Which health problems are common in the Maltese?
Maltese are prone to slipping kneecaps and, less often, a liver shunt that shows up in puppies. A kneecap check, a bile acid blood test and a yearly heart check are what the breed club suggests.
Updated November 9, 2026
What should Maltese owners watch for?
Common for the breed doesn't mean your dog will have it.
- Slipping kneecap. One of the breed's most common problems, usually mild. A sudden yelp and limp can mean a kneecap has slipped out of place.
- Liver shunt. A blood vessel carries blood around the liver instead of through it. Signs in young dogs: slow growth, and dullness or circling after meals.
- Heart murmur with age. Murmurs are not unusual in Maltese past about 10 years. Coughing or hard breathing, mainly at night, is a reason to see your vet.
Which checkups do vets often suggest?
| Checkup | What it is | When |
|---|---|---|
| Kneecap check | Your vet feels the knees to see whether a kneecap slips out of place. Programmes certify it from 1 year of age. | From 1 year · Once |
| Liver blood test (bile acids) | Two blood samples, before and 2 hours after a meal, that screen for a liver shunt. The breed club suggests it from 4 months of age. | From 4 months · Once |
| Heart murmur check | Your vet listens to the heart with a stethoscope at the yearly visit, to catch a murmur early. | Every year |
Your vet decides which checkups fit your pet, and when.
How do I keep a Maltese health record?
VetVitae, a free pet health record app for iPhone, Android and the web, shows these notes on your dog’s profile under Health, and Plan it opens the exam or test with its name filled.
For vaccines, parasites and the signs that can’t wait, see the dog care guide.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Your vet knows your pet.
Sources
- Luxated patellas, American Maltese Association
- Liver shunt and microvascular dysplasia, American Maltese Association
- Heart murmurs in older Maltese, American Maltese Association
- The inheritance of extra-hepatic portosystemic shunts and elevated bile acid concentrations in Maltese dogs, Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2014
- Toy group health testing requirements, American Kennel Club
- Patellar luxation, OFA
Start a record for your pet.
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