Maltipoo health problems: 9 conditions and their signs

The most common maltipoo health problems are the same ones its parents have: dental disease, luxating patella, portosystemic shunt from the Maltese side, progressive retinal atrophy from the poodle side and tracheal collapse. Being a cross doesn't protect against the parents' diseases, so the health tests of the mother and father tell you the most about a puppy's future.

Below are 9 conditions worth knowing, with the signs and what to do.

Are crossbreeds healthier than their parents

A popular belief says crossbreeds are healthier ("hybrid vigour"). The Royal Veterinary College analysed records of 9,402 dogs: cockapoos, labradoodles and cavapoos versus their parent breeds, including toy, miniature and standard poodles. Across 57 common conditions, 86.6% of comparisons showed no difference. The crossbreed was at higher risk in 7.0% of comparisons and at lower risk in 6.4%.

Maltipoos weren't studied separately, but the conclusion is the same: the specific parents decide. When I bought Zuzi, what mattered most to me was who her parents were, how they looked and their overall quality. Her mother is a friend's own dog, not from a mass breeder.

9 maltipoo health problems in one table

Teeth and kneecaps: the two most common weak spots

In dogs under 6.5 kg, periodontal disease is diagnosed up to 5 times more often than in dogs over 25 kg (Banfield, over 3 million records). It affects 28.9% of toy poodles. Crowded teeth in a small jaw trap food debris, and tartar builds up fast. How to brush and when a dental cleaning is needed is in tartar on dog teeth.

With a luxating patella, the kneecap "pops" out of its groove in the thigh bone. The typical picture: your dog is running, suddenly hops a few steps on three legs, then carries on as normal. Even if the sign passes, show your dog to an orthopaedic vet. Grades and treatment are covered in luxating patella in dogs.

Conditions from the Maltese and from the poodle

Portosystemic shunt (PSS) is a congenital blood vessel that bypasses the liver, so the blood isn't filtered. It's usually treated with surgery, and the shunt is successfully closed in 84–95% of cases.

"White dog" shaker syndrome is whole-body trembling of unknown cause, usually at 1–2 years of age and more often in small white dogs. It usually responds to steroid treatment within 1–2 weeks, and the outlook is good (VCA Hospitals).

PRA is an inherited disease that gradually leads to blindness. The most common form, PRA-prcd, is detected by a simple DNA test of the parents. Ask the breeder for the result in writing.

Windpipe, blood sugar, epilepsy and tear stains

Tracheal collapse means the cartilage rings of the windpipe soften. It's typical of toy breeds and more common in middle-aged and older dogs.

Hypoglycaemia is a risk for very small puppies with little in reserve. Their blood sugar can drop between meals, which is why a puppy under 4 months eats 4 times a day.

Epilepsy means recurring seizures with a genetic or unknown cause. A video of the seizure and its length help your vet a lot.

Tear stains come from tear pigment (porphyrins) and show most on a light coat. Daily care is covered in tear stains in dogs.

What you can do yourself and when to insure

• A lean body. Every extra kilogram on a 4 kg dog is 25% more body weight. Zuzi is 6 and weighs 4–4.3 kg, so for us this maths is very real.
• A harness instead of a collar, for less pressure on the windpipe.
• Tooth brushing from the first weeks at home.
• Steps or a ramp instead of jumps off the sofa and bed.
• A yearly check-up, every six months for seniors.

Treating a shunt or kneecap surgery can cost from several hundred to over a thousand euros. Look at pet insurance before the first symptoms appear, because congenital conditions reported earlier are usually not covered. This is not financial advice: read the terms of the specific insurer.

There's more on the breed, from size to grooming, in our maltipoo guide.