I have a wonderfuly stubborn little Beagle, and while I was brushing him today, I noticed that his hair was a little matted. I tried to brush it out but it didn't straighten out. Note: this was right after I took him a shower.
Anyone know how to fix his coat?

Another question I have: He's getting flaky skin and the little dandruff comes out whenever I brush him. Should I be feeding him more fatty acids?

What kind of brush are you using, and do you brush him on a regular basis? Beagles are usually not subject to matting, especially if they're brushed at least once a week.

I'd suggest a comb to get any matting out, then brush him weekly with a Zoom Groom rubber curry.

Dry flakey skin can have many causes, and diet is certainly one of them. But so is inadequate coat care, shampoo residue left on the skin, and parasites. One parasite, a mite called cheyletiella, causes a condition called walking dandruff. These mites are microscopic, so you need a vet to diagnose them. They're easy to kill with flea shampoo, though. Low humidity can dry the skin and cause flaking, too.

I wouldn't suggest adding any supplements until you've had a vet rule out other causes.

I agree with vetgroomer. If you keep brushing daily,it would not mat the fur as much difficult as it would look now.I have a corgi (not fluffy) but I brush her daily.It is good to distribute natural oil in the skin to other places,and it makes nice looking fur plus it is nice for both of us for quiet bonding time so,I do daily.

And when I bathe my dog,I brush her first.This removes dead hair before she going into tub and less fur in drain area when you finish up.

As for flaky skin,I was thinking maybe diet is too high in omega6 and you might need to bump up the omega3 for good coat and skin but,I don't know.I did not know about mite stuff vetgroomer said so,it maybe something you want to check it out.

[mrandrei]

What's the type of brush you use to groom your beagle. You should brush your beagle at least once or twice a week with a firm bristle brush.

It depends to the brush you use to your dog. And not necessarily to brush your dog daily.

I think that you should feed him more healthy food and i think that you should change the brush you use and use a more medical one.

[lil mutt]

More than the brush, good diet can help a lot in improving your pet's hair.

Probably you should visit a vet to take a look of your beagle..
Check the brush that you're using for your dog.

[pinsnpugs]

A beagles coat is not long enough to actually mat, but knowing the breed and how ornery they are, it is likely he just got into something and caused his coat to get sticky in a spot.

As for flaking skin, beagles tend to have dry skin and easily get irritated skin.
What are you feeding him?
When you bath, use an oatmeal based shampoo or medicated one and be sure to rinse it out completely. leaving any soap behind can dry him out and cause irritation.

My first guess would be more omega's in his diet, even adding some Vitamin E, flaxseed oil, or a bit of canned salmon with each feeding will help with the itching and the flaking along with regular brushing.