Cerenia® Tablets for Dogs

Cerenia tablets are a veterinary antiemetic used to help prevent vomiting and motion sickness in dogs. This page explains what it is, how it works, and how you can use it safely for your pet with US delivery from Canada. You can also review access options if you are paying without insurance.

What Cerenia Is and How It Works

Cerenia® contains maropitant, a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist that helps block the vomiting reflex in dogs. As an NK1 blocker, it acts on central pathways that trigger nausea and emesis. Motion Sickness can be stressful for pets and families; this medicine provides a label-approved option for prevention and control. Border Free Health connects U.S. patients with licensed Canadian partner pharmacies; prescriptions are verified with prescribers before dispensing.

Maropitant Citrate Tablets for Dogs are approved for the prevention of acute vomiting, and for motion sickness prevention in canine patients. It can be given at home as directed by your veterinarian. Always read the package insert and follow professional guidance for your dog’s specific situation.

Who It’s For

This treatment is for dogs needing help with vomiting or travel-related nausea. It may be used in adult dogs and in puppies when age criteria on the label are met. Maropitant for Dogs Tablets are not for cats; talk to your veterinarian about feline options if needed. Dogs with known hypersensitivity to maropitant, or those with significant liver disease, may need different therapy. Your prescriber will weigh benefits and risks for your pet.

Dosage and Usage

Use exactly as directed by your veterinarian and the official label. For acute vomiting, the medicine is typically given once daily for a short course, with or without food, as advised by your prescriber. For travel-related nausea, many dogs receive a dose about two hours before the trip. Do not exceed the prescribed schedule.

Smaller dogs may be dosed using scored tablets or combinations of strengths. Discuss tablet splitting only if permitted by the label. Cerenia 24 mg Tablets for Dogs are often used to achieve precise dosing in small patients; your veterinarian will choose the exact regimen.

If your dog vomits a dose within a short time, call your veterinarian to ask whether to repeat it. Provide fresh water, and monitor for lethargy or other changes. Do not adjust the dose on your own.

Strengths and Forms

These tablets are supplied in multiple strengths to accommodate different body weights. Availability can vary by pharmacy and packaging.

• 16 mg tablets
• Cerenia 60 mg Tablets for Dogs
• 160 mg tablets
• 24 mg tablets

There is also an injectable form for clinic or prescriber-directed use. Tablets are intended for oral administration only.

Missed Dose and Timing

If you miss a scheduled dose, give it when you remember unless it is close to the time for the next one. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule. Do not double up. For travel-related use, timing matters; many dogs are given the dose roughly two hours before departure as directed on the label. When in doubt, check the package insert or contact your veterinarian.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets at room temperature in the original blister or bottle, away from moisture and direct light. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use tablets that are damaged or past the expiration date. When traveling, carry the labeled container and a copy of your prescription. If you are flying, pack it in your carry-on with documents showing your dog’s name. Avoid extreme heat or cold; use a protective case if needed. For items that require special handling, our partners use temperature-controlled handling when required.

Benefits

This therapy may reduce vomiting from various causes as directed by a veterinarian. For travel days, it can help dogs ride more comfortably by addressing nausea pathways in the brain. Tablets are oral, which can be convenient for at-home use. Using a veterinary-labeled antiemetic also supports consistency with established dosing guidelines and safety monitoring.

Side Effects and Safety

• Mild drowsiness
• Decreased appetite
• Drooling
• Soft stool or diarrhea
• Rare vomiting after dosing

Serious reactions are uncommon but can include allergic responses or significant lethargy. Dogs with liver disease may require careful monitoring. If your dog is on insulin or has underlying conditions, your veterinarian will consider overall risks. Stop the medicine and seek veterinary care if you notice collapse, facial swelling, or persistent vomiting despite treatment. Keep all medications out of your dog’s reach.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Tell your veterinarian about every medicine and supplement your dog takes, including flea and tick products and over-the-counter items. Maropitant is metabolized in the liver, so clinicians may be cautious when it is combined with other drugs processed by similar pathways. If your dog has a history of liver issues or is very small or elderly, additional monitoring may be appropriate. Do not start, stop, or change any medicines without veterinary guidance.

What to Expect Over Time

On days it is used, some dogs show improvement in nausea and vomiting after dosing. For motion sickness, many dogs tolerate car or air travel better when given the medicine before the trip. Response varies by dog and by the cause of vomiting. Keep a simple log of dosing, meals, and any vomiting episodes. Share this record with your veterinarian at follow-up visits to help guide ongoing care.

Compare With Alternatives

Veterinarians may consider other antiemetics based on your dog’s diagnosis and history. In clinic settings, an injectable form may be used for quicker onset or when a dog cannot tolerate oral dosing. We offer the clinic-ready option here: Cerenia® Injection. Some clinicians may also use different classes such as ondansetron or metoclopramide when appropriate. Maropitant Injection for Dogs remains a common alternative for supervised care.

Pricing and Access

Because we source through licensed Canadian partners, many pet owners see value compared with typical local costs. Cerenia Tablets Canadian pricing reflects the marketplace, and your total varies by strength and quantity. You can view current pricing, upload your prescription, and choose US payment options. Orders Pet Medications are fulfilled by contracted pharmacies and Canada origin may apply. Ships from Canada to US. If you are comparing a cash price or planning to pay out of pocket, you can select a supply that fits your budget and your prescriber’s directions. For seasonal deals, see our Promotions page.

Availability and Substitutions

Supply can vary by strength and pack size. If a strength is unavailable, your prescriber may adjust the plan or recommend a comparable option. Cerenia 160 mg Tablets for Dogs are often used for larger dogs when appropriate; if that strength is not in stock, your veterinarian might use a different strength combination. In some regions, generic maropitant may be available; your prescriber can advise whether a substitution is suitable and legal for your pet.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Dogs with travel-related nausea or acute vomiting may be candidates when a veterinarian recommends this therapy. It may not suit dogs with significant liver disease or those with known allergy to maropitant. Puppies have age-related limits per the label. For savings, consider multi-month supplies if your pet has recurrent motion sickness, as allowed by your prescription. Set refill reminders before travel season. Compare quantities to reduce per-dose costs, and discuss options if you are paying a cash-pay amount rather than using pet insurance.

Questions to Ask Your Clinician

• Diagnosis clarity: what is causing my dog’s vomiting?
• Right timing: when should I give doses for travel days?
• Diet plan: should meals be adjusted around dosing?
• Safety checks: is liver monitoring recommended for my dog?
• Alternatives: what other antiemetics could fit if this is not available?
• Follow-up: what signs should prompt a call or visit?

Authoritative Sources

Zoetis Cerenia Product InformationFDA Animal Drugs: Cerenia Tablets LabelHealth Canada Drug Product Database

Learn more about related topics in our articles on Gabapentin For Dogs and Doxycycline For Dogs And Cats, or browse by condition: Vomiting and Motion Sickness.

Ready to proceed? You can submit your prescription and choose a supply with prompt, express shipping and US shipping from Canada. This page is informational and not a substitute for veterinary advice; always follow your veterinarian and the official label.