Doses - VASOPRESSIN
Dogs: 
As a diagnostic agent after the water deprivation test (WDT); monitor carefully. The WDT isconsidered to be contraindicated in animals that are dehydrated or have known renal diseaseand is used to characterize whether DI is central or nephrogenic in origin. It is suggested torefer to either Current Veterinary Therapy X: Small Animal Practice, Kirk, R.W., Ed., 1989pp. 973-978 or Handbook of Small Animal Practice, Morgan R.V., Ed. 1988, pp. 504-506, formore information: a) Exogenous vasopressin test: After WDT, empty bladder and start IV catheter and slowlyreintroduce water. Give aqueous vasopressin in D5W IV at a dose of 2.5 mU/kg overone hour. To make one liter of a 5 mU/ml solution add 5 Units of vasopressin to oneliter of D5W. Empty bladder and collect urine at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90minutes. If urine specific gravity >1.1015 = ADH-responsive DI; if <1.015 = eithernephrogenic DI or medullary washout effect. (Nichols and Miller 1988)
For treatment of central (ADH-responsive) diabetes insipidus: For treatment of central diabetes insipidus: (Note: Because vasopressin tannate in oil is no longer commerciallyavailable; most clinicians are using desmopressin (DDAVP) for treating central DI.
Refer to that monograph for more information.
Cats: 
As a diagnostic agent after the water deprivation test (WDT). The WDT is generally considered to be contraindicated in animals that are dehydrated or have known renal disease and isused to characterize whether DI is central or nephrogenic in origin.: a) Immediately after the end-point of the WDT, give aqueous vasopressin 0.5 U/kg IM;continue to withhold food and water. At 30, 60, and 120 minutes after vasopressin, empty bladder and determine specific gravity (osmolality). Upon completion, the cat isgradually allowed access to water. Inability to concentrate urine during the waterdeprivation test followed by a rise in urine specific gravity above 1.025 following thevasopressin is indicative of central DI. (Peterson and Randolph 1989)
For treatment of central diabetes insipidus: (Note: Because vasopressin tannate in oil is nolonger commercially available; most clinicians are using desmopressin (DDAVP) for treatingcentral DI. Refer to that monograph for more information.
Monitoring Parameters -
Client Information - When instructing owners in injecting the medication, stress the importanceof proper mixing of the tannate suspension (see below).
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times - Veterinary-Approved Products: None
Human-Approved Products:
Vasopressin Injection, 20 Units/ml in 0.5, 1 ml & 10 ml vials; 0.5 and 1 ml ampules; Pitressin®Synthetic (Parke-Davis); Generic; (Rx)
Vasopressin Tannate Sterile Suspension in oil is no longer commercially available.