Cerenia for dogs
Formulation
Tablets (and injection)
Active ingredient
Maropitant
Category
Anti-vomiting
What is Cerenia?
Cerenia is an anti-vomiting drug for dogs and cats containing maropitant. It works by blocking some of the signals involved in triggering vomiting. It is most commonly given by injection in veterinary practice, but tablets are sometimes used to treat motion sickness or the side effects of chemotherapy. Cerenia tablets are only licensed for use in dogs.
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What does Cerenia do?
Cerenia’s active ingredient, maropitant, acts by blocking a neurotransmitter in the brain called substance P. This is involved in triggering vomiting. By stopping substance P from working, Cerenia prevents the signals that lead to nausea and vomiting. This makes it a powerful anti-vomiting drug, perfect for preventing motion sickness, as well as managing vomiting associated with various conditions.
What is Cerenia used for in dogs and cats?
Cerenia is used in cases of nausea and vomiting. It’s commonly used for:
- Motion sickness: If your pet gets queasy during car rides or travels, Cerenia can prevent motion sickness, ensuring a smoother journey for your furry friend.
- Chemotherapy-induced vomiting: For pets undergoing chemotherapy, Cerenia can be used if they are suffering side effects.
- Gastrointestinal upset: Whether it’s a temporary upset stomach or a more chronic condition, Cerenia helps in managing vomiting and nausea associated with various gastrointestinal issues.
- Pancreatitis: Cerenia is essential in pancreatitis cases, where it stops nausea and helps dogs eat again. For more information about treating pancreatitis, our e-learning course has everything you need.
In addition, the drug in Cerenia – maropitant – has been recently suggested to be beneficial in managing a number of conditions such as chronic rhinitis (runny nose) in cats, internal pain (including during surgery) and even as an appetite stimulant in smaller animals like rabbits and guinea pigs. In other words, your vet might use Cerenia even if your pet’s condition isn’t on this list, under the prescribing cascade.
What are the side effects of Cerenia in dogs and cats?
Cerenia is generally well-tolerated, but it’s good to be aware of potential side effects. Rest assured, these occurrences are rare and often mild. Keep an eye out for:
- Mild sleepiness: Some pets may experience mild drowsiness, which is usually temporary and resolves on its own.
- Vomiting: Up to 1 in 10 animals vomit after Cerenia tablets, even if travel hasn’t yet started. If your dog vomits within an hour of taking their Cerenia tablet, call your vet – they may recommend a Cerenia injection or a lower dose instead.
- Wobbliness: In less than 1 in 10,000 animals, wobbliness (like being drunk) may be noted.
- Tremors or convulsions (seizures): Less than 1 in 10,000 animals have been reported to get neurological effects after Cerenia.
- Allergic Reactions: While uncommon, allergic reactions such as swelling or difficulty breathing can occur. If you notice any unusual symptoms, seek immediate veterinary attention.
- Hypersalivation: Excessive drooling can occur in some cases, especially if a higher dose has been used.
- Diarrhoea: Very high doses can cause watery diarrhoea.
Remember, these side effects are infrequent. If you ever have concerns or notice any changes in your pet, your veterinarian is the best source for guidance and reassurance. Your vet can also report the side effects to the drugs company and the VMD, who watch for patterns and investigate if they’re concerned.
As a pet owner, you can also report a suspected side effect to the VMD if you think Cerenia caused problems for your pet. Or, read our article for more advice about reporting suspected pet drug side effects to the VMD.
Which pets should not have Cerenia?
As with all drugs, there are some pets who are at higher risk of side effects if they have Cerenia. Cerenia shouldn’t be used in these pets, or should be used only with caution and after a risk-benefit analysis from a vet.
- Dogs with liver disease
- Dogs with heart disease, or who are at high risk of developing heart disease
- Dogs on calcium channel anatagonists (heart drugs including amlodipine (Amodip) and diltiazem)
- Dogs less than 8 weeks of age
- Pregnant or lactating dogs
- In addition, Cerenia tablets are only designed for dogs, and dosing of small animals cannot be done accurately.
If your dog has been prescribed Cerenia tablets and your vet isn’t aware they fall into any of these categories, please stop giving the medication and call your vet to confirm.
How to give Cerenia safely
- Follow vet instructions: Always use Cerenia exactly as your vet has prescribed. This includes the right dose and frequency. Never adjust the dose on your own, even if your dog seems to be feeling better or worse. If you aren’t sure of the dose prescribed, please call your vet to confirm.
- Give with, not in, a snack For motion sickness prevention, it is recommended to give Cerenia at least one hour before travel, with a light snack to help settle the stomach. However, you shouldn’t wrap Cerenia in food if you need it to work quickly, as this can delay absorption. Since Cerenia lasts for 24 hours, you can give their Cerenia tablet with a larger meal several hours before travel.
- Check with your vet if giving anything else: Your vet should be aware of other drugs your pet is on, but it’s always worth double-checking in case there’s been a miscommunication somewhere. If your dog is on supplements or non-prescription treatments you should also tell your vet when they prescribe Cerenia, as they may not be suitable to be given together.
- Storage and Handling: Store Cerenia according to the instructions on the label, usually in a cool and dry place. Make sure it’s out of reach of children and other pets.
- Report any accidental overdose to your vet immediately: If you have mistakenly given too much Cerenia, report it to your vet as soon as you realise the error. They will be able to give you personalised, non-judgmental advice to ensure your pet is safe.
How much monitoring do pets need on Cerenia?
Low
Most pets will not require any special monitoring while on Cerenia
Most pets being prescribed Cerenia will only be on it for a couple of days, or as a one-off, so monitoring is not needed. Dogs taking Cerenia for longer periods may need closer monitoring, especially their liver enzymes.
What do Cerenia tablets for dogs cost?
£££ – Expensive
Cerenia costs £4-15 per day
Luckily, Cerenia is only usually used for a short period of time, because the tablets are fairly expensive. A very small dog on the lower dose might cost £2 per day, while a large dog on the higher dose might cost £15 per day. The price also varies depending where you buy your Cerenia. Don’t forget, as a prescription product you need to take into account prescription, postage, and dispensing fees when calculating the cost of Cerenia.
Cerenia FAQs
When should I give Cerenia to my pet?
Cerenia is best given at least an hour before the expected vomiting. It lasts 24 hours (at least 12 hours against travel sickness), so you can give it the night before chemotherapy or travel if needed. This ensures that it’s working properly before the nausea-inducing event starts.
Can I use Cerenia for long-term treatment?
Cerenia is not licensed for long-term treatment and has only been tested for up to 14 days. If it’s needed off-license for longer than this, your vet will need to do a risk-benefit analysis and determine that there isn’t a more suitable product available.
Does Cerenia make dogs sleepy?
Lethargy is a known but uncommon side effect of Cerenia, it isn’t a sedative. However, dogs may sleep once they have Cerenia on board, especially if they’re tired from being ill and haven’t been able to rest due to vomiting. If you notice unusual sleepiness in your dog after taking Cerenia, you should call your vet, and consider reporting the side effect to the VMD.
Does Cerenia settle a dog’s stomach?
Cerenia is an anti-nausea, anti-vomiting drug, so can settle a dog’s stomach if they’re suffering with vomiting. However, it won’t have any effect on diarrhoea.
Can I give my dog food after Cerenia?
You can feed your dog while they’re on Cerenia. However, if they’re feeling nauseous, it’s sensible to wait an hour for the Cerenia to be absorbed before offering them food in case it stimulates them to vomit.
Is Cerenia an appetite suppressant?
Cerenia is an anti-nausea drug. This means it sometimes stimulates appetite by removing the nausea that might be preventing a dog from eating. It doesn’t suppress appetite, so if you notice a drop in your pet’s appetite after they take Cerenia, you should talk to your vet.
Can I give my dog Cerenia on an empty stomach?
You can give Cerenia on an empty stomach if needed. However, for motion sickness it’s generally recommended to feed a light snack a couple of hours before travel, so the Cerenia is usually given at this point.
Can a dog overdose on Cerenia?
Yes, higher doses of Cerenia can cause increased side effects, including vomiting and drooling. Cerenia is metabolised in the liver, so very high doses could cause liver damage.
Is Cerenia prescription-only?
Yes, Cerenia is a prescription-only medicine. Your vet needs to prescribe it for your pet, but you do not have to buy it from them – if you’d prefer to get a written prescription for your pet, you can use this to buy the Cerenia online or from another pharmacy.
Cerenia Alternatives
Maropitant is a useful anti-emetic, but it isn’t perfect for all dogs. Don’t forget, although this article is primarily about Cerenia tablets, there’s an injection available which may be useful for some dogs. Other injectable maropitant brands include Arocenia, Prevomax, Vetemex, and Vominil – you may see these on your invoice from your vet.
For anti-vomiting medications you can use at home, there are no other brands of maropitant. However, other drugs might prove useful, depending on your pet’s specific issue. These might include:
- Metoclopramide (Emeprid)
- Omeprazole
- Cimetidine (Zitac)
- Sucralfate
These drugs are all prescription-only, and some are used off-license through the prescribing cascade. You’ll need to talk to your vet about your dog’s vomiting and work together to sort out the best solution for them.
Cerenia Datasheet
All drugs have a manufacturer’s datasheet, which gives information about the drug’s use and possible side effects. There is usually one in your Cerenia box, but if you have lost it you can click on the button below to be taken on an online version.
More help for dogs being sick
If your dog is on Cerenia for sickness, you might want to find out what else you can do to help them. This vet-written course helps explain what else you can do to keep your pet comfortable and nausea-free.
Please note that the information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. Although it has been written by a vet, we cannot consider the individual nature of your pet’s problems so it does not constitute veterinary advice. If you have questions about your pet’s medication or their health you should contact a vet, who will be able to help.
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