A few food stains might not look nice, but they are usually not something to worry about! If your puppy has got no other symptoms beside food stains, you can wipe his face on a daily basis to avoid browning or discoloration of the fur around his mouth. You may also find this occurs more frequently when he’s tucking into wet food, so try to keep his face dry and clean. According to the American Maltese Club, you can also try giving your pooch filtered water (or distilled) as an alternative to tap water, and you might also trim the fur around his mouth.
In some cases, however, you might want to check in with his vet. If you suspect that your pooch might be getting brown stains around his mouth because of food allergies, or if they are ‘tear-like’ stains around his eyes, it’s better to get professional advice.