his adult teeth.
How to Serve Your Maltese Chicken
If you are preparing chicken for your Maltese, you will need to do it differently than if you are preparing a delicious chicken meal for yourself or your family.
Chicken is usually fried or prepared in the oven. As delicious as it tastes, you need to do things differently for your Maltese.
When preparing chicken for your Maltese, you should simply boil it. Cook the meat until it is nice and soft and tender. This way your Maltese can eat it very easily.
You should also cut the meat into small pieces. Then add these parts to the regular dog food.
If you want to prepare a pure home-cooked meal for your Maltese, you should serve the chicken with cooked vegetables. The vegetables should also be cooked tender so that they are easy to chew and swallow.
It is very important that you do not salt or season either the meat or the vegetables. Salt and spices have no place in dog food!
Conclusion: Can Maltese Eat Chicken?
Maltese are allowed to eat chicken. There are Maltese who are allergic to chicken, but they can recognize this by certain signs. In that case, you should avoid chicken in your Maltese’s meals.
Chicken should always be served cooked. Never give raw chicken. Chicken bones are also off-limits for your Maltese.
It is best to serve your Maltese chicken along with some vegetables. This is a meal that hopefully, your Maltese will not be able to resist.