Cerenia® for Dogs and Cats

Cerenia® (maropitant citrate) is a veterinary antiemetic used to prevent vomiting and manage motion sickness in dogs, and to treat acute vomiting in dogs and cats. Available through CanadianInsulin with US delivery from Canada, it helps maintain appetite, hydration, and comfort when nausea strikes. Many pet families purchase on a cash-pay basis, and access can remain practical even without insurance.

What Cerenia® Is and How It Works

Cerenia® blocks neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors to inhibit the action of substance P, a key neurotransmitter in the vomiting center. By interrupting this pathway, it helps control nausea from varied causes, including dietary indiscretion, certain treatments, and motion sickness. The medicine is available as oral tablets for at-home dosing and as an injectable solution often used for acute episodes or when pets cannot safely take oral medication. It is not a sedative and does not treat the underlying cause of vomiting; it reduces the vomiting itself while diagnostics and supportive care address the source.

At CanadianInsulin, orders are filled by licensed Canadian pharmacies after we confirm a valid prescription with your clinic.

Clinicians may choose the oral option for prevention and maintenance or switch to the injectable route during active vomiting. When appropriate, transitioning from injection to tablets is common as the pet stabilizes. For a focused overview, see our guide on Cerenia tablets and injections. If an injectable route is needed, veterinarians may prescribe Cerenia Injection.

Who Cerenia® Is For

Cerenia is indicated for prevention of acute vomiting and for the prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs, and for treatment of acute vomiting in dogs and cats. It may be used alongside fluids, diet changes, or other therapies as directed by a veterinarian. Pets with known hypersensitivity to maropitant should avoid it. Use caution in animals with liver disease, in very young puppies or kittens where safety and dosing have not been established, in pregnant or lactating animals, or when gastrointestinal obstruction is suspected.

Because vomiting can signal serious illness, veterinarians typically evaluate for dehydration, foreign body risk, toxin exposure, pancreatitis, or infectious disease before and during treatment. For broader options and adjunct care, explore our Pet Medications.

Dosage and Usage

Veterinarians determine dose and duration based on species, weight, and the cause of vomiting. Tablets are given by mouth, usually once daily. For motion sickness, clinicians often advise dosing ahead of travel; a small snack may help reduce gastrointestinal upset. The injectable product is administered subcutaneously or intravenously by a veterinary professional, or at home only if a veterinarian provides training and supplies.

General administration tips include providing tablets on a schedule, offering a small amount of bland food if recommended, and limiting stress around dosing. If a tablet is vomited soon after administration, veterinarians decide whether to re-dose. Do not crush or split tablets unless a clinician instructs to do so. When different strengths are needed to match a precise dose, a veterinarian may choose a combination of tablets.

Strengths and Forms

• Tablets: 16 mg, 24 mg, 60 mg, 160 mg maropitant citrate (scored on select strengths).
• Injection: 10 mg/mL maropitant solution in multi-dose vials.

Availability may vary by clinic and dispensing pharmacy. Your veterinarian selects the form that best fits the clinical situation.

Missed Dose and Timing

If a scheduled oral dose is missed, give the next dose when remembered unless it is close to the next dose. Do not double up. For motion sickness prevention, clinicians typically recommend dosing ahead of travel to allow onset of effect. If vomiting recurs or a schedule is disrupted, veterinary guidance determines the next steps.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets in the original blister or container, closed, dry, and at typical room temperatures away from heat and moisture. Keep the injectable form upright and protected from excessive light; follow label guidance after the vial is first punctured. Do not freeze liquid products. When traveling, keep medicines in carry-on bags, bring a copy of the prescription label, and maintain a consistent routine around meals and dosing.

Temperature-sensitive items ship with cold-chain handling and insulated packaging.

Pen Handling and Sharps Disposal

Cerenia is supplied as tablets and in vials, not as a pen. For injections given at home under veterinary direction, use a new sterile needle and syringe every time, never share syringes, and place used sharps in a puncture-resistant container. Follow local regulations for disposal or return containers to your clinic or community program. For other injectables that may be part of a treatment plan, such as Furosemide Injection, the same sharps precautions apply.

Benefits

• Prevents or reduces vomiting associated with many common veterinary conditions.
• Helps pets tolerate travel by reducing motion-related nausea.
• Supports appetite, hydration, and comfort during recovery.
• Flexible options: fast-acting injection for acute care and tablets for home use.

Side Effects and Safety

• Most common: transient pain at injection site, drooling, decreased appetite, soft stool or diarrhea, or lethargy.
• Less common: vomiting after dosing, hypersalivation, or mild behavioral changes.

Serious but rare events can include allergic reactions, marked lethargy, or abnormal heart rhythm. Any persistent vomiting, black or bloody stool, repeated collapse, or severe abdominal pain needs prompt veterinary attention. Because nausea can have many causes, additional diagnostics or supportive care may be required even when vomiting is controlled.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Maropitant is metabolized by hepatic pathways. Veterinarians may use extra caution with strong CYP inhibitors or inducers (for example, certain azole antifungals or macrolide antibiotics), as these can alter blood levels. Use caution with other medicines that can affect the liver. Safety in young animals, pregnant or nursing animals, or those with significant cardiac disease should be assessed by the prescriber. Always share a full medication and supplement list with the clinic to avoid interactions.

What to Expect Over Time

When used as directed, many pets experience meaningful reduction in vomiting. In travel settings, improved comfort often translates to calmer rides and better tolerance of car or crate time. Some pets require only short courses; others benefit from intermittent use tied to motion, procedures, or specific triggers. Ongoing monitoring helps confirm that the underlying condition is improving and that the dosing plan remains appropriate.

Compare With Alternatives

When an injectable route is preferred, veterinarians may choose Cerenia Injection for rapid, reliable control. For pets with reflux or suspected gastrointestinal ulceration, a mucosal protectant such as Sulcrate Suspension Plus may be added for supportive care. Some dogs with motion-related anxiety may also benefit from a clinician’s choice of sedative or anxiolytic; options can include products like Atravet alongside antiemetic therapy when appropriate. Other prescription antiemetics (for example, ondansetron or metoclopramide) are sometimes used based on the pet’s history and diagnostics.

Pricing and Access

Many families look for Canadian pricing to help manage costs. Cerenia is available for US delivery from Canada, and orders are supported by prescription verification through the clinic. To browse related treatments, see Pet Medications. For current savings and seasonal offers, visit our promotions page.

Availability and Substitutions

Stock and strengths can vary by pharmacy and by form (tablets versus injection). When a specific strength or package size is unavailable, a prescriber may recommend an alternative strength or a different antiemetic that fits the pet’s clinical needs.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Good candidates are dogs needing prevention of vomiting or motion sickness, and dogs or cats requiring short-term control of acute vomiting. Pets with underlying liver disease, very young animals, or those with suspected obstruction may need additional evaluation or a modified plan. To manage costs, prescribers sometimes select tablet strengths that reduce waste, align refills with rechecks, and consider multi-month supplies when stable. Refill reminders and travel checklists help avoid gaps before trips or procedures.

Questions to Ask Your Clinician

• What is the likely cause of the vomiting in this case?
• Should tablets, injection, or both be used, and for how long?
• When should rechecks or further diagnostics be scheduled?
• Are there diet or fluid recommendations to support recovery?
• Which side effects would require contacting the clinic?
• How should medicines be timed on travel days to prevent motion sickness?
• Which other medicines or supplements should be paused, adjusted, or avoided?

Authoritative Sources

• Zoetis Cerenia overview
• FDA FOI summary
• Prescribing information

Ready to request Cerenia with US delivery from Canada? Place an order through CanadianInsulin for prompt, express, cold-chain shipping and careful prescription handling.

Disclaimer: This information is educational and not a substitute for a veterinarian’s advice. Always rely on the prescribing clinician and the approved label for decisions about diagnosis, dosing, and safety.