My Maltese coat is dry. What do I do?

My Malteses coat is dry. I do not know what to do. She matts very easily. I would like to know if there is a product I can use to make her coat silky. She is 2 1/2.

• The first thing you need to think of with a dry coat is "within". Maltese because of the long hair they have need a good diet and source of protein, fat and vitamins. Most of the grocery store variety dog food do not work well for a hairy coated breed -- ie Maltese. Foods that are good to feed are those made by Iams, Eukanuba, Nature's Recipe, NutroMax, Natural Balance and the one I feed Innova. And Maltese seem to do well with a lamb and rice or chicken and rice formula.

  The second thing "within" that you need to be sure is taken care of is internal parasites. Worms of any kind -- tape, round, hook, etc. take up the nutrients that should be going to the dog. Tape especially if you have had fleas at all is probably there and you may not know it.

  If everything within is okay then you need to look at the products you are using to bath and groom your dog. Maltese should be bathed with a good quality shampoo that is moisturizing or conditioning based and make sure you avoid those that strip the coat -- like disk washing detergent or clarilfying shampoos (unless you need to get something like oil out). And then you need to follow the shampoo with a conditioner. And finally, when you brush you should use some sort of conditioiner/rinse diluted in a spray bottle to aid in brushing.
  Bobbie Linden - Bhe-Jei Maltese