Cav-A-Malt

The Cavamalt requires some grooming, but perhaps not as much as you might first think. Regular brushing with a pin brush (and possibly dry shampoo) is necessary to prevent matting, while fur around the eyes, ears and foot pads might need trimming for comfort and mobility. They’re not hypoallergenic, but aren’t heavy shedders, either.

Another thing to stay on top of is tear stains, a genetic hand-me-down from the Maltese side of the family. Parents will need to gently wipe their Cavamalt’s eyes every day if this looks to be an issue.

Aside from this, it’s important to also stay on top of the routine tasks required for all breeds. That means brushing teeth, trimming nails (at least twice a month) and checking ears for signs of infection or inflammation — their furry ears are especially good at trapping dirt and moisture, so they might need to be cleaned, too.

Cavamalt Health Risks

There are some canine experts who believe interbreeding to be beneficial for dogs’ health. That being said, we know that hybrids are still prone to some of the hereditary health conditions which plague their parent breeds.

One way to substantially lower the risk of Cavamalt puppies growing up with congenital conditions is to only deal with responsible breeders who carry out screening on their animals — don’t be afraid to ask for proof of this.

The main disorders to which Cavamalts are more predisposed include:

• Eye issues — including glaucoma

• Hip Dysplasia

• Congenital deafness

Eye Issues

For many, Cavamalts’ expressive eyes are among their best features, so it’s a shame that these can be affected by disease. The most common is glaucoma, or increased eye pressure. This can lead to a changed appearance in the eye — often cloudiness or inflammation — as well as pain and uncharacteristic behavior. Unfortunately, around 40 percent of cases lead to blindness in one year.

A vet will try to relieve pain, reduce eye pressure and address the cause if one can be identified. They will seek to do this through the use of medication or surgery. As cases can often lead to blindness, one of the most helpful things is to catch the disease as early as possible.

Cherry Eye is a slightly less common condition, but one which parents of Cavamalts should be aware of. This genetic defect gets its name from the red swelling that occurs when the tear gland expands and protrudes through the eyelid. Your pet might paw or scratch this site of irritation, increasing the risk of infection.

Fortunately, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication can treat an instance of Cherry Eye, although it can often return in some instances. If it’s particularly persistent, your vet might recommend surgery to either suture the gland or create a new pocket for it.

Hip Dysplasia

Although Hip Dysplasia tends to affect medium-to-large-sized breeds, it has been noted to affect Cavamalts, too. This happens when one of the hip bones fails to develop correctly, leading it to move against the corresponding socket with friction. This can result in limping, reduced movement and pain.

There are various treatment options available depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases might be helped with weight loss and supplements, but more severe instances might require physiotherapy and surgery.

Deafness

There’s a strong link between white pigmentation in a dog’s fur or skin and congenital deafness, which spells bad news for Malteses and hybrids involving the breed.

Parents might be able to spot hearing loss in their pets; for example if they don’t respond to loud noises or commands. Vets will be able to test your dog’s hearing and arrive at a diagnosis.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for deafness and parents will have to adapt their dog’s lifestyle. This could mean using a vibrating collar or communicating with them via hand signals.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best practice to catch disease in its early stages — a wellness plan includes regular testing and screening for this very purpose.

What to Feed a Cavamalt

First and foremost, the Cavamalt is a very small breed and they should be given dog food designed around their specific dietary needs — this will often be more nutritionally dense so as to pack more into smaller portions, while kibble will be appropriately sized for small mouths.

At the same time, it’s important for dogs prone to Hip Dysplasia — such as the Cavamalt — to avoid obesity as this can worsen the symptoms.

Finally, an excessive amount of tears can often be a dog’s attempt to flush out allergens. If they’re suffering from a food allergy, a limited-ingredient dog food might help.

Our partner Dog Food Advisor has compiled a list of the best dog food for small breeds — check it out here