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Some Interesting Facts About Maltese DogsMaltese dogs are a kind of toy dog. They are included in this group because they are both tiny and playful. Maltese dogs are easily recognized because of their long, silky, white hair. This means that owners of Maltese dogs must frequently groom them. However, if regularly groomed, this breed does not shed. This means that like the Poodle and Bichon Frise, they can be owned by people who suffer from allergies without irritating them.
Remember, when grooming your Maltese, not to neglect their ears. This breed is known
as a drop-eared breed. Hair grows on the inside of the ears as well as the outside. If grooming is insufficient, the dog may suffer from wax buildup, inflammation, or debris caught in the ear. Dogs with these problems may shake their heads frequently, scratch to excess, or tilt their heads to one side. If your Maltese is showing signs of these behaviors, contact your veterinarian.
The toenails are another thing that needs regular attention in Maltese dogs. Because their claws grow in a similar way to human fingernails, they must be clipped periodically. This is not needed in other breeds of dogs that are more likely to run on rough surfaces, but since the Maltese is mostly an indoor breed, they don't have this opportunity often. Long nails can be a problem to both you and your dog. They can scratch you, and affect the way your Maltese walks and balances.
When you trim your Maltese's toenails, you must be sure to cut only the tips. Otherwise, you risk cutting into living tissue and causing pain and damage. Be sure only to cut dead toenail tissue.
If your Maltese dogs are young, you may need to trim their nails more often than the recommended every two weeks. It is acceptable to clip the mails of your six to eight week old Maltese puppy every week. If you can, try this after bathing the dog, when the nails are soft. An advantage of trimming your dog's nails and bathing it regularly when young is that it will quickly get used to the treatment, and you'll have fewer problems when it is an adult.
Even if you groom properly and regularly, eventually all Maltese dogs get a mat or two in their coats. Don't be tempted to try to brush these straight out. Your brush will tangle, and you'll cause pain and hair loss in your dog. Instead, tease the mat out with your fingers. If that doesn't work, try a detangler spray or coat conditioning oil, then try to work through with your fingers again. If you can get the mat apart, you can then use a comb to properly detangle the hairs. In the worst case scenario, you may have to cut the mat out. However, try everything else first. |
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