Cerenia (Maropitant Citrate) Tablets for Dogs, 24-mg, 4 tablets

Cerenia is an antiemetic, which means it can help prevent vomiting. For dogs, veterinarians may prescribe Cerenia to prevent vomiting from car sickness (motion sickness), or to safely and effectively treat acute vomiting.

Veterinarians also use Cerenia Injectable in dogs to help prevent vomiting before surgery when opioids are used as a pre-anesthetic.

Cerenia is available for dogs as a tablet you can give your dog at home to prevent car sickness or to extend the therapy time after your dog receives an injection. For acute vomiting, Cerenia is available as an injection that your veterinarian administers.

Many things can cause vomiting in dogs, including toxins, various drugs, diseases or even parasitic infections. And, well, we all know that dogs vomit sometimes. Acute vomiting is when vomiting suddenly happens and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Many times, a dog may keep vomiting even after the stomach is empty of everything except bile. If your pet experiences acute vomiting, contact your veterinarian.

Cerenia is non-sedating, which means it doesn’t cause drowsiness. So when you reach your destination, your buddy will be his or her usual self. This is different from medications such as Benadryl and Dramamine, which may cause drowsiness and are not FDA-approved for vomiting in dogs.

Cerenia is the first and only FDA-approved anti-vomiting medication for dogs. Unlike Benadryl and Dramamine, Cerenia doesn’t cause drowsiness, is available in multiple dosing sizes and has been clinically tested to safely prevent vomiting in dogs.

The active ingredient of Cerenia is maropitant citrate, a neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist. Maropitant blocks the action of substance P — a neurotransmitter involved in vomiting — in the central nervous system. By blocking substance P from binding to the NK1 receptor, maropitant can prevent vomiting.

Cerenia starts working quickly to prevent or treat your dog’s vomiting. It’s effective for about 24 hours.

In clinical studies of Cerenia, common adverse reactions noted were hypersalivation, drowsiness, lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea.

The dose of Cerenia to be given depends on whether it is being prescribed to prevent vomiting from car sickness or to prevent acute vomiting at home. Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for Cerenia as prescribed.

To prevent vomiting from car sickness, give your dog Cerenia with a small amount of food 2 hours before traveling. You can do this once a day for up to 2 days in a row.

To prevent acute vomiting at home, you can give Cerenia once daily:

• To puppies 2–7 months old, daily for up to 5 days in a row
• To dogs older than 7 months, daily for as long as prescribed by your veterinarian

To prevent vomiting from car sickness, you can give Cerenia to puppies 4 months and older. For prevention of acute vomiting, you can give Cerenia to puppies 2 months and older.

When using it to prevent vomiting from car sickness, you may give your dog Cerenia once a day for up to 2 days in a row.

For preventing acute vomiting at home, you can give Cerenia once daily:

• To puppies 2–7 months old, daily up to 5 days in a row
• To dogs older than 7 months, daily for as long as prescribed by your veterinarian

Cerenia is a prescription medication available through veterinarians. Talk with your veterinarian about whether Cerenia might help your pet.

Cerenia Injectable is used to treat acute vomiting in dogs and cats. It will be administered to your pet at your veterinarian’s practice.

Veterinarians also use Cerenia Injectable to help prevent vomiting in dogs before surgery when opioids are used as a pre-anesthetic.