Behaviour change after Maropitant (Cerenia) in dogs

The FDA has received 483 reports of behaviour change in dogs after Maropitant. That is 4.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

483Reports

63%Marked serious

17%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

138 35%

1–2 days

72 18%

3–7 days

57 14%

1–4 weeks

56 14%

Over a month

72 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

82 17%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

170 35%

Died

46 9.5%

Euthanised

76 16%

Not known

108 22%

Problems reported at the same time

226 47%

225 47%

200 41%

122 25%

119 25%

103 21%

93 19%

77 16%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

103

4–7 years

121

8–11 years

102

12+ years

100

About this medicine

Maropitant prevents vomiting and motion sickness.

Products with this ingredient include Cerenia. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Maropitant cause behaviour change in dogs?: 483 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 2 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Capromorelin (Entyce) 153 reports · 10% of its reports
Behaviour change after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 24 reports · 8.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change