Home Cooking for a Maltese

Many commercial dog foods contain synthetic preservatives which can cause a wide-range of allergic reactions, with itching as the #1 sign. Other issues seen include hives, rash, hot spots, and trouble breathing. Some are linked to behavioral issues, organ damage, and cancer. 

Home cooked food, as long as you use wholesome fresh ingredients, will not contain any preservatives at all. And, you won’t need any. Food may be prepared each day; however, most pet parents cook up a batch, then store some in the fridge to be used over the next few days and/or store portions in the freezer for up to 3 months. With the right recipes, home-cooking for a Maltese can be the ultimate form of meal-prepping for a dog. 

Another issue with many mass-produced foods is additives like artificial food coloring or artificial flavoring. Yellow # 5 requires a warning label in Europe, but not in the US. It is linked to allergies and behavioral issues including aggression and hyperactivity. It’s suspected that Blue #2 may be linked to brain tumors. Yellow #6 is linked to allergies, hives, asthma, and hyperactivity. The list goes on and on. 

With artificial flavoring, the main one that causes lots of problems for dogs is MSG (monosodium glutamate). Though the FDA claims it is safe, it has been linked to anxiety, numbness in the face and extremities, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and more. 

But, with homemade meals, there are zero artificial additives since you’ll be using wholesome ingredients. All the food is fresh and the only colors you’ll see are natural ones like bright red strawberries, rich orange pumpkin, fresh green spinach, and more. And, there’s certainly no need for flavor enhancers. 

Never assume that dog food has human-grade meats because opting for something cheaper is widely practiced. The most common method is to include by-product meat which is all of the animal parts that are deemed unfit for human consumption; this includes lungs, hooves, beaks, undeveloped eggs, spinal tissue, spleen, genitalia, intestines, brains, feet, and more. 

Another issue is generic meats or oils, also known as 4-D meat, which can be any animal at all (elephant, raccoon, etc.), that was dead, dying, diseased or disabled. This includes roadkill, farm animals, and zoo animals. The 4-D meat is put into huge vats and cooked at high temperatures for hours to kill bacteria and viruses. 

When home cooking for your Maltese puppy or dog, of course, none of this is an issue. You’ll be shopping for meats at your local grocery store, just like you do for your own meals. Recipes for Maltese may contain beef, chicken, turkey, and veal. And, there are many types of fish that can be incorporated into meals including cod, haddock, and salmon which are excellent sources of protein and omega fatty acids. 

Lots of kibbles contain high levels of grains that have gluten, like wheat, wheat middlings, rye, and certain low-level cereals which act as fillers for the food; they ‘plump it up’ but offer very little in terms of nutrition. This can take the place of otherwise better ingredients like meats, vegetables, and fruit. And, some dogs do not tolerate gluten well. 

One of the best aspects about offering a Maltese homemade food is that you have complete control over which sort of grains, and how much, are added into the dishes. Some healthy grains are generally recommended. This may include brown rice, quinoa, or oatmeal; all which are easy on the stomach and gluten-free. But, again, you can leave these completely out, if you wish. 

When baking homemade dog treats and other goodies, you can use regular flour, but you also have the option of using rice, coconut, flaxseed, or tapioca flour as substitutes. 

You may never know what dog food tastes like, but suffice to say, mass-produced foods generally are bland with little real variation to please a dog’s taste buds. And, the texture certainly does not help much. 

A huge benefit to homemade food for Maltese is that the flavor is off the charts. Nothing can top fresh juicy meats, crisp fresh vegetables, ripe sweet fruit, creamy extras like white yogurt or pumpkin, and herbs like basil, rosemary, or oregano, all blended together in a mouth-watering, amazingly scented, warm dish. 

The price of bagged or canned food varies greatly and mainly depends on the quality of the brand. The cheaper the brand, the more fillers, byproducts, and additives there will be. If you opt for a high-quality all-natural brand that meets all of your expectations, that is going to be reflected in the price. 

With food you cook at home for your Maltese, though it depends on which cuts of meat you use, if you opt for fresh vs frozen veggies and fruit, and if you cook in bulk, in most cases, you will save money.

This is where a recipe book comes into play.

If home cooking sounds like something you’d like to do for your Maltese there’s an amazing book that you’ll want to check out: 

There are 21 recipes for scrumptious meals: 

Packed with 40 nutritious and tasty meals and snacks, The Healthy Wholesome Cookbook for Small Dogs has so many incredible goodies for you to choose from and for your Maltese to try.    

We’re very proud to be one of the exclusive informational resources offering this outstanding cookbook. And, we’re happy to announce that this eBook is currently just $6.88. Click/tap on the button below and let’s get started!