My 9-year-old dog is losing weight, weak, and eating poop. Why?

If Maggie has been well controlled for that long then I suspect something other than the Addison's is causing the weight loss. I would recommend an examination by your veterinarian. They will likely recommend blood work and possibly x-rays depending on what is revealed or found during the physical exam. I hope this gives you a place to start. I hope Maggie improves soon.

Her symptoms could be due to any number of things: * intestinal parasites (worms) * endocrine disease (Cushings, thyroid, Addisons, etc) * liver, kidney or other organ failure/disease * cancer * etc...... Her symptoms sound serious and I think you need to have her examined by your veterinarian. Weeks of weight loss and diarrhea is not good. Even if the vet finds that it is just old age there are medications she can be given to help her walk better and be more comfortable.

I would definitely recommend some blood work, if this hasn't been done recently. Older dogs are prone to a number of health issues that can cause decreased appetite along with being less active - chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism are two possibilities that are both very common. In many cases, these issues are treatable (at least to some extent) once a diagnosis is made, so it's well worth checking for them if you can - hopefully, there are some things you can do to make him feel better for as long as possible, even though he's getting older.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear about Oreo. The eating of manure/mud does not concern me nearly as much as the weight loss. In a dog this age, kidney disease, heart failure, and cancer are big worries for me. Take Oreo into your vet sooner rather than later. He or she will do a good physical exam (which is sometimes enough to suspect heart failure or cancer) and will likely recommend routine bloodwork to rule out organ disease. If everything comes up normal, probiotics, supplements, or pancreatic enzymes may be recommended. Best wishes to you and Oreo.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Stone is a little thin from the photos, and the amount of weight he has lost in the past 3 weeks is definitely cause for concern. The next steps after checking for intestinal parasites include blood work to make sure that there isn't an underlying infection present and that organ function is normal. It can also determine that food is being digested and nutrients are absorbed appropriately. X-rays and an ultrasound can rule out masses, obstructions, and inflamed bowels. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

The weight loss and the not eating may indicate a disease state. At 12 years old, things like kidney disease and cancer become more worrisome. I recommend to have Stitch examined by the veterinarian and plan on running some diagnostics to go looking for any problems. Best of luck.

It sounds like she should be examined by a vet to determine the cause of her problems. It is very concerning that she is thin and weak and your vet can run some lab-work to screen for kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine diseases, etc. Your vet can also take x-rays, if needed, to look for any abnormalities that would cause decreased appetite and weight loss. She could also have a problem with her teeth and your vet can do a dental evaluation. She may need an antibiotic to treat a conjunctivitis. Please call a vet and schedule a check up.