How Does Cerenia Kill a Dog? (Facts You Should Know)
Contents
- How Does Cerenia Kill a Dog?
- Allergic Reaction
- The Underlying Cause of Vomiting
- The Side Effects of Cerenia
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Excessive Drooling
- Vomiting
- When Should You Avoid Giving Your Dog Cerenia
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How can Cerenia cause the death of my dog?
- Can Cerenia treat pancreatitis?
- What's Cerenia's active compound?
- Sources
Losing a dog is hard, and it feels worse when you suspect a medicine meant to help played a part. Cerenia is one of the most widely used anti-vomiting drugs for dogs, so owners often ask whether it can be fatal.
The short answer: deaths have been reported after Cerenia, but a report is not proof the drug caused the death. Most dogs tolerate it well when a vet prescribes it and the cause of the vomiting is treated.
How Does Cerenia Kill a Dog?
Cerenia is the brand name for maropitant citrate, made by Zoetis. The tablets are approved to prevent acute vomiting and vomiting from motion sickness in dogs.
Maropitant blocks substance P, a neurotransmitter involved in the vomiting reflex.
Vets also use it to manage acute vomiting linked to other problems, such as chemotherapy, surgery or illness. It is a prescription drug, so the dose and length of treatment should always come from your vet.
The FDA-approved label lists death (including euthanasia) among adverse events reported after approval. Those reports don't show that Cerenia caused each death. Many of the dogs were already seriously ill, which is why they were vomiting in the first place.
In the label's acute vomiting field study, deaths occurred in 4.9% of dogs given Cerenia and 5.8% of dogs given a placebo. That points to the underlying illness, not the drug, in most cases.
These are the ways Cerenia can be linked to a bad outcome:
Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions to Cerenia are rare, but they are listed on the label. Signs can include:
- Itching
- Hives
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue
- Difficulty breathing
- Collapse, which can mean anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency
If you see these signs, get your dog to a vet or emergency clinic right away. Don't try to manage a reaction at home.
The vast majority of dogs tolerate Cerenia well, and severe reactions are uncommon. Your vet weighs the risks and benefits for your dog's health and history before prescribing it.
The Underlying Cause of Vomiting
This is the biggest risk. Vomiting is a symptom, and stopping it doesn't fix the cause.
A dog vomiting from a swallowed toy, a blockage, a toxin or pancreatitis can look better on Cerenia while the real problem gets worse. The label says Cerenia's safety has not been evaluated in dogs with gastrointestinal obstruction or dogs that have eaten toxins.
That's why your vet should examine your dog before Cerenia is used for vomiting. If vomiting continues, the label says the case should be re-evaluated.
Here are other situations where Cerenia can cause problems:
- Giving more than prescribed: Never give extra doses because your dog is still vomiting. Call your vet instead, since ongoing vomiting needs a recheck.
- Interaction with other drugs: Cerenia is highly protein bound, so the label advises caution with other highly protein-bound drugs, such as NSAIDs and some heart, seizure and behavior medicines. Tell your vet about everything your dog takes.
- Young puppies: In puppies younger than 11 weeks, studies found bone marrow changes more often in treated puppies. The tablets are labeled for acute vomiting from 2 months of age and for motion sickness from 4 months.
The Side Effects of Cerenia
Cerenia is generally safe when prescribed by a vet, but it can have side effects. Know what to watch for and follow your vet's instructions. The most common ones include the following:
Lethargy
Your dog may seem sleepy, slow or less active. It's usually mild and passes as the drug wears off.
If your dog is unusually sluggish, keep an eye on them. If it continues, or comes with swelling, difficulty breathing or more vomiting, call your vet.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea has been reported in some dogs taking Cerenia. It is usually mild, but call your vet if it lasts or becomes severe.
If your dog develops diarrhea while taking Cerenia, your vet may change the dose or stop the medication, depending on how severe it is.
Keep your vet informed about any changes in your dog's health or behavior.
Excessive Drooling
Drooling (hypersalivation) was the most common side effect in the motion sickness studies. It's usually mild and temporary.
Contact your vet if the drooling is severe, lasts, or comes with other worrying signs.
Vomiting
It sounds odd, but vomiting is a reported side effect of Cerenia. In the label's U.S. motion sickness studies, 5.3% of treated dogs vomited, compared with none on placebo.
If your dog keeps vomiting while taking Cerenia, contact your vet. They may need to recheck the cause, change the dose or try another treatment.
Other side effects of Cerenia in dogs
- Lack of appetite: The label notes Cerenia can cause dose-related decreases in appetite and body weight.
- Injection site pain: The injectable form, given at the clinic, can sting or cause a reaction at the injection site.
- Trembling, unsteadiness or seizures: These have been reported after approval. Call your vet if you see them.
When Should You Avoid Giving Your Dog Cerenia
Cerenia isn't right for every dog. Talk to your vet if your dog has any of the following:
- Hypersensitivity or Allergic Reaction: Dogs that have reacted to maropitant before should not get it again.
- Possible Blockage or Poisoning: Cerenia's safety hasn't been evaluated in dogs with a gastrointestinal obstruction or that have eaten a toxin. Your vet needs to rule these out first.
- Pregnancy and Nursing: Safety has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant or nursing dogs.
- Severe Liver Disease: Cerenia is broken down by the liver, so the label advises caution in dogs with liver problems.
- Very Young Puppies: The tablets are not labeled for puppies younger than 2 months.
- Use with Other Medications: Tell your vet about all medications, supplements and herbal products your dog takes, since interactions can occur.
Conclusion
Cerenia is an FDA-approved drug that vets prescribe widely. Deaths have been reported after its use, but there is little direct evidence that the drug itself caused them. Like any drug, it has side effects.
The real danger is using it to hide vomiting without finding the cause. Follow your vet's instructions and never give extra doses.
If your dog becomes weak or keeps vomiting, see a vet right away. Don't try to manage these symptoms at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Cerenia cause the death of my dog?
Rarely. Deaths have been reported after Cerenia, but most are linked to the illness behind the vomiting. The main risks are hiding a serious cause, such as a blockage or poisoning, and rare allergic reactions.
Can Cerenia treat pancreatitis?
Not by itself. Vets often use Cerenia to control vomiting and nausea in dogs with pancreatitis, but it treats the vomiting, not the inflammation. Your vet will add other care such as fluids and pain relief.
What's Cerenia's active compound?
The active compound in Cerenia is maropitant citrate, an NK1 receptor antagonist.
Sources
- CERENIA (maropitant citrate) Tablets prescribing information, DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
