Tense abdomen after Maropitant (Cerenia) in dogs

The FDA has received 135 reports of tense abdomen in dogs after Maropitant. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

135Reports

79%Marked serious

16%Recovered

39%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

29 23%

1–2 days

28 22%

3–7 days

15 12%

1–4 weeks

19 15%

Over a month

35 28%

How the animals did

Recovered

22 16%

Still unwell when reported

52 39%

Died

11 8.1%

Euthanised

41 30%

Not known

9 6.7%

Problems reported at the same time

99 73%

96 71%

91 67%

72 53%

52 39%

48 36%

48 36%

47 35%

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 tense abdomen in dogs?: 135 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 5 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 tense abdomen