Before bringing Muezza home, I lost the first pet cat of my life. Once I was traveling with her, she had a bit of motion sickness and started vomiting a little. As soon as I got back, I gave her Cerenia tablets. Though she stopped vomiting, her condition got worse within a few days. I took her to the vet, but she couldn’t survive.
So, it’s probably Cerenia that killed my cat, but how did it happen? Though Cerenia is a safe drug approved by the FDA, it has some common side effects. Improper dosage can cause severe side effects, leading your cats to death.
I will share my knowledge about Cerenia with you so you don’t lose your cat like me. Keep reading.
What Is Cerenia and How Does It Work?
At first, Cerenia was only approved for dogs by the FDA. Later, in 2012, the FDA approved it for cats. This medication comes in two forms, which are tablets and injections.
Check some more information about this medication below.
| Medication type | Antiemetic |
| Forms | Tablet, Injection |
| Common name | Maropitant citrate |
| Brand name | Cerenia |
| Suitable for pet | 16 weeks or older |
| Available dosages | Tablets – 16 mg, 24 mg, 60 mg, 160 mg Injection – 10 mg/ml |
As I have already mentioned, Cerenia is used to stop vomiting and nausea in cats. To understand its working principle, you must know how vomiting happens in cats.
- If your cat has gastrointestinal disease, the central pathway can be triggered. It also happens when the cat is frightened, anxious, or motion-sick. Toxins in blood or a failed organ can cause the peripheral pathway to be triggered.
- Now, regardless of the pathway, a chemical called Substance P gets released when the pathways are triggered. When Substance P grabs NK1 receptors, the brain gets a signal to vomit.
- When you give Cerenia to your cat, it binds the NK1 receptors. So, the Substance P can’t grab them and the brain doesn’t get any signal to vomit. This is how the medication prevents vomiting.
Why Is Cerenia Used in Cats? Other Purposes Aside from Vomiting and Nausea
Nausea and vomiting are the main reasons why Cerenia is prescribed. Nevertheless, there can be other underlying conditions. I have listed some of them here.
● If the Cat’s Stomach Is Upset
Be it due to inflammation or any other gastrointestinal disease, your cat’s stomach can sometimes be upset. The same happened with one of my friend’s cat and he lost her appetite.
● Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome
It is mostly caused by your cat’s diet. If there is something too acidic in the diet or the digestive system doesn’t work properly, your cat can have inflammatory bowel syndrome. As a result, nausea or vomiting can happen and Cerenia is prescribed to ease the suffering.
● Pancreatitis and Chronic Kidney Disease
The pancreas is a small organ that produces various enzymes and hormones. A common disease of this organ is pancreatitis, which can cause nausea in cats. And veterinarians suggest Cerenia to treat the nausea.
● If the Cat Goes Through Anesthesia
When your cat goes under surgery, anesthesia is applied before the surgery. Post-surgery symptoms include nausea, which is common in cats. And Cerenia is also common to prevent this kind of issue.
What Are the Side Effects of Cerenia?
The most common side effect of Cerenia is pain if the medication is injected. But there are no such side effects of the tablet. Transdermal administration is also very effective. Due to an overdose, the following side effects can be visible.
- Your cat can have diarrhea and start losing too much body fluid.
- Anorexia can reduce the appetite of your cat.
- Hematuria is a more serious condition where you may see blood in your cat’s urine.
- Hypersalivation or excessive drooling happens in many cats. And the cat I lost also started drooling too much.
- If the cat has allergies, anaphylaxis can happen, where the face or body will swell.
- Though rare, seizures can also happen and lead your cat to death.
What Is the Correct Dose of Cerenia for Cats?
You must consult a veterinarian before giving Cerenia to your cat.
- Its standard dose is usually 0.45 mg for every pound of cat’s weight.
- For a cat weighing 12 pounds, you should give 5.4 mg of Cerenia. Remember, the veterinarian can increase or decrease the dose depending on the conditions.
- If you look at the Cerenia tablet, it should have the amount marked at the bottom half. For example, tablets with 16 marked on them mean they are 16 mg tablets. So, if the veterinarian prescribes a dose of 8 mg, you should give your cats half the tablet.
FAQs
Check answers to some commonly asked questions about the effects of Cerenia.
Q: Should Cerenia be consumed on an empty stomach?
A: No. Consuming Cerenia on an empty stomach can worsen the situation. So, you should always give your cat some food before giving Cerenia.
Q: How long does Cerenia last for cats?
A: It may not take long for Cerenia to start working so that your cat vomits no more. The medication will last for 24 hours.
Q: Is Cerenia safe for long-term use?
A: According to the FDA, Cerenia can be used in the long term. But you should always consult the veterinarian before doing so.
Final Thoughts
I still feel so bad for the cat that I lost because it was my ignorance that got her killed. Giving Cerenia to her without knowing its side effects was one of the greatest mistakes because Cerenia killed my cat. But now I have become more aware of the medication so that I don’t risk Muezza unknowingly.
And I wanted to share this with you so that you can keep your pet cats safe. If you see any symptoms of nausea or vomiting in your cat, you should quickly consult a veterinarian for the medication. Even if you need to give Cerenia to your cat, follow the prescription for the correct dose.
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