Cerenia for Dogs: A Medication for Preventing Nausea and Vomiting
Key takeaways:
Cerenia (maropitant citrate) for dogs is a fast-acting, nondrowsy, prescription-only medication that is used to stop or prevent nausea and vomiting. It comes in pill and injectable forms.
Cerenia works by reducing the feeling of nausea via a dog’s central nervous system. It works quickly to address symptoms, but it does not treat or resolve underlying gut problems.
While Cerenia is safe for most dogs, it is not appropriate for all cases of vomiting. And it should always be given under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
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Table of contents
Stomach issues are one of the most common reasons dogs visit the veterinarian. And there are many conditions that can cause nausea and vomiting in dogs, including motion sickness from car rides.
Cerenia (maropitant citrate) is a fast-acting medication that can be safely used to reduce nausea and vomiting in many dogs. Here, we cover what you should know about Cerenia for dogs, including its uses, side effects, and more.
Cerenia for dogs at a glance
Common names | Cerenia (maropitant citrate) |
What it treats | Nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness |
How it comes (forms) | Injection, tablets |
Common side effects | Loss of appetite, excessive tiredness, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea |
Average cost |
What is Cerenia for dogs and how does it work?
Cerenia is an FDA-approved medication used to treat nausea and prevent motion sickness in dogs. Cerenia reduces nausea and vomiting by working on the central nervous system (not the gastrointestinal system). It blocks brain signals that cause nausea.
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Cerenia’s active ingredient is maropitant citrate, a medication that blocks substance P — a chemical messenger in the nervous system that is involved in nausea and vomiting. By blocking this chemical messenger, Cerenia prevents nausea and, subsequently, the action of vomiting.
What is Cerenia used for in dogs?
Cerenia can be used to stop or prevent acute nausea and vomiting in dogs with stomach problems. Cerenia is also prescribed to prevent motion sickness in dogs. It is a safe, effective, and nondrowsy anti-nausea treatment that can be given to most dogs for motion sickness.
Cerenia can be used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by a variety of issues, including:
Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gut)
Pancreatitis (inflammation and infection of the pancreas)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Intestinal infections
Cancer and chemotherapy side effects
Anesthesia side effects
Adverse medication reactions
Cerenia has also been shown to be an effective cough suppressant. It may also be effective at reducing nausea related to gastrointestinal pain.
How is Cerenia given to dogs and what is the typical dosage?
Cerenia for dogs comes in two forms: an injection and tablets. The typical Cerenia dosage for dogs is 1 mg per kilogram of body weight for injectable Cerenia, or 2 mg per kilogram of body weight for the tablets, every 24 hours.
The injectable form of Cerenia can either be given as an injection under the skin or as an intravenous injection directly into the bloodstream. Injectable Cerenia works within minutes.
Managing motion sickness: If your dog is prone to motion sickness while traveling, here are ways you can help them.
Why is my dog vomiting? There are a number of things that can cause dogs to throw up. Learn about the most common causes and what to do if your dog is vomiting.
Travel anxiety: Many pets get nervous when they have to travel. If you have a scaredy pup, keep them calm with these strategies.
Cerenia tablets are packaged in blister packs containing 4 tablets. The tablets come in 16 mg, 24 mg, 60 mg, and 160 mg doses.
Oral Cerenia can take 1 to 2 hours to take effect. Dogs should be given oral Cerenia 2 hours before car rides to prevent motion sickness. The medication should be given with a small amount of food. But it’s recommended to avoid feeding dogs full meals before travel.
In dogs with healthy livers, Cerenia is effective at blocking nausea and vomiting for about 24 hours. The medication should not be given to dogs to prevent motion sickness for more than 2 days in a row. If your dog needs additional nausea control, talk to your veterinarian.
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What are the common side effects of Cerenia in dogs?
In general, Cerenia is very well tolerated by most dogs and rarely causes side effects. The most common adverse reactions in dogs include:
Excessive tiredness
Drooling
Vomiting
With injectable Cerenia, pain and swelling at the injection site — as well as anaphylaxis, a rare serious allergic reaction — have been reported in some dogs.
What are the most serious risks of Cerenia for dogs?
While Cerenia is generally safe for most dogs, it should always be given under the supervision of a veterinarian because of the risk of overdose. Also, be sure to follow the directions on the prescription label.
In addition, Cerenia may not be appropriate for:
Dogs that are younger than 8 weeks old
Dogs that are pregnant or nursing
Dogs that could have an intestinal obstruction
Dogs that could have ingested poisons or toxins
Dogs with liver disease
Does Cerenia interact with any other dog medications?
Cerenia should be used with caution in dogs who take medication for heart disease, as it may interact with those medications. In addition, if your dog takes any of the following medications, check with your veterinarian before giving them Cerenia:
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Itraconazole (Itrafungol)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Erythromycin (Gallimycin)
What should you do if your dog misses a dose of Cerenia?
If you forget to give your dog a dose of Cerenia, give them the medication as soon as you remember. But don’t give them two doses at the same time to make up for a missed one.
Frequently asked questions
Cerenia itself is not an appetite stimulant. However, because it reduces nausea and vomiting, it can help restore your dog’s appetite.
Yes, your dog can eat after taking Cerenia. If you give your dog Cerenia for motion sickness before traveling, it’s best to avoid giving them a full meal. But a small meal is fine.
Yes, you can give your dog Cerenia at night. Though, it’s a good idea to ask your veterinarian about the best time of day to give your dog the medication.
In general, you should give your dog Cerenia 2 hours before traveling if you’re looking to prevent motion sickness. For other forms of nausea, you don’t have to give it to them at a particular time of day.
The bottom line
Cerenia for dogs is a safe, fast-acting medication used to reduce acute nausea and vomiting caused by a variety of issues. Like any prescription medication, it should be given under the supervision of a veterinarian. If your dog experiences motion sickness, talk to your veterinarian to see if Cerenia could be a solution.
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References
Brooks, W. (2022). Maropitant citrate (Cerenia). Veterinary Partner.
Grobman, M., et al. (2016). Investigation of neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism as a novel treatment for chronic bronchitis in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Today’s Veterinary Practice. (2018). Top 10 reasons why pets see a veterinarian.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA approves first generic maropitant citrate tablets for use in dogs to prevent vomiting.
Zoetis Inc. (2019). Cerenia - maropitant citrate tablet [package insert]. FDA.report.
Zoetis Inc. (2020). Cerenia (maropitent citrate) tablets and injectable solution [package insert].
Zoetis Inc. (2022). Cerenia dosing chart.
Zoetis Inc. (2022). Cerenia - maropitant citrate tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
