The label says, word for word:
Tablets: "CERENIA (maropitant citrate) Tablets are indicated for the prevention of acute vomiting and the prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs." Injectable: "Dogs: CERENIA (maropitant citrate) Injectable Solution is indicated for the prevention and treatment of acute vomiting in dogs. Cats: CERENIA (maropitant citrate) Injectable Solution is indicated for the treatment of vomiting in cats."
Not for use in humans. Keep out of the reach of children. In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice. Topical exposure may elicit localized allergic skin reactions in some individuals. Repeated or prolonged exposure may lead to skin sensitization. Wash hands with soap and water after administering drug.
In puppies younger than 11 weeks of age, histological evidence of bone marrow hypocellularity was observed at higher frequency and greater severity in puppies treated with CERENIA compared to control puppies. In puppies 16 weeks and older, bone marrow hypocellularity was not observed.
The safe use of CERENIA Injectable Solution has not been evaluated in dogs or cats with gastrointestinal obstruction or that have ingested toxins. Use with caution in patients with hepatic dysfunction because CERENIA Injectable Solution is metabolized by CYP3A, CYP2D15(dogs) and CYP1A (cats) enzymes.
CERENIA Injectable Solution is highly protein bound. Use with caution with other medications that are highly protein bound. The concomitant use of CERENIA Injectable Solution with other protein bound drugs has not been studied in dogs or cats. Commonly used protein bound drugs include NSAIDs, cardiac, anticonvulsant, and behavioral medications.
The safe use of CERENIA Injectable Solution has not been evaluated in dogs or cats used for breeding, or in pregnant or lactating bitches or queens.
Every approved medicine has a field study behind it, and the label prints what happened:
Tablets, US motion sickness studies (CERENIA n=208, # dogs / % occurrence): Hypersalivation 26 / 12.5; Vomiting 11 / 5.3; Muscle Tremors 2 / 1; Sedation/Depression 2 / 1; Retching 1 / 0.5; Flatulence 1 / 0.5.
Two labels: CERENIA Tablets, Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-262 (dogs only), and CERENIA Injectable Solution, NADA # 141-263 (dogs and cats); both originally approved January 29, 2007 (FOI summaries; original sponsor Pfizer Inc.). Neither label has a CONTRAINDICATIONS section or an owner information section. The dosing sections (not quoted here) restrict use by age: tablets for acute vomiting in dogs from 2 months of age and for motion sickness in dogs 4 months of age and older; injectable in dogs from 2 months of age and in cats 4 months of age and older.
The emergency page sorts the signs by how long you have, and the symptom checker asks what you are seeing. Reactions to a medicine can also be reported to the FDA yourself: how to report a problem.
These answers come from the approved label on DailyMed, read on 2 October 2026. Where the label does not say, the answer says so, and the vet or the pharmacist is the one to ask.
The approved use is quoted at the top of this page. The tablets are given to dogs to prevent sudden vomiting and to prevent vomiting from motion sickness. The label read for these answers is the one for the tablets, which are for dogs only. The injection, which is also approved for cats, has a label of its own.
The label says to give the tablet at least two hours before travel. It reports that the drug typically reached its highest level in the blood within two and a half hours of a tablet. It gives no other time. Ask the vet what to expect and by when.
It is a tablet given by mouth once a day. For motion sickness the label says to give it at least two hours before travel with a small amount of food, not a full meal, and for no more than two days in a row. For sudden vomiting the label's course is up to five days in a row for dogs two to seven months old. For dogs seven months and older it runs until the vomiting has stopped. For sudden vomiting the label does not say whether to give the tablet with food. It says to wash your hands with soap and water after giving the tablet. It does not say what to do if the dog vomits the tablet up.
The label does not say what to do about a missed dose. Call the clinic or the pharmacy before you give the next one.
The studies and the warnings are quoted above. The label says that if the vomiting carries on despite the tablets, the dog should be examined again, so call the vet instead of giving more.
The label says to store the tablets at room temperature, 68° to 77°F, with short spells between 59° and 86°F allowed, and to keep them out of the reach of children.
The FDA says the best way to get rid of most unused or expired medicines is a take-back option: a drug take-back location, which can be at a pharmacy or a police station, or a prepaid mail-back envelope. If you cannot use one and the medicine is not on the FDA's flush list, the FDA says to mix it, uncrushed, with something unappealing such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds and to seal the mixture in a plastic bag before throwing it away. Flushing is only for medicines on that list, such as opioids. Do not give leftovers to another pet.
Write the dose, the times and the stop date here, then print this page for the fridge.
Dose and times: _____________________________________________
Stop date: _____________________________________________