Maltipoo Lifespan: How Long Do Maltipoos Live?

Breeder Genetic and Health Testing

• If you want a healthy dog that will live a long time, it is absolutely crucial to adopt a puppy from a reputable breeder. A good breeder will conduct genetic and health testing on their dogs before breeding them to prevent hereditary diseases from being passed down to puppies.
• When choosing a breeder, make sure they conduct these health tests and ask for the results before committing to a puppy from them. Typically, puppy mills do not conduct health or genetic tests, which may result in their puppies growing into adult dogs with health issues. These health issues can drastically reduce the lifespan of your Maltipoo.

Size

• To truly understand your Maltipoo’s lifespan, you will need to look at Poodles and Maltese dog breeds individually. Understanding the size and lifespan of Malteses and Poodles can help you understand the lifespan of your Maltipoo.
• When breeding Maltipoos, breeders choose between two sizes of Poodle: Miniature Poodles or Toy Poodles. Typically, smaller dogs live longer than larger dogs, so the Poodle parent’s size when breeding your puppy could slightly affect its lifespan.
• Miniature Poodles are slightly larger than Toy Poodles, on average, so this size difference could affect the lifespan of your Maltipoo. However, the difference is not too drastic and typically varies by about a year.
• Malteses are easier to understand because they are all approximately the same size and adhere to a purebred standard. On average, Malteses have a lifespan of about 12-15 years.
• Maltipoos can vary in size from about 8 to 14 inches tall and 5 to 20 pounds in weight. Scientists have figured out that every 4.4 pounds of body mass reduce a dog’s lifespan by about 1 month. This is because larger dogs grow faster and are exposed to age-related illnesses earlier in life. Luckily for Maltipoos, size and weight doesn’t vary too drastically, so the average lifespan only varies by about a year based on their size.

Hybrid Vigor

• For new dog owners, hybrid vigor may be a new term to understand. Hybrid vigor refers to the health and other benefits of crossing two unrelated purebred dog breeds.
• Being a cross between Poodle and Maltese, Maltipoos are considered to have hybrid vigor. This means that these dogs are less likely to inherit genetic health problems from their purebred parent dogs. This is because purebred dogs are typically bred to the same bloodlines and experience the same health issues.
• Breeding dogs that have the same bloodline can contribute to the passing down of genetic ailments. By introducing a new bloodline to the mix, the likelihood of these genetic problems is decreased.
• Therefore, the amount of each parent dog’s genetics in a puppy can contribute to their likelihood of developing the common diseases of that breed. This means that some generations of Maltipoo are less likely to develop diseases than others.
• Therefore, if you want to adopt a Maltipoo with the longest possible lifespan, you should get an F1 generation. This means that they are the first-generation offspring, which always reduces the number of hereditary illnesses passed down.

Other Maltipoo Life Expectancy Factors

Some other factors, such as general health and wellness, contribute to a Maltipoos lifespan. These are things that you can do to ensure that your dog lives its longest and healthiest life.

• Feed your Maltipoo nutritious food. The market for dog food is huge, but, unfortunately, many brands include unhealthy fillers in their foods. Make sure to choose a dog food with a healthy balance of proteins, carbs, and healthy fats to ensure your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Check out our article on “Best Dog Food for a Maltipoo” to choose the right food for your dog. If you think your dog may have some deficiency in its nutrition, you can also seek out supplements to help.
• Regularly bring your Maltipoo to the veterinarian. Regular vet visits can detect any health problems that your dog may be developing and start preventative measures against worsening conditions. Additionally, bringing your Maltipoo to the veterinarian will ensure that your dog is up to date with all vaccinations and will reduce the chance of catching diseases.
• Exercise your Maltipoo regularly. Maltipoos are small dogs, so they do not require huge amounts of exercise. That being said, you do need to ensure that your dog does get some exercise. Even a daily walk can contribute to good heart health and prevent stiff joints in Maltipoos.

Common Maltipoo Health Issues

Maltipoos are a combination of Poodle and Maltese so, even with healthy parent dogs, some Maltipoos may develop health problems. Luckily many of the health problems that Maltipoos typically face are easily manageable.

When adopting a Maltipoo puppy from a breeder, make sure that you receive a health guarantee at the time of adoption. Additionally, please speak with the breeder about any health concerns you may have about your Maltipoo or its bloodline.

Overall, Maltipoos are considered very healthy dogs which is why they have a high life expectancy. They are not a breed known for having an abundance of health problems. That being said, there are still some health problems to look out for when caring for your Maltipoo.

• Patellar Luxation: This is extremely common in small dogs. Patellar Luxation is a condition where the femur, patella, and tibia are not aligned properly. Based on the severity of the condition, this can be corrected with surgery without any lasting effects.
• Epilepsy: This is a neurological condition in which the dog may lose consciousness, convulse, or experience sensory disturbance. This condition manifests in short episodes known as seizures. Epilepsy can be managed with medication. However, if you find your dog having seizures often or for long periods of time, it is essential to visit a vet to check for underlying causes.
• Legg Calve Perthes Disease: Also very common in small dogs, this condition involves a degeneration of the femur bone, causing stiffness in joints. Often Maltipoos can live with this condition with a small dose of pain medication. In more severe cases, surgery is required.
• White Shaker Syndrome: This causes tremors and shakes throughout the body of the dog. This typically occurs in younger dogs and often resolves itself. If it does not resolve naturally, a veterinarian can prescribe a small dose of medication to manage this syndrome.
• Portosystemic Shunt (PSS): This is a condition where a problem develops with the vein that moves blood in and out of the liver, causing a toxic buildup. In minor cases, medication can be administered to absorb toxins. In more severe cases, surgery is required.

The 4 Life Stages of a Maltipoo

Knowing what to expect when your Maltipoo is growing up can help you plan and budget for every part of their care at each stage. While most dogs follow the same stages and time periods, very large or small breeds (like the Maltipoo) will differ.

Puppy: Birth to 6 to 9 months

• A Maltipoo puppy will be born blind and deaf like all puppies and will rely entirely on its mother for warmth and sustenance. Providing the mother with a warm and comfy den or bed can help her support her puppies.
• Once their eyes and ears open between 2 and 4 weeks, their world expands endlessly. At 4 weeks, a Maltipoo will start to walk, bark, and communicate with their littermates (by wagging their tail!).
• After this period, independence begins to blossom. A Maltipoo will begin to socialize and will experience all the sights and sounds of life while weaning off the mother and standing on their own four feet.

Young Adult: 9 months to 3 or 4 years

Your Maltipoo will be fully grown in around a year, and now is the time to transition them to a high-quality adult dog food. Change the diet slowly to avoid stomach upset and get them into a good routine now that’ll see them through to their twilight years.

Mature Adult: 7 years to 10 years

• Your Maltipoo will now be fully grown and will have reached emotional and physical maturity. A fully grown Maltipoo can vary in height as they are a crossbreed, but on average, they’re around 14 inches tall (maximum) and typically weigh between 5 to 20 pounds.
• Keeping them on a good exercise regime and nutritious diet will help them fight the first signs of aging in dogs and protect their teeth, joints, and brains into old age. 

Senior: 10 years +

A Maltipoo can live up to 15 years, so ensuring they enjoy their twilight years is vital for their happiness and welfare. A good senior diet rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are key to supporting healthy immune, brain, and joint functions, and combined with gentle exercise, they can help to fight inflammation from arthritis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which health issues do Maltipoos have?

While Maltipoos, as a mixed breed, might be considered healthier than most purebred dogs, they are still susceptible to some canine issues. These include neurological conditions, heart problems, and cancer. As smaller dogs, they can also suffer from problems with their lungs, joints, and blood flow (see above for more details on each of these). Regular vet checks are recommended throughout your pup’s life to ensure these can be spotted and treated early on.

What is the average life span for a Maltipoo?

As smaller dogs, Maltipoos have a longer-than-canine-average life expectancy. When kept in the best of health, you can expect your Malti pup to reach the grand old age of 12-16 years and still be in relatively good condition. There are plenty of things that you, as the owner, can do to ensure that this is, in fact, the case, such as buying a high-quality food and keeping them away from things that might cause harm to them.

What do Maltipoos usually die from?

The biggest hazard for Maltipoos, as with most toy, tiny and mini hounds, is trauma. Accidents can very easily happen with these delicate dogs. They might get dropped, stepped on, or worse. That’s why it’s vital to be incredibly careful around them and to make sure that your children know the best ways to handle and interact with them. If anything like this does occur, be sure to take your pal off to the vet as soon as you can, even if they don’t seem hurt at first. Injuries might not always be noticeable right away.

Are Maltipoos generally healthy?

Most Maltipoos enjoy very good health. This is because breeders of these super Doods are working hard to make them as free from disease as possible. All parent pups are carefully screened for any genetic conditions that they might pass along to their offspring. So every succeeding generation of Doodles is stronger and more likely to last than the previous one. That’s why it’s essential to ensure you’re purchasing your pup from a reputable facility that is doing all of this and more.

What do Maltipoos usually die from?

The biggest hazard for Maltipoos, as with most toy, tiny and mini hounds, is trauma. Accidents can very easily happen with these delicate dogs. They might get dropped, stepped on, or worse. That’s why it’s vital to be incredibly careful around them and to make sure that your children know the best ways to handle and interact with them. If anything like this does occur, be sure to take your pal off to the vet as soon as you can, even if they don’t seem hurt at first. Injuries might not always be noticeable right away.

Are Maltipoos generally healthy?

Most Maltipoos enjoy very good health. This is because breeders of these super Doods are working hard to make them as free from disease as possible. All parent pups are carefully screened for any genetic conditions that they might pass along to their offspring. So every succeeding generation of Doodles is stronger and more likely to last than the previous one. That’s why it’s essential to ensure you’re purchasing your pup from a reputable facility that is doing all of this and more.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, many different factors contribute to the lifespan of a Maltipoo. Typically ranging from 12-15 years, Maltipoos are generally healthy dogs with long life expectancies.

However, there are things that you must do to continue to ensure your dog’s health, including taking your Maltipoo for regular veterinarian check-ups, feeding your dog nutritious food, and exercising your dog daily. These small things will have a big impact on your dog’s lifespan.

It is still important to note that, like all dogs, you cannot guarantee a full bill of health for their whole life. Maltipoos have several health issues that they are susceptible to. However, these issues are all easily manageable and will not drastically affect your dog’s lifespan as long as they are dealt with promptly and properly.

Remember, when adopting a Maltipoo, choose a reputable breeder. Good breeders will conduct health and genetic testing on their parent dogs that ensure that hereditary ailments are not passed down to your puppy. If you want to adopt a Maltipoo, prepare yourself for 12-15 years of love and affection.