Helping Your Furry Friend Feel Better: All About Cerenia for Dogs
Medication for Dogs: Review by Catherine Barnette, DVM and Emily Oliver, CVT. Updated on June 19, 2025. Shares on Facebook, Twitter, Email.
If your pooch is experiencing frequent vomiting or a sensitive stomach, you know the distress it can cause. Whether it's chronic dry heaves or occasional upset stomachs after rummaging through the trash, dog nausea can be a common issue. For persistent or ongoing problems, an antiemetic like Cerenia could be a game-changer.
What is Cerenia for Dogs?
Cerenia for dogs received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2007 to combat vomiting and motion sickness in our four-legged friends. Before Cerenia hit the market, veterinarians had to rely on "off-label" medications, i.e., human drugs not specifically approved for use in dogs.
Since Cerenia is specifically designed for our canine companions and FDA-approved as an effective treatment, it's now a go-to choice for managing canine nausea and vomiting amongst vets.
You can find Cerenia in injectable and oral forms at almost every veterinary clinic across the United States. The injectable version is commonly used for hospitalized pets too nauseated to take pills, while the oral tablets are a convenient option for administering at home, especially for travel sickness or ongoing nausea management.
What Does Cerenia Look Like?
Oral Cerenia for dogs comes in small, oval, scored tablets, perfect for splitting if a pet needs a half-tablet dose. Each tablet bears the imprint "MPT" and the strength in milligrams (mg) for easy dosing. Injectable Cerenia is a clear liquid medication housed in an amber-colored bottle.
How Does Cerenia Work in Dogs?
Cerenia works by blocking the effects of Substance P, a key neurotransmitter involved in vomiting. When something triggers nausea, be it fear, anxiety, motion sickness, gastrointestinal disease, or exposure to a toxin, Substance P is released to induce vomiting. Cerenia prevents Substance P from binding in the brain, thus preventing vomiting.
Because it works this way, Cerenia is effective against nausea due to various causes. Interestingly, Substance P also plays a role in canine coughing, so vets occasionally use Cerenia off-label to soothe chronic bronchitis by reducing the cough reflex.
What Is Cerenia Used for in Dogs?
Vets prescribe Cerenia for dogs to manage nausea or vomiting linked with a variety of conditions, such as:
- Motion sickness
- Gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea caused by various factors)
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Parvovirus
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cancer treatment side effects
Additionally, Cerenia's anti-cough effects have led some veterinarians to use it off-label for managing chronic bronchitis in dogs when labeled usage is not applicable.
Side Effects
Cerenia for dogs is generally safe, and severe side effects are rare. The most common side effect associated with injectable Cerenia is pain at the injection site in many dogs. Veterinarians usually store Cerenia in the refrigerator, which seems to decrease the burning sensation during injection.
Less common side effects associated with Cerenia in its oral or injectable forms include:
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Incoordination
- Rarely, allergic reactions (swelling of head/face, anaphylaxis)
Cerenia has a wide margin of safety, even with doses exceeding the recommended dose, side effects are rare. Additionally, this medication only remains in the body for 24 hours, so side effects are typically short-lived.
If your dog experiences any side effects or new signs of illness while taking Cerenia, contact your veterinarian.
Reactions With Other Drugs and Medications
Cerenia for dogs may interact with other drugs or supplements. If your dog is taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements, discuss it with your veterinarian before administering Cerenia.
Dosage
Your dog’s Cerenia dosage is determined by the goal of treatment and your dog’s weight. Higher doses are required for motion sickness treatment, while lower doses can often be used for other causes of vomiting. For dosing frequencies:
- Motion sickness – given at least 2 hours before travel on an empty stomach
- General nausea/vomiting – daily dosing every 24 hours.
- Chronic cough – vet may recommend dosing every 48 hours.
Tailor dosing schedules and strengths for your dog based on their conditions and weight.
What if My Dog Misses a Dose of Cerenia?
If your dog skips a Cerenia dose, you may observe a recurrence of your dog’s nausea or vomiting. Administer the missed dose as soon as possible, then resume your regular dosing schedule by waiting the recommended amount of time between doses. Never give two doses at once.
Cost
Cerenia can be pricey, especially for large dogs requiring high doses of medication. At present, there is no generic version available. Cerenia tablets for dogs typically cost $5-$15 each, with the daily dose ranging from half to two tablets per day based on weight. The cost of a Cerenia injection may vary from $20 to $50 depending on your dog’s weight.
Storage Instructions
Store Cerenia tablets at room temperature. Each tablet is encased in an individual foil-wrapped blister pack; once a tablet's foil has been opened, use it within two days. Injectable Cerenia is stored at room temperature until it is opened, and then is usually refrigerated. The entire bottle of medication must be used within 90 days of opening.
- Science has played a significant role in the development of Cerenia, an antiemetic specifically designed for dogs to combat vomiting and motion sickness.
- Chronic kidney disease, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, parvovirus, and cancer treatment side effects are some medical-conditions Cerenia is used to manage in dogs.
- Respiratory-conditions like chronic bronchitis might sometimes be treated off-label with Cerenia, as it has been found to reduce the cough reflex in dogs.
- Digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, cardiovascular-health, mental-health, and skin-care are important aspects of health-and-wellness, not only for humans but also for pets like dogs.
- Fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and weight-management are crucial elements in maintaining overall health and well-being, not just for humans, but also for pets.
- Therapies-and-treatments, such as Cerenia, can greatly help pets cope with chronic diseases and manage their symptoms better.
- Cerenia, a prescribed drug for dogs, may interact with other drugs or supplements, making it essential to discuss any other medications your pet is taking with your veterinarian.
- CBD, a compound found in cannabis, has shown potential benefits for certain conditions in pets, but more research is needed for its safety and efficacy in animals.
- In addition to physical health, skin-conditions like skin allergies, dermatitis, or skin infections can affect your pet's overall wellness, and proper skin-care can help manage these issues.
- Your pet's lifestyle, including diet, exercise, and stress management, greatly impact their health and wellness. Regular check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive care are crucial for maintaining your pet's health and ensuring they live a long, happy life with you.
