Skin & Coat Supplements for Maltese and Bichon Frise

A Maltese and a Bichon Frise in the same household — two small, white-coated breeds that actually share similar skin and coat tendencies, so finding one supplement that works for both is very doable. That said, skin and coat issues in dogs usually fall into one of two categories: a dietary deficiency, or an underlying skin condition like allergies or seborrhoea. Supplements only really move the needle if the root cause is nutritional. To point you in the right direction, can you tell me what you're currently seeing on each dog — things like dullness, dry flaky skin, itching, or excessive shedding — and what food you're feeding them both?

That picture makes sense. Mid-range kibbles often use lower-quality fats and don't carry enough omega-3 to keep skin properly hydrated — you see it as dullness and dryness in younger dogs, and as increased shedding and flaking as they get older. Neither dog sounds like they're dealing with an active skin condition; this looks like a straightforward dietary gap. One thing worth noting with the Bichon at 8: are you seeing any redness, persistent scratching, or a yeasty smell around her ears or paws? I want to make sure it's just the nutritional picture before we commit to a supplement.

Good — that confirms it's nutritional rather than anything inflammatory. For both dogs I'd recommend YuMOVE Skin & Coat Care MALT. It's a liquid omega supplement specifically formulated for small breeds, which matters here because both Maltese and Bichon Frises have fine, dense coats that respond well to concentrated omega-3 and omega-6 support. It's dosed by weight, so you can give the right amount to each dog from the same bottle — the Maltese will need slightly less than the Bichon. The formula includes starflower oil alongside fish oil, which helps with moisture retention in the skin, and it's safe for long-term daily use at any age. You'd just add it to their food. Expect to see coat texture improve in around 6 to 8 weeks; shedding often reduces a little later than shine does.

Age doesn't reduce how well omega supplements work — older dogs can absorb and use them just as effectively. What sometimes changes with older dogs is that you might see slightly slower improvement simply because their coat growth cycle is a touch longer, but the end result is the same. The only thing to keep in mind at 8 is that if her flaking doesn't improve meaningfully after 8 to 10 weeks on the supplement, it's worth a quick vet check to rule out hypothyroidism, which can look identical to a dietary coat issue and becomes more common in small breeds from middle age. But based on what you've described, I'd start with the supplement — it's the right first step.