Has your pet's coat lost its luster? Does his hair feel like a Brillo pad? Are you finding dandruff on his favorite chair?

A dry coat says a lot about your pet's health. "Sometimes they are not getting enough of the right types of fatty acids to maintain a healthy coat," says Karen L. Campbell, D.V.M., associate professor of dermatology and small animal internal medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana-Champaign.

Even though commercial pet foods usually provide all the nutrients that your pet needs, some dogs and cats may have digestive problems, such as bowel or liver disease, that prevent fatty acids and other essential nutrients from being absorbed, says William H. Miller Jr., V.M.D., professor of dermatology in the department of clinical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

In fact, any internal illness, from flu to diabetes, can cause a dry coat. In older dogs, hypothyroidism -- a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormone -- may be to blame. Allergies can cause irritation of the skin, causing a dry coat. Or worms, fleas, and other parasites can cause your pet's coat to look dry and lifeless.

With some breeds, a dry coat comes naturally. Dogs such as cocker and springer spaniels are sometimes a little dry. This type of dryness usually appears before your pet is a year old and continues for the rest of his life.

Finally, don't overlook the obvious when trying to figure out what's taking the shine out of your pet's coat. Is your dog taking a dip in the chlorinated pool every chance that he gets? Does your cat enjoy sleeping next to the woodstove? Are you bathing your pet frequently, perhaps too often, or using a shampoo that is too harsh? "Anything that can damage human hair can do the same thing to a dog's or cat's hair," says Dr. Miller.

See Your Vet If...

• There is dandruff on the furniture
  
• You have been giving your pet a generic food
  
• Your pet has recently been scratching or has runny eyes
  
• Your pet is shedding or scratching more than usual
  
• He has scales, bald patches, or a rash
  
• He has severe dandruff or dry skin
  
• His fur is greasy or smelly even after baths
  
• Your pet has broken out in hives and is having trouble breathing
  
• He has a bad sunburn
  
• There has been a significant change in skin color, or the skin seems loose
  
• There is a lump or swelling beneath his skin
  
• Your pet has a sore on the skin that won't heal
  
• The skin of the lips, abdomen, or rectal area is yellow
  
• There are red or purple dots or splotches on his skin

Next Steps:

• What you can do for your pet
  
• What your vet can do
  
• Find out other causes of dry coat

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