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Breed profile · FDA CVM July 2026 extract

Maltese adverse-event record

Adverse-event filings for Maltese (Dog) in the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA extract. Browse dog breeds, reactions, and outcomes below.

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#15 of 510
by report volume (all breeds)
13,940
FDA CVM reports on file
3.2%
death-coded share of reports
#217 of 275
by death-coded share (≥50 reports)

How the 13,940 reports break down

By recorded gender -- every report on file for Maltese, no filtering.

Annual report volume

Annual adverse-event report trend Yearly FDA CVM adverse-event report counts for this breed. 894 670.5 447 223.5 0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Reports filed Death-coded reports
Annual report volume for Maltese drawn from FDA CVM filings.

Data updated September 2026

The verdict

According to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA adverse-event extract, Maltese ranks #15 of 510 by total reports (13,940) and #217 of 275 by death-coded share (3.2%). National dual: Retriever - Labrador is #1 of 510 by total adverse-event reports (93,675) at death-coded-share rank 195 of 275 breeds with at least 50 reports (3.7%); separately, Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) is #1 highest death-coded share at 99.0% (report rank #233).

93,675
Retriever - Labrador reports (#1)
99.0%
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) death share (#1)
#15
This breed, reports of 510
#217
This breed, death share of 275

Report volume reflects how common a breed or drug is and how often owners and vets file — not actual risk. Death-coded share ranks are limited to entries with enough reports to be meaningful. The two maps do not agree at #1.

Release-over-release change

What changed in the latest FDA data snapshot

PlainBreed reconstructed the prior snapshot from dated openFDA partitions through 2025 Q4, then compared it with the 2026-07-27 openFDA export. Maltese has 13,940 reports now versus 13,827 in that prior snapshot: 113 more (0.8%).

Report change
+113
Death-coded reports
+4
Death-coded share
+0.0 pts

This compares reported-event counts in two source snapshots. It does not establish a change in real-world risk, product safety, or disease incidence.

Subscribe to Maltese changes

Total Reports

13,940

Highest-reported breed

Deaths Reported

453

of 13,940 reports

Death-coded share of reports

3.2%

Lowest death-coded share

Avg Age at Report

5.7 yr

4.9 kg avg weight

Breed Safety Scorecard

A (87/100)

A weighted composite across 4 of 4 dimensions, each benchmarked against every tracked breed with at least 200 reports (n=185). Dimensions with insufficient data drop out and their weight redistributes to the rest, so a missing input never silently deflates the score.

Death rate A-
3.2%

Share of reports coded as a fatality

Euthanasia rate A-
1.4%

Share of reports resulting in euthanasia

Full recovery rate A+
38.7%

Share of reports coded "Recovered/Normal"

5-year trend A
-41%

Change in annual report volume over the last 5 complete years

Death-Coded Outcome Share

Maltese death-coded reports 3.2%
Cross-breed median

3.2% of 13,940 maltese reports involved a death outcome.

How to read this number

Read alongside breed popularity, veterinary access, and owner awareness, these shape how many events ever reach the FDA. The comparison line marks the cross-breed median death-coded share (4.8%) among breeds with 50 or more reports; values above it suggest higher reporting bias toward severe outcomes, not necessarily higher true mortality.

Where Maltese's death-coded share sits among indexed breeds

Death-coded share of FDA CVM reports, breeds with ≥50 reports (July 2026 extract)

3% 21st percentile Higher share than 21% of 275 indexed breeds

5%–10%: 1 indexed breeds (0%). This entry sits in this band. 20%–25%: 2 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 25%–30%: 3 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 30%–35%: 4 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 35%–40%: 5 indexed breeds (2%). Above this entry. 40%–45%: 6 indexed breeds (2%). Above this entry. 45%–50%: 3 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 50%–55%: 7 indexed breeds (3%). Above this entry. 55%–60%: 7 indexed breeds (3%). Above this entry. 60%–65%: 21 indexed breeds (8%). Above this entry. 65%–70%: 11 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 70%–75%: 15 indexed breeds (5%). Above this entry. 75%–80%: 13 indexed breeds (5%). Above this entry. 80%–85%: 11 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 85%–90%: 12 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 90%–95%: 12 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 95%–100%: 142 indexed breeds (52%). Above this entry. Maltese 5% 100% every breed with ≥50 FDA reports, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more indexed breeds. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, openFDA adverse event extract (PlainBreed) · July 2026 extract

This histogram uses the same ≥50-report cohort as the highest death-coded share ranking. A higher share means more of this breed's reported events were death-coded, not a mortality rate for living animals.

Maltese among report-volume vs. death-rate peers

Every breed shown has at least 50 filed reports. Volume reflects how often a breed is reported, not how common it is; death rate is the share of a breed's own reports coded as a death outcome.

Source: FDA openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events database 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 30 entities by Total Reports (X) and Death Rate (%) (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. High volume, high death rateLow volume, high death rateHigh volume, low death rateLow volume, low death rate 020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000 0%5%10%15% Total Reports Death Rate (%) Maltese vs. all breeds, report volume and death-coded share Retriever - Labrador-93675, 3.7%Crossbred Canine/dog-70591, 3.2%Domestic Shorthair-65226, 7.2%Dog (unknown)-48820, 8.8%Retriever - Golden-35980, 3.7%Shepherd Dog - German-32220, 4.4%Chihuahua-31521, 4.2%Terrier - Yorkshire-24924, 3.7%Shih Tzu-24405, 3.6%Boxer (German Boxer)-19405, 4.4%Beagle-17970, 3.6%Pit Bull-17865, 3.1%Shepherd Dog - Australian-16274, 3.7%Terrier (unspecified)-14058, 3.1%Maltese-13940, 3.2%Dachshund (unspecified)-13512, 4.6%Cat (unknown)-13248, 9.3%Terrier - Jack Russell-10423, 3.7%Collie - Border-10130, 4.3%Siberian Husky-9811, 4.5%Domestic Longhair-9615, 7%Pug-9224, 5.2%Spitz - German Pomeranian-9086, 4.9%Terrier - Bull - American Pit-8769, 4.7%Cattle Dog - Australian (blue heeler, red heeler, Queensland cattledog)-7871, 3.6%Terrier - Boston-7737, 4.5%Spaniel - Cocker American-7640, 4%Domestic (unspecified)-7576, 13.4%Poodle (unspecified)-7534, 3.4%Schnauzer - Miniature-7513, 4.4%
Source: FDA openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events database
Average weight at time of report: 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs)

Top Reported Reactions

Vomiting 3,383
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 1,928
Emesis 1,548
Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea 1,471
Diarrhoea 1,225
Lack of efficacy - NOS 656
Seizure NOS 556
Anorexia 554
Behavioural disorder NOS 510
Shaking 465
Other abnormal test result NOS 389
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - hookworm 365
Not eating 363
Ataxia 351
Emesis (multiple) 351

Most Referenced Drugs

Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 3,258
Spinosad 1,375
Afoxolaner 955
Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt 868
Trilostane 642
Moxidectin 560
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 554
Oclacitinib Maleate 486
Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner 456
Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew 413
Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel 344
Selamectin 331
Sarolaner 326
Imidacloprid + Moxidectin 308
Nitenpyram 235

Outcome Breakdown

Recovered/Normal
5,396 (40.9%)
Outcome Unknown
4,182 (31.7%)
Ongoing
2,723 (20.7%)
Recovered with Sequela
432 (3.3%)
Died
254 (1.9%)
Euthanized
199 (1.5%)

Gender Distribution

Female 6,913 (49.6%)
Male 6,705 (48.1%)
Unknown 296 (2.1%)
Mixed 26 (0.2%)

Reports by Year

Year Reports Trend
2010 379
2011 680
2012 1,160
2013 1,265
2014 1,162
2015 1,161
2016 1,123
2017 1,089
2018 982
2019 894
2020 851
2021 802
2022 751
2023 590
2024 497
2025 470
2026 84

Maltese: low death-coded share in the FDA CVM extract

Signature read: 13,940 reports place Maltese in the upper third of breed filing volume (#15 of 510). According to FDA CVM filings indexed on PlainBreed as of July 2026 extract, Maltese sits at #15 of 510 by report volume among all breeds and #14 of 298 among dog breeds, with 13,940 reports and 453 (3.2%) death-coded. On death-coded share among breeds with ≥50 reports, it ranks #217 of 275. Mean age at report: 5.7 years, average weight 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs).

Top reported signs: Vomiting (3,383), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (1,928), Emesis (1,548). Most-referenced drug: Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (3,258 reports), followed by Spinosad (1,375) and Afoxolaner (955).

Outcome coding on 13,186 status-recorded reports is dominated by Recovered/Normal (40.9%). Annual submissions ranged 84-2,026 across 17 years on file.

Maltese Reporting Concentration Profile

Maltese is a high-volume FDA CVM cohort (13,940 reports) - enough filings to measure how concentrated the reaction and drug mix is, not just the headline totals. Across 20 named reaction terms in the stored top list, the leading three (Vomiting, Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological'), Emesis) account for 43.7% of listed reaction mentions. The Herfindahl index on that list is 0.097 (1.0 = a single reaction owns every mention; lower = a broader clinical mix).

On the drug side, 20 referenced products appear in the top list; the leading three (Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad, Spinosad, Afoxolaner) cover 46.5% of those mentions. That multi-product footprint is the profile thin-report breeds cannot show - their pages stop at a short bar list because the sample cannot support a concentration read.

Outcome coding on 13,186 status-recorded filings splits roughly 3.4% severe (died or euthanized - 453 reports) versus 44.2% recovered or recovered-with-sequela (5,828). Read that split next to the 3.2% death-coded share above - both track reporting severity bias in a popular breed, not a proven mortality rate.

Peak filing year was 2013 (1,265 reports); the lightest year on file was 2026 (84). From 2024 to 2025, annual volume fell 5.4% (497 → 470). Year-to-year swings at this volume usually track product launches, owner awareness, and reporting campaigns more than sudden breed-health shocks.

Dog Breeds With a Similar Report Volume

Showing 6 of 297 dog breeds in our dataset, ranked by closest report volume.

Terrier (unspecified)
14,058 reports · 3.1% death-coded
Dachshund (unspecified)
13,512 reports · 4.6% death-coded
Shepherd Dog - Australian
16,274 reports · 3.7% death-coded
Terrier - Jack Russell
10,423 reports · 3.7% death-coded
Collie - Border
10,130 reports · 4.3% death-coded
Pit Bull
17,865 reports · 3.1% death-coded

Nationwide breeds with similar profiles

High-volume peer sets for Maltese drawn from openFDA outside the Dog family so the neighborhoods are not species containment (the similar-volume list above stays within species).

Similar death-coded share

Nearest other-species breeds with ≥50 reports (3.2% death-coded here).

Oriental 3.1% · Cat Birman (Sacred Birman) 3.1% · Cat American Curl Shorthair 3.5% · Cat Oldenburg 2.8% · Horse

Similar average weight

Nearest other-species breeds by reported average weight (4.9 kg here).

Domestic Longhair 4.9 kg · Cat Domestic Shorthair 4.9 kg · Cat Manx 4.9 kg · Cat American Curl Longhair 4.9 kg · Cat

What to do with this dog

A report does not prove a drug caused the reaction, and popular breeds simply generate more reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many FDA adverse event reports involve Maltese? ▼
There are 13,940 adverse event reports involving Maltese in the FDA database, of which 453 were death-coded (3.2% of those reports). That is a share of REPORTED events, not a mortality rate for the breed: adverse events reach the FDA when something goes wrong, so the denominator is reports, never the population of animals. According to the same FDA CVM extract, Maltese ranks #15 of 510 by report volume among all breeds PlainBreed indexes (#14 of 298 among dog breeds).
Where does Maltese sit among other breeds in PlainBreed's corpus? ▼
According to FDA CVM report volume, Maltese is #15 of 510 breeds indexed on PlainBreed (same ordering as the most-reported-breeds ranking). Inside Dog, it is #14 of 298. Among breeds with at least 50 reports, its death-coded share ranks #217 of 275 (same cohort as highest-death-rate). These are placement ranks in the reporting corpus, not clinical risk scores.
What are the most common adverse reactions reported for Maltese? ▼
The most commonly reported adverse reactions for Maltese are Vomiting (3,383 reports), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (1,928 reports), Emesis (1,548 reports), Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (1,471 reports), Diarrhoea (1,225 reports).
What drugs are most frequently associated with Maltese adverse events? ▼
The drugs most frequently referenced in Maltese adverse event reports are Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (3,258 reports), Spinosad (1,375 reports), Afoxolaner (955 reports), Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt (868 reports), Trilostane (642 reports).
What is the average age of Maltese in adverse event reports? ▼
The average age of Maltese at the time of adverse event reports is 5.7 years, with an average weight of 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs).

Compare a breed's report volume against how common the breed is before drawing conclusions. See our methodology for how the death-coded share and rankings are computed, or read breed-specific reporting patterns and FDA CVM reporting.

Source: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (CVM AER) · 2025

openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (FDA CVM) for Maltese (Dog), extract as of July 2026 extract. 13,940 reports · 453 death-coded (3.2% of reports, not a mortality rate) · #15 of 510 by volume.

Informational only. FDA adverse-event reports are voluntary and do not prove causation; consult a veterinarian before acting on them. Verify with FDA CVM →