The Maltese is small in size but big in personality. However, small breeds have their own expensive problems - dental disease, kneecap issues, and heart conditions are the hidden costs of compact dogs.
Measured risks
How often they happen is backed by published studies.
Obesity 40%
$0.3-0.8k/year Weight management
What is this?Hide
All dogs General canine obesity prevalence; no Maltese-specific breed effect confirmed.
Up to 40% of adult dogs are overweight. Obesity accelerates joint deterioration, increases cardiac load, and shortens life expectancy by 1-2 years. Full profile →
Allergies & Skin Issues 12.6%
$1-4k/year
What is this?Hide
All dogs All-dogs baseline skin disorder rate; no Maltese-specific breed effect confirmed.
Chronic skin allergies. Full profile →
Known risks
Well documented in the breed - but no study has counted how often.
Luxating Patella ~4.8%
$1.5-3.5k Treatment
What is this?Hide
Not measured Maltese is confirmed absent from the landmark O'Neill et al. 2016 VetCompass patellar luxation study - no real breed-specific figure exists. OFA screening database: 4.8% of 1,876 submitted patella exams graded abnormal. Voluntary submissions - true population rate may differ.
Kneecap slips out of place causing intermittent lameness and pain. Full profile →
Dental Disease Not studied yet
$0.5-2k Cleaning
What is this?Hide
Not measured Maltese is confirmed absent from the O'Neill et al. 2021 JSAP periodontal disease breed table - despite the breed's popular reputation for dental problems, no real breed-specific figure was found in this study.
Periodontal disease requiring professional cleaning or extractions. Full profile →
Collapsing Trachea Not studied yet
$1-5k Treatment
What is this?Hide
Not measured Maltese is qualitatively named alongside Pomeranian/Poodle/Chihuahua in case-series literature, but no controlled breed-specific prevalence percentage exists.
Weakened windpipe rings causing chronic cough and breathing difficulty. Full profile →
Heart Murmur / MVD Not studied yet
$1-4k/year
What is this?Hide
Not measured No confirmed Maltese-specific heart disease prevalence found.
Mitral valve degeneration causing progressive heart failure. Full profile →
Legg-Calve-Perthes Not studied yet
$1-3k Surgery
What is this?Hide
Not measured No confirmed Maltese-specific Legg-Calve-Perthes prevalence found.
Hip bone degeneration. Surgery Full profile →
White Shaker Syndrome Not studied yet
$0.5-1.5k Diagnostics + corticosteroids
What is this?Hide
Not measured Only case reports and small referral-hospital case series exist (idiopathic tremor cases made up ~24.7% of tremor cases at one hospital). No population-level prevalence data exists for Maltese specifically, and the condition is now recognized as not truly breed- or coat-color-specific.
A sudden-onset generalized tremor disorder historically named for small white breeds like Maltese, though the cause remains unknown. Full profile →
Liver Shunt Documented, not counted
$3-8k Surgery
What is this?Hide
Breed study [1] 14 of 62 dogs (22.6%) with surgically-confirmed congenital portosystemic shunt at one referral center over 15 years were Maltese - described as significantly overrepresented (Tisdall et al. 1994, Australian Vet Journal). This is a referral case-series overrepresentation, not a general-population prevalence rate.
Maltese is one of the breeds most overrepresented in liver shunt surgical case series, though true population prevalence is unknown. Full profile →
How we know these numbers
- Confirmed = measured or gene-confirmed specifically in this breed
- Breed study = scientists counted it in this exact breed
- Body type = comes from the dog's build - size, skull, skin
- Genetic risk = the gene is proven, the odds are not
- All dogs = an average for all dogs, not this breed
- Not measured = nobody has counted it yet
- How we grade evidence →
Red flags
Insurance Traps
Most owners sign a policy based on ads, but learn the real rules only when their first big claim gets denied. We don't want to scare you. We want to prepare you.
Price Explosion Premium creep
Premiums typically rise 15-20% per year. By senior age, your monthly payment can easily be 3x what you started with.
Hostage Status Pre-existing
Once your dog gets a chronic diagnosis, you can't switch insurers. No other company will cover a sick animal.
The Year 6 Rule Age limit
Many companies drastically cut hereditary condition coverage after age 6. Even if you've been paying faithfully since puppyhood.
Symptom = Game Over Pre-existing
The insurer doesn't need a diagnosis. A vet note from years ago saying 'dog limped slightly today' is enough to deny any future orthopedic claim.
Bilateral Exclusion Bilateral
If your dog tears a ligament in one leg, the insurer automatically stops covering the other (healthy) leg too.
AI Claims Adjuster Coverage
Insurers use AI to scan thousands of pages of medical records with one goal: find a 'kill-word' to deny your claim.
Orthopedic Waiting Period Waiting period
Ligament and hip claims often have a 6-12 month waiting period. Any symptom during that window means zero coverage for the rest of your dog's life.
UCR Limits Exclusion
The insurer doesn't pay your actual bill - just the 'usual, customary and reasonable' rate for your region. Go to a top specialist and you pay the difference.
Common Questions
Real answers about costs, treatment, and insurance coverage.
What is the most common health problem in Malteses?
No single condition has been confirmed as the most common health problem in Malteses - published research doesn't establish breed-specific prevalence rates for this dog breed. Luxating Patella is often mentioned as a concern, but no population-wide rate has been published.
How much does pet insurance cost for a Maltese?
Pet insurance premiums for Malteses vary based on age, location, and coverage level. Expect to pay $30-$60/month for a puppy, increasing 15-20% annually. By age 8-10, premiums can reach $100-$200/month. Always compare the actual coverage against the premium - a cheap policy with broad exclusions is worse than no policy at all.
Is pet insurance worth it for a Maltese?
Malteses are prone to breed-specific conditions costing thousands to treat. Enroll as a puppy before symptoms appear for genuine financial protection. Read the fine print - check waiting periods, pre-existing condition definitions, and breed-specific exclusions. The workbook helps evaluate whether insurance makes sense for your Maltese.
What is the average yearly vet cost for a Maltese?
A healthy Maltese costs roughly $600-$1,500/year in routine veterinary care (exams, vaccines, preventive medications). With chronic conditions, annual costs jump to $2,500-$5,000+. Senior Malteses with multiple health issues can exceed $6,000-$10,000/year. Breed-specific conditions make financial planning essential from day one.
What pre-existing conditions affect Maltese insurance coverage?
Any symptom, sign, or irregularity documented in your Maltese's medical records before the policy start date - or during the waiting period - becomes a permanent exclusion. Common flags include any noted lameness, skin issues, eye abnormalities, or digestive problems. Even a casual vet note can be used to deny future claims for related conditions.
Does pet insurance cover luxating patella in Malteses?
Most policies cover luxating patella only if your Maltese showed zero symptoms before enrollment and the diagnosis comes after the waiting period. Some insurers exclude hereditary conditions after specific age thresholds. If a vet noted related symptoms before coverage started, expect denial as pre-existing.
How much does dental disease treatment cost for a Maltese?
Periodontal disease requiring professional cleaning or extractions. Treatment costs vary based on severity and location. Always get itemized estimates before proceeding and verify insurance coverage. Early detection typically reduces costs and improves outcomes significantly.
Why does my Maltese insurance premium keep going up every year?
Pet insurance premiums increase based on your dog's age, breed risk profile, and regional vet cost inflation. For Malteses, expect 15-20% annual increases with no legal cap. A policy that costs $40/month for a young dog can reach $150-$200/month by senior age. Some insurers offer rate lock options, but read the fine print carefully.
Can I switch pet insurance if my Maltese has a diagnosed condition?
You can switch, but any diagnosed condition becomes pre-existing with the new insurer and won't be covered. This effectively locks you into your current insurer for ongoing conditions. Switching only makes sense for coverage of future, unrelated issues. The longer you wait, the more conditions accumulate, and the harder it becomes to switch.
What does pet insurance not cover for Malteses?
Common exclusions include: pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, breeding costs, cosmetic procedures, and preventive care (without a wellness rider). Breed-specific exclusions may apply to hereditary conditions after certain age thresholds. Many policies also exclude behavioral treatments, supplements, and prescription food. Always read the full exclusion list before signing.
Should I get pet insurance or self-insure my Maltese?
It depends on your risk profile and finances. If you save $100-$150/month from puppyhood, you'd have $6,000-$9,000 by age 5 with no exclusions or denials. But one early catastrophic event can wipe out your fund. Malteses' health risks make this breed-dependent. The workbook includes a calculator.
What questions should I ask before insuring my Maltese?
Ask in writing: (1) How do you define pre-existing conditions? (2) Waiting periods, especially orthopedic? (3) Bilateral exclusion clauses? (4) Premium examples at ages 1, 5, 8, and 10 for a Maltese. (5) UCR fee schedule for my zip code? (6) Claims denial rate? If they dodge any question, that's your answer.
Similar dogs
My mother-in-law's boxer. Problem. $1,200 in tests, no answers. Another vet solved it with $8 pills. When you're scared, you'll pay anything - and some vets price accordingly. So I built what I couldn't find: real costs, real exclusions, plain language. Not selling policies.
Sources
Research and data used to compile this profile.