I've had a few hours to mull this over in my head and I've looked back at Dr. Moore's proactive and ethical approach to my two cushdogs' treatment. Dr. Moore is the Director of Internal Medicine for VCA All Care and very well respected. My first dog was diagnosed there and my second dog started treating there shortly after diagnosis. At no time did Dr. Moore, or any of his staff, ignore proper protocol as your vet has done. As a matter of fact, it was almost a year before I was given the okay to extend the stim tests to every six months.....and neither of my dog had active calcinosis cutis like Bondo.

Our primary concern here is our precious pups and we place their welfare above a vet's certification and most certainly above ego. We frown upon vet bashing on the forum; however, when a vet is so blatantly ignorant so as to place a dog at risk, you have to call a spade a spade. Based solely on the information you have provided, the only conclusion I can come to is that your vet is completely incompetent and a danger to any dog with cushing's. Honestly, I know Dr. Moore and he would never be that wreckless with the welfare of a dog nor that ignorant to think a petowner should dictate when an acth stimulation test is done. That is simply absurd and if your vet told you that Dr. Moore agreed with his woeful standard of care, I wouldn't believe him for one minute.....and neither should you.

There is a very easy way to insure that your vet is acting in Bondo's best interest and telling you the truth. Simply call Dr. Moore and explain to him that Bondo has chronic calcinosis cutis that is not resolving with treatment. Tell him that you started treatment seven weeks ago and that neither you or your vet have any idea if Bondo's cortisol is being adequately controlled because he has never had the recommended acth stimulation tests since starting treatment. Be sure to tell him that Bondo hasn't had those acth stim tests because your vet thinks it's okay to forget about them unless you insist on them. He may ask you to come in so he can check Bondo's calcinosis cutis and if he does, I heartily recommend that you do exactly that.

I'll be anxiously awaiting your update. In the meantime, I'm hoping that Bondo continues to do well and the calcinosis cutis can be remedied. It's a bugger of a problem to get under control and requires a lot of patience.

Glynda