Whether a Bichon Frise Is Healthier Than a Maltese
Choosing between a Bichon Frise and a Maltese can feel like choosing between two nearly identical little dogs—and health concerns make the decision harder. Neither breed is automatically healthier overall. Their likely trouble spots differ, and an individual dog’s family history, body condition, dental care, and veterinary attention can matter more than the breed label alone.
Is a Bichon Frise Healthier Than a Maltese Overall
There isn’t a reliable one-word answer. Both are small companion breeds that can live for many years, and both may develop problems that are more common in little dogs, including dental disease and kneecap issues. A Bichon Frise may have particular concerns around bladder stones and skin allergies, while a Maltese may warrant careful attention to dental crowding and certain inherited conditions.
That doesn’t mean every Bichon will have stones or every Maltese will develop a breed-associated disorder. Health tendencies are clues for sensible screening and care—not a forecast for one particular dog. For a broader look at their differences in temperament, grooming, and lifestyle, see The Bichon Frise Against the Maltese.
Health risks are not a simple scorecard
A breed can have several recognized health concerns without being unhealthy overall. The practical question is what problems are more likely to affect the dog in front of you, how manageable they are, and whether you can support the care they may need. A condition that is uncommon but serious may matter differently to a family than a more frequent issue that can be monitored or managed.
The comparison also depends on how health is measured. A veterinary clinic’s caseload, a breeder’s experience, or an owner survey may show different patterns. Dogs may be diagnosed differently depending on their age, access to care, and how often they receive checkups. So it’s better to use breed tendencies to guide questions than to treat them as a definitive ranking.
Individual history can outweigh breed averages
A responsible breeder should be willing to discuss health concerns in the family line and share relevant screening information. If you are adopting, ask what is known about the dog’s medical history, previous veterinary exams, and any ongoing treatment. A lack of records does not prove that a dog is unhealthy, but it does mean you may need to approach the first veterinary visit with more questions.
A dog’s daily routine also matters. Regular dental care, keeping a healthy weight, promptly checking changes in urination or movement, and following through on veterinary recommendations can make a meaningful difference. These habits don’t erase inherited risk, but they can help catch problems before they become harder to address.
Health Concerns to Compare in Both Breeds
Both breeds can face issues that are common across small dogs, particularly dental disease and kneecap problems. They also have concerns that may deserve more breed-specific attention. Knowing the difference helps you prepare without assuming that your future dog will develop any particular condition.
| Health area | Bichon Frise considerations | Maltese considerations | Useful question to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary health | Bladder stones are an important concern in the breed | Urinary problems can occur, though stone risk is not the only health factor to consider | Has the dog ever had urinary symptoms or stone testing? |
| Skin and ears | Allergies and recurring skin or ear irritation may need ongoing care | Skin and ear problems can also occur, but individual history matters | Has the dog had persistent itching, infections, or treatment? |
| Knees and movement | Luxating patella can occur | Luxating patella can occur | Has a veterinarian assessed the knees, and has the dog ever skipped or limped? |
| Teeth | Crowding and dental disease are concerns in small dogs | Small jaws can make dental crowding and dental care especially important | What dental care has the dog received, and what does the vet recommend? |
| Eyes | Eye conditions and irritation can occur | Eye irritation and other eye concerns can occur | Has the dog had an eye exam or a history of redness, cloudiness, or discharge? |
| Other inherited concerns | The breed can have a range of age-related and inherited conditions | Ask about the family line and screening for conditions relevant to the Maltese | Which health tests were performed on the parents? |
Bladder stones make urinary health worth discussing in Bichons
Bichon Frises are known for a notable tendency toward bladder stones, including calcium oxalate stones. Stones can cause discomfort, blood in the urine, frequent attempts to urinate, or difficulty passing urine. Signs such as repeated straining with little or no urine need prompt veterinary attention; a urinary problem should not be mistaken for a house-training setback.
A history of stones can affect a dog’s long-term routine. A veterinarian may recommend urine checks, imaging, a specific diet, or other steps based on the type of stone and the dog’s individual history. These are not decisions to make from a general breed comparison or by switching foods on your own. For more background, read Why a Bichon Frise Forms Stones Twenty Times as Often and Whether a Bichon Frise Needs Urine pH Monitored.
If your veterinarian prescribes a particular diet, ask which products and treats fit the plan before buying. Chewy may be one place to check for suitable food or supplies, but the exact diet should come from the veterinary recommendation, not from a retailer’s general product description. A dog with a stone history should not be given a new food or supplement simply because it is marketed for urinary health.
Kneecaps and teeth deserve attention in both
Luxating patella, or a kneecap that shifts out of its normal position, can occur in both breeds. You might notice a brief skip in a dog’s step, followed by a return to normal walking. That pattern is worth mentioning to a veterinarian, even if it seems to resolve quickly. The significance depends on the dog’s exam findings, symptoms, and how much the problem affects daily movement. Learn more in Slipping Kneecaps in a Bichon Frise.
Dental care is another shared issue for small dogs. Crowded teeth can make plaque harder to remove, and dental disease may progress quietly while a dog continues eating. A small dog who seems comfortable at home may still need a professional oral exam to assess areas that are difficult to see. Daily tooth brushing, when a dog can tolerate it, is helpful, but it does not replace veterinary dental care.
If you are building a brushing routine, choose supplies that are appropriate for dogs and ask your veterinary team for guidance, especially if the gums are sore or bleeding. Chewy can be a convenient place to compare pet toothbrushes and toothpaste, but avoid using human toothpaste unless a veterinarian specifically says it is suitable. The related guide Dental Disease in a Bichon Frise explains why regular attention matters.
Skin, Eyes, and Age-Related Health
Health comparisons can become misleading when one breed’s concerns receive more attention than another’s. Bichons are often associated with allergies and urinary stones, but a Maltese still needs routine care and screening. Both dogs benefit from an owner who notices changes early rather than waiting for an issue to become obvious.
Bichons may need more attention to skin and ears
Some Bichon Frises experience allergic skin disease, which may show up as repeated paw licking, scratching, redness, or ear trouble. Itching can have several causes, so it is not enough to assume that every flare is an allergy. Parasites, infections, and other health issues can also lead to discomfort, and a veterinarian can help sort through the possibilities.
For a dog with persistent itchiness, keep track of when symptoms appear, which areas are affected, and whether there are changes in food, cleaning products, walks, or season. That record can make a veterinary appointment more productive. Regular grooming may help you spot skin changes, but bathing too often or using an unsuitable product can irritate some dogs.
If your veterinarian recommends a particular shampoo or skin-care product, follow that guidance rather than relying on a whitening or scented product intended mainly for appearance. Chewy may offer a way to compare grooming supplies, but product choice should be based on your dog’s diagnosed needs and your vet’s advice.
Eye changes should be assessed rather than guessed at
Both breeds can develop eye problems, and a little discharge does not automatically mean a serious condition. Still, persistent redness, squinting, cloudiness, a change in vision, or repeated rubbing deserves attention. An eye that is painful or suddenly looks different should be checked promptly rather than managed with leftover drops or home remedies.
Bichon Frises can be affected by several eye concerns, including dry eye and cataracts. Maltese can also develop eye problems, so it would be a mistake to treat eye health as a reason to rule out one breed categorically. Routine exams give the veterinarian a chance to check the eyes and discuss any changes you have noticed. See The Eyes a Bichon Frise Inherits and Whether a Bichon Frise Gets Dry Eye for more detail.
Age and preventive care shape the comparison
Both breeds can reach old age, but a long lifespan also means more time for chronic conditions to appear. The health needs of a young adult dog may look very different from those of a senior. Regular veterinary visits give you a chance to review mobility, teeth, eyes, weight, and any changes in drinking or urination as your dog ages.
Heart health is another topic to discuss during routine exams, particularly as a dog gets older. A heart murmur does not by itself tell you the cause or what care is needed; a veterinarian interprets it alongside the dog’s symptoms and examination. For related Bichon information, see Whether a Bichon Frise Gets Mitral Valve Disease. The guide The Fourteen to Fifteen Years a Bichon Frise Lives also offers useful context for planning care over a dog’s lifetime.
How to Choose a Healthier Individual Dog
If you are deciding between a Bichon Frise and a Maltese, focus on the health information available for the individual dog and the support you can provide. A careful breeder or rescue should welcome sensible questions. A conversation about health should feel open and specific—not like you are being pressured to buy or adopt before you understand the dog’s history.
Ask breeders and rescues specific questions
For a puppy, ask what health screening was performed on both parents, what the results mean, and whether the breeder can provide documentation. Ask about health issues in close relatives, including urinary stones, knee problems, eye disease, allergies, and any other concerns the breeder has encountered. Parent screening cannot guarantee a puppy will never become ill, but it is a useful part of responsible breeding.
For an adult dog, ask about prior veterinary records, current medications, previous surgeries, and any recurring symptoms. If the dog has had a urinary issue, request the available details about diagnosis and treatment. If records are incomplete, arrange a veterinary exam soon after adoption so you can establish a baseline and make a practical care plan.
The guide The Health Tests Both Bichon Frise Parents Should Have can help you prepare questions for a breeder. For a prospective Bichon Frise, it is also worth asking directly about stone history in the family line rather than assuming a general health check covers every concern.
Match the breed’s care needs to your household
A Bichon with a stone history may need ongoing monitoring and close attention to food and treats. A dog with allergies may need repeated veterinary visits or a long-term skin-care routine. A Maltese with significant dental crowding may need consistent dental care and professional assessment. The most manageable choice is not necessarily the breed with fewer possible diagnoses; it may be the dog whose needs you understand and can realistically meet.
Consider the everyday work, too. Both breeds have coats that need regular grooming, and both need a plan for dental care, exercise, and routine checkups. If you are a first-time owner, it may help to think through grooming schedules, preventive care, and how you would handle unexpected vet visits. Whether a Bichon Frise Suits a First Time Owner offers more to consider before making that commitment.
Use a simple pre-adoption checklist
Before choosing a dog, write down the questions you want answered and bring them to the breeder, rescue, or veterinarian. This is especially useful when you feel excited and the conversation is moving quickly. A checklist helps you compare real information rather than relying on appearance, online anecdotes, or a broad claim that one breed is “healthier.”
- Ask for available medical and screening records.
- Ask about known health problems in parents and close relatives.
- Find out whether the dog has had urinary, dental, skin, eye, or mobility symptoms.
- Arrange a veterinary exam and ask what preventive care is appropriate.
- Consider whether you can manage the dog’s likely grooming and health routines.
- If a condition is already known, ask the veterinarian what monitoring and treatment may involve.
The fairest answer is that neither the Bichon Frise nor the Maltese is universally healthier. Bichon Frise owners should be especially alert to urinary stones and skin concerns, while Maltese owners should take small-dog dental health and breed-specific screening seriously. For either breed, a well-documented health history, careful preventive care, and a good relationship with a veterinarian are more useful than choosing based on a simplistic breed ranking.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
