The maths, with your numbers
No guesswork and no brand chart. This is the same calculation a vet does on paper, so you can check it.
A healthy adult Maltese weighs 4–6 lb (AKC official breed standard). Below are daily amounts for that range, for a typical dry dog food (382 kcal per cup, the middle of the dog foods in our list). For your own food, use the calculator above: it is already set to a Maltese weight.
| Weight | Couch potato | Spayed or neutered | Very active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lb 1.8 kg | ⅜ cup36 g · 131 kcal | ½ cup48 g · 175 kcal | ⅝ cup60 g · 219 kcal |
| 6 lb 2.7 kg | ½ cup49 g · 178 kcal | ⅝ cup65 g · 237 kcal | ¾ cup81 g · 297 kcal |
Daily totals with no treats. Worked out from resting energy (70 × kg0.75) and the AAHA 2021 life-stage factors. Weight source note: Weight under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred.
Good to know
The AKC sums up the Maltese in three words: gentle, playful, charming. How active yours really is matters more for the bowl than the breed name, so pick the column that fits your own dog.
Toy dogs eat so little that a single extra spoonful is a large share of the day. Weighing the food on kitchen scales is worth it here.