Low-calorie dental treats for hypothyroid Maltese

A 7-year-old Maltese with hypothyroidism is a combination that really does need some careful thought — Maltese are already one of the breeds most prone to serious dental disease because of how crowded their tiny jaws are, and hypothyroidism adds another layer because it slows metabolism and makes weight gain happen fast, which means every treat calorie counts. Dental disease is also one of the most commonly missed sources of chronic pain in small dogs, so staying on top of this genuinely matters. Can you tell me a bit more — has your vet flagged her teeth specifically, and is she currently on thyroid medication? And will she let you near her mouth at all, or is brushing completely off the table?

That's really helpful — and honestly, a lot of Maltese owners are in exactly this position. The teeth are already heading in the wrong direction and brushing is off the table. So you need a chew that does genuine mechanical work on tartar, not just a flavoured biscuit with a dental claim printed on the bag. Before I give you my recommendation — how much does she weigh right now, and roughly how many treats is she currently getting per day? I want to make sure whatever I suggest fits within a calorie budget that won't undo the good work the levothyroxine is doing.

Perfect — 4kg and one to two treats a day gives us a sensible window to work with. My clear recommendation is Whimzees Naturals Stix, specifically the XS size. These are vegetable-based dental chews with a firm, ridged texture that physically scrapes plaque and tartar as the dog chews — they're not just a flavour distraction. Crucially for you, the XS size comes in at roughly 23 calories per chew, which is genuinely low for a dental chew that actually works. They're grain-free, have no artificial additives, and the texture holds up well even for small mouths. One XS Stix a day fits easily into her calorie allowance without touching her weight management. They're widely available on Amazon UK as a multipack, which keeps the cost reasonable. I'd swap out one of her current treats for this and monitor whether her gum redness improves over 6 to 8 weeks — if the tartar is already established, a professional clean may still be worth discussing with your vet, but this will slow the progression meaningfully.

Whimzees don't contain anything that interacts with levothyroxine — they're essentially plant-based with no soy isoflavones or compounds that interfere with thyroid absorption, which is the main thing to watch with hypothyroid dogs. As for swallowing whole — the XS Stix have a firm enough texture that it's quite difficult for a 4kg dog to just gulp down. Most Maltese will chew on it for 5 to 10 minutes, which is where the mechanical cleaning actually happens. If she does manage to swallow it quickly in the first day or two, try holding one end loosely so she has to work at it — after a few times most dogs settle into a proper chewing rhythm. The shape and resistance really are designed to force engagement rather than just crumbling on contact.

Yes — a few things that don't require a toothbrush. First, a dental water additive like Vet's Best Dental Water Additive is worth adding to her bowl daily; it's tasteless, she won't notice it, and it reduces the bacteria that cause plaque to harden into tartar. Second, dental wipes or finger brushes are often tolerated by dogs who refuse a toothbrush — you're not scrubbing, just wiping the outer surface of the back teeth where most tartar builds. Even 20 seconds a few times a week adds up. And third, keep that vet dental check annual — at 7 with existing tartar and gum redness, she may benefit from a professional scale and polish before too long, and catching it now means the procedure is simpler and lower risk. The Whimzees plus a water additive is a solid daily routine you can start this week.