Dog Cerenia: What to Know About This Motion-Sickness Med - GoodRx (2024)

Stomach issues are one of the most common reasons dogs visit the veterinarian. There are many conditions that can cause nausea and vomiting, including motion sickness from car rides. Nausea and vomiting make dogs feel as stressed and awful as humans do when they’re sick.

Fortunately, Cerenia for dogs is a medication that can be safely used to reduce nausea and vomiting in many dogs, helping them feel better rapidly. This article covers everything you need to know about Cerenia for dogs, and whether it is safe and appropriate for your dog’s stomach issues.

Cerenia for dogs at a glance

What is Cerenia for dogs and how does it work?

Cerenia is an FDA-approved medication routinely used by veterinarians to treat nausea and prevent motion sickness in dogs. Cerenia is a prescription medication that should only be administered under the guidance and direction of a licensed veterinarian.

Cerenia reduces nausea and vomiting by working on the central nervous system. It does not impact the gastrointestinal system. Instead, it blocks brain signals that cause the feeling of nausea.

The active ingredient of Cerenia is maropitant citrate, a medicine that blocks substance P — a chemical messenger from 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 non-drowsy anti-nausea treatment for most dogs with motion sickness.

If a dog is vomiting for a reason other than motion sickness, Cerenia can be used to reduce nausea and help the dog feel better until the veterinarian diagnoses and resolves the underlying problem.

Cerenia for dogs can be used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by a variety of issues, including the following:

• Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gut)

• Pancreatitis (inflammation and infection of the pancreas)

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• Intestinal infections

• Cancer (can help manage the side effects of chemotherapy)

• Surgery (can help reduce nausea associated with anesthesia)

• Nausea due to an adverse medication reaction

• Kidney disease

• Vestibular disease

Cerenia has also been shown to be an effective cough suppressant. It may also be effective at reducing gastrointestinal pain caused by the overlap in nausea and pain signaling in the body.

How is Cerenia dosed and given for dogs?

Cerenia for dogs comes in two forms: an injection and a pill. 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.

Cerenia tablets are peach-colored and scored with a break line. They are packaged in blister packs containing four tablets and come in 16 mg, 24 mg, 60 mg, and 160 mg doses.

Oral Cerenia can take 1 to 2 hours to take effect. The manufacturer recommends giving Cerenia orally 2 hours before car rides to prevent motion sickness. Give the medication with a small amount of food. It is also recommended to avoid feeding a full meal before travel.

In dogs with healthy livers, each dose of Cerenia is effective at blocking nausea and vomiting for about 24 hours. The typical Cerenia dosage in dogs is 1 mg/kg for injectable Cerenia, or 2 mg/kg for the oral form of the medication, given once every 24 hours.

When Cerenia is given to prevent motion sickness, it should not be used for more than 2 days in a row. If your dog needs additional nausea control, talk to your veterinarian.

What are the common side effects of Cerenia in dogs?

In general, Cerenia is very well tolerated by most dogs and rarely causes negative side effects. The top five adverse reactions reported to the manufacturer include:

• Loss of appetite

• Excessive tiredness

• Drooling

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

In addition, pain and swelling at the injection site have been reported in some dogs, as well as anaphylaxis, a rare serious allergic reaction.

What are the most serious risks of Cerenia for dogs?

Cerenia is generally safe for most dogs, but should always be given under the supervision of a veterinarian because of the risk of overdosage. In addition, there are some situations where Cerenia may not be an appropriate choice, such as for:

• Dogs that are under 8 weeks of age

• 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

As with any medication, overdosing is possible with Cerenia. This is why it is important to only give it under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and to follow the directions on the prescription label.

Does Cerenia interact with any other dog medications?

Cerenia should be given with caution to dogs that are on medication for heart disease, as it may have negative interactions with those medications.

In addition, if your dog is receiving any of the following medications, check with your veterinarian before giving them Cerenia:

• Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)

• Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

• Itraconazole (Itrafungol)

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Phenobarbital

• Erythromycin (Gallimycin)

What should you do if your dog misses a dose of Cerenia?

If you miss a dose of Cerenia for your dog, then give the next dose as soon as possible.