Cerenia® Injection for Dogs and Cats

What Cerenia Is and How It Works

Cerenia® Injection is maropitant citrate, a veterinary antiemetic for dogs and cats when vomiting needs reliable control. It blocks neurokinin‑1 (NK1) receptors in the brain’s vomiting center to prevent nausea and vomiting from many triggers, including gastroenteritis, chemotherapy, and anesthesia. Available with US delivery from Canada, it offers an accessible option for cash‑pay purchases, including those without insurance.

Licensed Canadian pharmacies fill CanadianInsulin orders once your clinic confirms the prescription.

By inhibiting substance P signaling at NK1 receptors, Cerenia reduces both centrally and peripherally mediated emesis. This mechanism works across diverse causes, making the injection useful when a patient cannot keep tablets down or needs preoperative antiemetic protection. For an overview of tablet versus injection use cases, see our article on Cerenia Tablets.

Who Cerenia Is For

Veterinary labeling supports use in:

• Dogs for treatment of acute vomiting and for prevention of vomiting associated with certain chemotherapies.
• Cats for treatment of vomiting and for perioperative nausea and vomiting prevention.
• Patients that cannot retain oral medications or need clinician‑controlled dosing before procedures.

Use is typically avoided in very young animals not meeting labeled age thresholds, in known maropitant hypersensitivity, and used with caution in hepatic disease. For vomiting caused by obstruction, toxins, or other emergencies, stabilization and targeted treatment remain the priority while antiemetic therapy is considered by the care team.

Dosage and Usage

Cerenia Injection is usually administered by a veterinary professional as a subcutaneous dose. Label guidance commonly uses once‑daily dosing, with timing adjusted to the clinical goal. For perioperative nausea and vomiting, the injection is often given ahead of preanesthetic medications to mitigate opioid‑associated emesis. Warming the drawn dose to room temperature may help lessen injection‑site sting, a known effect with maropitant.

When used alongside other anesthetic or analgesic agents in the clinic, Cerenia is part of a broader plan to maintain comfort and reduce aspiration risk. In chemotherapy settings, it may be scheduled before emetogenic agents. If oral prevention at home is preferred for motion sickness in dogs, veterinarians may instead recommend the tablet formulation; see our guide to Cerenia Tablets for orientation.

Strengths and Forms

Cerenia Injection is supplied as a multi‑dose vial of maropitant citrate solution (commonly 10 mg/mL). The brand also comes as scored tablets for dogs, with several strengths to facilitate weight‑based dosing. Availability may vary by pharmacy and market.

Missed Dose and Timing

In clinical settings, timing is managed by the veterinary team. If a planned dose is not given, clinicians typically resume the prescribed schedule rather than doubling the next dose. For rare at‑home injection plans, follow the label and clinic directions for what to do if an injection is missed.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store vials refrigerated and upright, away from light, and do not freeze. Keep the cap and stopper clean and protect from contamination. When traveling, use an insulated bag with cool packs to maintain a chilled environment and avoid temperature swings. Temperature‑sensitive items ship with cold‑chain handling and insulated packaging. Keep medicines out of reach of children and animals.

Pen Handling and Sharps Disposal

Cerenia Injection is supplied in vials, not a pen device. Use a new sterile needle and syringe for each draw. Do not share syringes or needles between animals. Dispose of used sharps in a puncture‑resistant sharps container and follow local regulations or pharmacy guidance for disposal. Seal and replace the container when it reaches the indicated fill line.

Benefits

• Broad antiemetic coverage via NK1 receptor blockade across multiple causes of vomiting.
• Helps prevent perioperative nausea and vomiting associated with preanesthetic opioids and procedures.
• Useful when oral dosing is impractical due to ongoing emesis.
• Once‑daily administration under veterinary supervision simplifies treatment plans.
• May improve patient comfort, hydration, and clinical stability during diagnostics and recovery.

Side Effects and Safety

• Common: injection‑site pain or swelling, drooling, decreased appetite, transient lethargy, or diarrhea.
• Less common: vocalization at injection, mild skin reactions, or transient behavior changes.
• Rare but serious: hypersensitivity reactions. Emergency care is warranted if signs of an allergic response appear.

Use cautiously in hepatic impairment, because maropitant is metabolized by the liver. When combined with other drugs that affect the central nervous system or hepatic enzymes, veterinarians may adjust plans and monitor closely. Report persistent adverse effects to the clinic so therapy can be reassessed.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Clinicians often review concurrent therapies, particularly those metabolized by hepatic enzymes. Potent azole antifungals such as itraconazole may influence metabolism; for reference, see Itrafungol. Cerenia is commonly used alongside anesthetics and sedatives in surgical settings; compatibility and timing are managed by the team. In chemotherapy protocols, it may be selected prior to emetogenic agents like Vincristine to reduce vomiting. Always consider underlying causes of vomiting such as foreign body, pancreatitis, renal disease, or toxin exposure, since treating the root problem remains essential.

What to Expect Over Time

After injection, many patients show improved comfort and fewer vomiting episodes as the primary condition is addressed. Response varies by cause and severity. Some animals need a short course over several days; others receive a single preoperative dose to limit nausea around procedures. The goal is steady control of emesis while diagnostics and treatment proceed.

Compare With Alternatives

For at‑home prevention of motion sickness in dogs, the oral brand formulation is often preferred; see Cerenia Tablets. In cases where gastric mucosal protection is helpful, a veterinarian may add a protectant such as Sulcrate Suspension or Sucralfate. For perioperative contexts, Cerenia is often used alongside anesthetics such as Propofol or sedatives like Dexdomitor Vial, as appropriate to the plan.

Pricing and Access

Many caregivers prefer Canadian pricing for brand medications. Add Cerenia Injection to cart to see current options and complete ordering with a valid prescription. Cross‑border dispensing from licensed Canadian pharmacies supports access for US patients through verified prescriptions. For seasonal offers, visit our promotions page. To browse other therapies, explore our Pet Medications category.

Availability and Substitutions

Availability can vary. If a specific presentation is temporarily unavailable, a prescriber may suggest a suitable alternative, such as an oral formulation or adjunctive therapy, based on the animal’s condition and ability to take medications.

Patient Suitability and Cost‑Saving Tips

Good candidates include dogs and cats needing reliable vomiting control when oral dosing is not feasible or when perioperative protection is desired. Animals with hepatic disease, very young puppies or kittens, pregnant or lactating animals, or those with known sensitivity may require alternative approaches or added precautions. Cost‑savvy options may include ordering a multi‑month supply when appropriate, combining refills with other needed items, and setting reminders before planned procedures or chemotherapy cycles. Our Pet Medications section can help plan consolidated shipments.

Questions to Ask Your Clinician

• What is the likely cause of the vomiting, and how will it be treated?
• Is Cerenia Injection the best choice for today’s visit, or should tablets be planned later?
• How many days of antiemetic therapy are anticipated for this condition?
• Are there medicine interactions to consider with current prescriptions or preventives?
• What signs should trigger a recheck, and when should follow‑up occur?
• Any storage or travel tips for the vial between clinic visits?

Authoritative Sources

• Zoetis Cerenia Product Information
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Antiemetic Drugs
• Zoetis Veterinary Portfolio

Ready to arrange Cerenia Injection with prompt, express, cold‑chain shipping? Place an order confidently knowing Canadian prescription verification and dispensing support cross‑border access for US patients.

Disclaimer: This information is educational and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always follow the prescribing veterinarian’s instructions and the product label.