Questions about Cerenia

For those of us who have used Cerenia, do you notice it effecting your kitty any particular way?  Any changes in appetite, demeanor, etc?

Peaches was on it last summer but I don't think she did well on it. She seemed like she felt worse, tummy wise. Didn't want to eat and stayed in a meatloaf position when ever I gave it to her. A few months ago she was not feeling well and had thrown up so I gave her a dose of Cerenia and she seemed worse. She is doing good just being on the Prednisolone.

I have read where others have had good luck with it.

@StephenQ  is a good person to ask about cerenia.

Steeeeeephen!  question for you!!

The way I posted the username with @ before it causes them to be notified they are requested on a thread so should be along asap

myrnafaye said:

Steeeeeephen!  question for you!!

Click to expand...

HI there @Catwoman707 is correct that using the @ sign is like a radio call! :-)

The standard protocol is 5 days on and then a day off to avoid side effects. Having said that my cat is on a slightly lower dose than normal and has been taking it 7 days a week for at least two months without apparent side effects but every cat is different. Side effects can include appetite loss, lethargy or diarrhea. For my cat it is a miracle drug but an alternative drug (sub Q injection only and every six hours) is Zofram that doesn't risk side effects and can be given daily. A link follows. Can I ask what your cats diagnosis is?
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=2798

To answer your question, STephen, we dont know for sure because I elected to not have an US or biopsy given Obi's age, 15/16.  He has been treated conservatively with 5 mg pred but still throws up hairballs.  I would say once every 1-2 weeks.  Lately the hairballs have been every day - the last few days (He has an appt. on Tuesday with the vet).  Yesterday, he threw up brown liquid.  I was concerned so the vet gave me a few pills and said to give him a half pill (yesterday and today) and not to give him anything on Monday.  

The reason for my concern is that back in early summer last year, Obi had a bout of mild pancreatitis, and you probably know by now that even mild pancreatitis is not a good thing.  So the repeated hairball throwing  couple with the liquid regurgitation caused concern.

Clearly the rule outs are IBD, SCL, or unspecified GI disease.  He is on Natures Variety rabbit, a probiotic,  metameucil  (1/4 tsp) , 1/2 pepcid and egg yold lecithin.  And B12 shots every 5 days.  His appetite is good, no diarrhea, and I dont think he has lost any weight but I will know that for certain on Tuesday.  He does not look like a sick cat.  

Ah yes I recall all that now, thanks.

My cat has been on Cerenia for over a year now and he has been getting it every second day now no side effects that I can discern. He is currently getting 0.15cc of Cerenia injected in with his sub-q every second day and the difference is night and day. He was doing an average of three days between throwing up when he was getting Cerenia in pill form and now his average it 17 days. He is currently on day 52 of not throwing up which is a record for him. He did not throw up cat hair though, with him it was large amounts of water with some food in some stage of digestion. He also has pancreatitis, IBD, anemia, and renal failure so he has a number of issues which may differ from yours. Because of the IBD my guy doesn't absorb things properly so a year on the pill form and he was throwing up every day or two and now he goes months without throwing up. His stools are mostly well formed ranging from normal to a little wet but usually normal. He takes huge stools for a fairly small cat but he doesn't seem to have issues going to the bathroom. He is almost 20 and has arthritis so I don't think he is any less active but he certainly wasn't bouncing off of the walls before he was on the Cerenia. He first started using it when he was 17 and he has been mostly on it since and no big changes. He doses differed over the years but he has been on it most of that time. His blood test numbers are good although he currently has gas issues but I am not sure what exactly is causing that. He has been on the injectable form of Cerenia for about 4 months and other than gas he has been doing pretty well.

Thanks for the great info!  My IBD cat (also mast cell cancer, pancreatitis, renal disease) is foing well still on oral cerenia, but we sometimes give him injectable Zofram on top of that which is another type of anti nausea drug in addition to his other meds.

We had really good luck with Cerenia.  The last three months of his life he was on it everyday.  No more vomiting at all.  I think the recommendation I was given was 5 days in a row & then every other day after that.

Ps:  the favored liquid is much easier to give.