Hyperkalaemia after Maropitant (Cerenia) in dogs

The FDA has received 126 reports of hyperkalaemia in dogs after Maropitant. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

126Reports

79%Marked serious

3.2%Recovered

58%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

29 29%

1–2 days

15 15%

3–7 days

14 14%

1–4 weeks

10 9.9%

Over a month

33 33%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 3.2%

Still unwell when reported

33 26%

Died

31 25%

Euthanised

42 33%

Not known

16 13%

Problems reported at the same time

93 74%

73 58%

72 57%

67 53%

58 46%

53 42%

48 38%

45 36%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

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 hyperkalaemia in dogs?: 126 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 4 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).

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