Maltese Shampoo: Our 7 Picks for the Best Dog Shampoo for Maltese

The Maltese are known for their mild temperament, friendly behavior, and of course their luxurious coat. These dogs have long gotten recognized as the lapdogs of royalty, and now they make their way into homes all over the US.

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Your strategy for bathing and caring for your Maltese depends a lot on how involved you want to get with their coat. Some owners clip their hair down, so it appears short and curly which requires a lot less maintenance.

If you’re trying to keep their coat long and silky or you’re even considering entering your Maltese in a competition, there are quite a few things you’ll need to do every week to ensure their coat stays clean and tangle free.

Maltese might be tough to groom and take care of, but they are one of the most friendly and relaxed dog breeds out there.

In this article, we’re taking a look at the best dog shampoos for Maltese. These shampoos will help your beautiful pup’s coat to turn heads everywhere you go.

Things to Consider when Shopping for a Top-Rated Maltese Shampoo

You own one of the most adorable and luxurious breeds of dog, so you want to make sure you’re giving them the best of everything, they used to be royalty after all. Their long white coat requires quite a bit of attention, and you cannot use any shampoo you want if you don’t want your pup to look messy.

To get your Maltese that long, silky “dog show” appearance you’re looking for there are a few things you want to make sure their shampoo has. Here are some of the critical factors you want to pay attention to when shopping for a Maltese shampoo.

Dematting

Now, there are not a lot of shampoos out there that directly come out and say they resist matting, but there are certain ingredients you want to look for in the shampoo that does. Oatmeal, shea, and aloe vera are all known to make fur smooth and silky, so it just falls off their body rather than tangling up.

Some of the shampoos that claim to resist tangles are the very shampoo you want to stay away from. They often contain all sorts of artificial ingredients that will dry out your dog’s fur causing it to become stiff and brittle.

Look for these natural ingredients in your dog’s shampoo if you want him to have a long flowing coat. Even if you trim your Maltese down and keep it short, you should still consider detangling shampoo because it helps your pup feel more comfortable.

Whitening

This ingredient is entirely up to personal preference because whitening shampoos do not always have the best ingredients. Of course, it’s impossible to make your dogs fur whiter without including some dye, but there are certain brands out there that are medically backed and use natural ingredients to help brighten your pup’s coat.

That said since this breed is strictly white as they age and get dirty over and over the fur can take on a yellowish tint which looks messy and undesirable. If that’s not something you’re concerned about you, don’t have to worry about this.

If you want your Maltese to look like the dogs in the shows and have a long flowing white coat, you can try a whitening shampoo.

Hypoallergenic

Maltese are not known for having any allergies or significant health issues, but you always want to do your best to prevent their skin from becoming irritated. Underneath that long coat is a soft tender skin that picks up a lot of allergens everywhere it goes.

By choosing a hypoallergenic shampoo, you ensure that you’re doing everything you can to prevent your pup’s skin from becoming itchy and irritated. The last thing you want is them doing is scratching at themselves causing mats and patches.

Conditioner

If possible, you should consider a shampoo that contains conditioner in it as well, that helps to provide that silky texture and extend the life of your dog’s soft fur feeling. After a gentle wash adding a conditioner to the process will help to prevent matting and drying out of the fur.

We also noticed in this breed conditioning the hair afterward helps the fur fall smoothly and lose some of its frizz. Even if you keep your dog’s hair short, conditioning it helps prevent tangles and keep them feeling fluffy and soft until their next bath.

The 6 Best Dog Shampoos for Maltese

Here are our picks for the six best dog shampoos for Maltese. All of these shampoos contain the best ingredients and all natural components to help your dog develop a healthy and beautiful coat.

Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Dog Shampoo

Best Overall – This shampoo is soap-free and contains organic aloe with oatmeal. The combination of these two ingredients helps your Maltese have a durable but soft coat while being gentle enough on their skin to ensure they do not develop any allergies or skin irritations.

It’s also a great option if your dog is prone to dry skin which is common in Maltese breeds with short trimmed hair.

The formula is 100% biodegradable and contains no parabens or phosphates. When you look at the ingredients in this shampoo, you understand why it’s our number one choice for this breed because it’s all natural and the combination of elements works well on long-haired dogs that need extra attention.

Pros:

  • All natural
  • Oatmeal and Aloe are great for long hair
  • Contains no artificial colors or fragrances
  • Helps dry and cracked skin

Cons:

  • Less than desirable scent
  • Cannot get used on puppies

Buddy Wash Original Lavender and Mint Dog Shampoo

Best Runner-up – We chose this as our second favorite primarily because it is a two in one shampoo and conditioner which is almost a necessity for Maltese. You need the conditioner because it helps prevent their coat from appearing dry and frizzy. The conditioner helps their long hair fall naturally and smoothly.

The shampoo is also coconut based and soap-free which is gentle on skin and great for dogs with soap sensitivity.

Since it contains botanical oils like sage, aloe, and rosemary it also leaves a sweet long lasting smell on your pup, so they smell great even if they get dirty in between baths.

The ingredients list contains all natural extracts and bases, but we did notice the shampoo contains tea tree oil which is great for human hair but is known to irritate dogs.

Pros:

  • Smells great
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • All natural ingredients
  • Soap-free

Cons:

  • Contains tea tree oil
  • The scent could be too powerful sometimes

Veterinary Formula Snow White Whitening Shampoo for Dogs

Best Whitening – This shampoo contains patented brighteners and vitamins to help dogs with white coats shine bright and beautiful. There is no bleach or peroxide used in the process, and the manufacturer claims it does not harm your dog’s skin.

With the whitening comes deodorization through floral and citrus fragrance and you can use this alongside any topical flea and tick treatments, and it won’t wash them away.

Upon looking at the list of ingredients it contains coconut oil as a base which is great for skin and fur, but it does contain quite a few artificial fragrances and dyes. We don’t recommend using this as your core shampoo; it might be better off used as a supplementary wash if you feel your Maltese’s fur is getting a yellow tint to it.

Pros:

  • Whitening formula
  • Great scent
  • Coconut oil based
  • Contains no bleach or peroxide

Cons:

  • Contains artificial dyes and fragrances
  • Not recommended for frequent use

Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo

Best for Puppies – This shampoo is gentle and tearless which is excellent for use on puppies. The manufacturer says you can use this shampoo at any stage of life starting right from birth and its safe on puppy skin. The formula uses buttermilk and honey to soothe and promote healthy hair growth in Maltese puppies.

Looking at the list of ingredients there are not too many recognizable names on there. As a consumer, you would not be able to identify any of the ingredients listed which is not always a good thing, but other users and we never noticed any adverse reactions to the formula.

Pros:

  • Great for puppies
  • Gentle on skin
  • Promotes hair follicle health
  • No parabens or artificial fragrances

Cons:

  • Complicated list of ingredients
  • No scent

Zesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo

Best Anti-itch – If your Maltese scratches a lot, it can cause matted fur and other irritations, so you want to nip that problem in the bud. This shampoo formula contains essential vitamins, aloe, quinoa, and almond extract to soothe dry skin and leave your pup smelling amazing.

Oatmeal is one of the best ingredients to include in shampoo because it’s known for healing cracked skin and improving fur quality. The shampoo is also antifungal and antibacterial so if your Maltese is prone to infections such as hotspots this shampoo helps heal the area and bring skin health back.

The list of ingredients in this shampoo is long and complicated, and the manufacturer does not claim that the formula is all natural or organic.

Pros:

  • Great for itchy skin
  • Heals dry and cracked skin
  • Helps with hotspots
  • Moisturizes skin and fur

Cons:

  • Not all natural
  • Pricey

Paws and Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter, and Aloe Vera Shampoo

Best Premium – This 100% all natural and organic shampoo is an excellent choice for people who can spend a little more on the shampoo. The oatmeal, shea butter, and aloe vera formula combine to create one of the most potent deodorizers and skin cleansers on the market.

We found this shampoo not only helps relieve dry and itchy skin, but it can also heal already damaged skin and fur. The formula leaves your pup smelling great and their fur feeling soft and plush.

The ingredients in this shampoo are all natural and organic, so you do not have to worry about anything in here irritating your dog’s skin.

Pros:

  • All natural
  • Mat resistant
  • Skin soothing ingredients
  • Great scent

Cons:

  • Does not lather
  • Pricey

Other Great Options for Maltese Shampoo

If none of the shampoos listed above work for you, consider trying this great option.

Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo

There’s always the slight chance that your dog will have an allergic reaction to every shampoo because each pup is different. If you want to make sure your shampoo doesn’t irritate their skin you could try this allergy relief shampoo that is guaranteed not to damage their skin.

Your pup’s long hair catches a lot of allergens which make their way down to the skin and cause scratching and biting. After a while, the area of skin becomes red, cracked, and damaged. This shampoo uses essential oils and other nutrients to moisturize and heal the skin with every wash.

3 Tips for Bathing a Maltese

  • When bathing your Maltese, you want to wash them as you would yourself if you have long hair. Start at their skin and rub the shampoo in a while pulling out to the ends of the hair.
  • Always use a shampoo and conditioner together; doing this ensures their hair and skin stays soft and smooth.
  • Have a plan for what you’ll do in between bathings. You don’t want to bath your Maltese too often, but they will need care in between each bath.

FAQ

Q: How often should I bathe my Maltese?

A: This breed should get bathed once a month.

Q: My dog’s breath smells bad, what should I do?

A: This breed is known for stinky breath, and while it’s not common to brush a dog’s teeth, you will have to brush your Maltese’s teeth if you want him to have fresh breath. They also make treats and toys to help with dental health.

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