iluvtorofl replied: "Cardiomyopathy is fatal. The diabetes will hasten the outcome of the cardiac problems. I'm sorry your dog is so sick. Enjoy him as long as you are able to. If and when he appears to be suffering, please don't leave him in pain. Sometimes being a good pet owner means saying goodbye. I'm so sorry he is not doing well."

Dale A replied: "Can you outline the tests that have been done? I'm assuming (because you're using Desmopressin) that it is central diabetes insipidus, rather than nephrogenic. Anyways, as far as I know, hormone replacement therapy with synthetic ADH is the only effective treatment. Have you talked to the vet re. upping the dose? Is it possible, that by being PU/PD for so long that he's had a medullary washout (i.e. washed out the salt gradient in his kidneys), and so can't properly concentrate his urine even with the ADH. You're going to have to work with your vet on this one, as regulating the water intake of a dog with diabetes insipidus can be dangerous. Best of luck."

Jocelyn7777 replied: "This is something I found when researching DI... Therapy is not mandatory for DI as long as the pet has unlimited access to water, and is kept in an environment where constant urination is not a problem. This usually applies to outdoor pets. Therapy with DDAVP can be administered intermittently, when severe thirst and excess urination is especially undesirable, for example, if guests are visiting. Unrestricted access to water is absolutely imperative. Follow-up Optimal treatment for a pet with diabetes insipidus requires both home and professional care, with follow up being critical. Administer prescribed medications and alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems treating your pet. Follow up includes: Periodic rechecks by your veterinarian, especially if the diabetes insipidus is suspected to be caused by a tumor affecting the part of the brain responsible for making ADH. Seek immediate veterinary care if any illness develops that causes vomiting or causes the pet to reduce his water intake, as there is a risk of life-threatening dehydration if water is withdrawn from pets with DI for even a few hours. Does your dog have unlimited access to plenty of fresh water? Did the vet do plenty of tests to rule out other illnesses which can also have the same symptoms of DI? The diagnostic tests recommended will help differentiate DI from these other conditions that can cause excessive thirst and urination: Diabetes mellitus (excessive sugar in the blood) Renal glycosuria (excessive sugar in the urine, but not diabetic) Chronic kidney failure Pyometra (infection of the uterus) Hypercalcemia, a condition of excessively high calcium levels in the blood Liver failure Hyperadrenocorticism, also called Cushing's disease, a condition of overactive adrenal glands Pyelonephritis, an infection of the kidneys Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) Hypoadrenocorticism, also called Addison's disease, a condition of underactive adrenal glands Hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid activity) Acromegaly (excessive production of growth hormone) Psychogenic polydipsia (excessive drinking due to psychological reasons, such as a change in the pet's environment I'd definitely talk to the vet about other forms of treatment, such as: Treatment In-depth Desmopressin acetate (also called DDAVP) is a synthetic form of the hormone ADH. It is the standard therapy for central DI. It comes in two forms: injection and nasal drops. The nasal spray can be transferred to a sterile eye dropper bottle and applied to the eye if the dog won't tolerate nasal drops. One to four drops administered once or twice a day usually controls the clinical signs. (which you are currently using) Chlorpropamide may reduce urine output in some dogs, although results can be inconsistent. Severe forms of central DI often don't respond. Thiazide diuretics – while it may seem paradoxical to give a dog with DI a diuretic to increase urine output, the net result is usually a reduction in overall urine output. Salt restriction has a net effect of reducing urine output, and may be used sometimes as the sole therapy for central DI. Good luck."