Clinical decision support tool. Does not replace professional veterinary judgment. Always verify recommendations with current references.
Maltese
Thinking about this breed for your home? Read the owner suitability guide
🧬 Genetic Drug Sensitivities
🔴 PSS_RISK (Congenital portosystemic shunt predisposition)
Prevalence: Unknown
One of the highest-risk breeds for congenital portosystemic shunt. Reduced hepatic first-pass metabolism prolongs and deepens benzodiazepine effect, and GABA-ergic drugs can precipitate hepatic encephalopathy in a shunted dog. Bile acids before elective sedation.
📋 Breed Predispositions
| Condition | Prevalence | Onset | Severity | Screening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease | Common | 7-12 years | LIFE THREATENING | Auscultation at every visit; echocardiogram when a murmur is first heard to stage it — pimobendan started at the right stage delays heart failure. |
| Congenital Portosystemic Shunt | One of the highest-risk breeds | Under 1 year, often under 6 months | SEVERE | Pre- and post-prandial bile acids in any Maltese pup with stunted growth, post-meal neurological dullness or a slow anesthetic recovery. Low BUN, low albumin and microcytosis on a routine panel is the quiet tell. |
| Juvenile Hypoglycemia | Common in toy-breed puppies | Under 4 months | SEVERE | Check blood glucose before any fasting procedure. Frequent small meals; owners should keep a glucose gel to hand. |
| Patellar Luxation | Elevated | 4-6 months | MODERATE RISK | Orthopedic exam at 6 months and annually. |
| Tracheal Collapse | Common in toy breeds | 4-8 years | MODERATE RISK | Radiographs on inspiration and expiration, or fluoroscopy, for a goose-honk cough. Use a harness, never a neck collar. |
| White Shaker Dog Syndrome | Breed-associated | 6 months-3 years | MODERATE RISK | Generalised fine tremor that worsens with excitement and stops in sleep. Exclude toxin exposure and cerebellar disease; typically steroid-responsive. |
🏥 Anesthesia Considerations
⚠ Toy Breed — Hypoglycemia, Hypothermia and Shunt Metabolism
Fast no more than 4-6 hours, check blood glucose before induction, have dextrose available. Active warming from before induction. Weigh in grams and calculate all drugs precisely. Screen bile acids before elective anesthesia — this is one of the highest-risk breeds for congenital portosystemic shunt, which markedly prolongs hepatically cleared drugs. Tracheal collapse is common: smaller ETT, gentle airway handling, watch for post-extubation coughing.