What is your experience with Cerenia?

Sillycat41

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Hello - My 16 yr old Bengal has been diagnosed with IBD and also kidney disease. He vomited clear foam a couple of times a week... sometimes more. The vet prescribed 1/2 Cerenia pill for when he vomits. He's very difficult to pill and often gags and foams at the mouth after giving him a pill so we decided to try compounded liquid Cerenia in fish flavor. He hates it! Shakes his head and runs around after I give it to him. I feel like I'm torturing him. :-( I ever question the logic of giving him Cerenia after he vomits because he usually doesn't vomit again for a couple of days. Also he is hungry right after vomiting but after giving him Cerenia he has no interest in food and is losing weight. Would like to hear from others who have used Cerenia and if there is another drug that works better for controlling vomiting. He rarely even vomits food... just foamy clean liquid. Thanks in advance.
 

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Were you dry pilling the Cerenia pill or using a Pill Pocket or something to hide the pill in? If you were dry pilling, try one of these tips:

Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills – TheCatSite Articles
The Best Pill-taking Secret I Know...
Pilling Cats and Dogs Safely
How We Give Our Pill Hating Cat A Pill
Getting Cat To Take Pills... Post Tips Here.

I use a pill dough to hide my cat's pill in and he just gobbles it down with no issue.

Info on IBD:

 

FeebysOwner

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I know a number of folks who use Zofran (also known as Ondansetron) instead of Cerenia. My cat, Feeby, has only been given the latter and it really didn't do anything for her, but we were just guessing that she was nauseous (no throwing up).

An OTC product is slippery elm bark, and there are a lot of members who have used it as well. Pepcid AC, or similar product, might be another option since your cat appears to be vomiting stomach acids. Making sure you are feeding him often enough might be a solution too. So, if he is going a long number of hours without eating, change his schedule so that he eats less but more frequently.

Sometimes the issue can be dehydration, so make sure your cat isn't dehydrated. You can check for that with the 'tent' test - gently pull up the skin at the base of his head/neck and then release. If it doesn't pop back quickly, then there is a level of dehydration going on. Many cats with kidney disease need sub-Q fluids to maintain proper hydration. And, you might consider having his B-12 level checked, a common deficiency in IBD cats, which can cause vomiting in some. If it were to be low, you can do B-12 injections at home fairly easily - I just started it with Feeby since she is deficient, and it isn't quite as hard as I was afraid it would be.

Are you researching information about kidney disease? If not, this is a great resource. Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease - Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Cat (felinecrf.org). It does have some information on IBD too, but this web site is a good source of information related to IBD. Raw Feeding for IBD Cats - Feline IBD - it isn't just about raw feeding.
 
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Sillycat41

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Were you dry pilling the Cerenia pill or using a Pill Pocket or something to hide the pill in? If you were dry pilling, try one of these tips:

Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills – TheCatSite Articles
The Best Pill-taking Secret I Know...
Pilling Cats and Dogs Safely
How We Give Our Pill Hating Cat A Pill
Getting Cat To Take Pills... Post Tips Here.

I use a pill dough to hide my cat's pill in and he just gobbles it down with no issue.

Info on IBD:

Were you dry pilling the Cerenia pill or using a Pill Pocket or something to hide the pill in? If you were dry pilling, try one of these tips:

Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills – TheCatSite Articles
The Best Pill-taking Secret I Know...
Pilling Cats and Dogs Safely
How We Give Our Pill Hating Cat A Pill
Getting Cat To Take Pills... Post Tips Here.

I use a pill dough to hide my cat's pill in and he just gobbles it down with no issue.

Info on IBD:

I tried all the different methods... dry pill, pill pockets, dough, etc... he is very smart and refused them all. That's why I decided to pay the extra money is get the compounded flavored drops... figured it would be easier to administer. Cerenia must taste very bitter because he reacts negatively to even flavored drops. :-(
I know a number of folks who use Zofran (also known as Ondansetron) instead of Cerenia. My cat, Feeby, has only been given the latter and it really didn't do anything for her, but we were just guessing that she was nauseous (no throwing up).

An OTC product is slippery elm bark, and there are a lot of members who have used it as well. Pepcid AC, or similar product, might be another option since your cat appears to be vomiting stomach acids. Making sure you are feeding him often enough might be a solution too. So, if he is going a long number of hours without eating, change his schedule so that he eats less but more frequently.

Sometimes the issue can be dehydration, so make sure your cat isn't dehydrated. You can check for that with the 'tent' test - gently pull up the skin at the base of his head/neck and then release. If it doesn't pop back quickly, then there is a level of dehydration going on. Many cats with kidney disease need sub-Q fluids to maintain proper hydration. And, you might consider having his B-12 level checked, a common deficiency in IBD cats, which can cause vomiting in some. If it were to be low, you can do B-12 injections at home fairly easily - I just started it with Feeby since she is deficient, and it isn't quite as hard as I was afraid it would be.

Are you researching information about kidney disease? If not, this is a great resource. Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease - Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Cat (felinecrf.org). It does have some information on IBD too, but this web site is a good source of information related to IBD. Raw Feeding for IBD Cats - Feline IBD - it isn't just about raw feeding.
Thanks for the replies. I should have written more info on him. He would eat slippery elm even mixed with food. Tried Pepcid and Omeprazole but he still vomited. I feed him frequently... every 3 hrs... even get up 4 times during the night. He is drinking more often now... probably because the kidney disease is getting worse. :-( He is also getting 75 ml of sub-Q twice a week. Also has been getting B12 shots once a month for about a year now. Still vomits. :-( He has always been a fussy eater and won't eat the prescription diets so I give him whatever he likes. He won't eat raw but does eat cooked chicken. He's been on Porus One for 3 months now... going in for a kidney panel next week to see if it is doing anything, I tried reading articles on Tanya's Guide and FelineCRF but I get overwhelmed with the info and it stresses me out. I prefer to read what you forum users say about your experiences.
 

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Maybe ask the vet to let you try the Zofran then and see if might work for your cat. Also, if he keeps cooked chicken down, you could consider adding EZComplete to make the chicken nutritionally complete for him. I believe there is information on the raw feeding site about that, as well as on the EZComplete web site. EZComplete Premix Information (foodfurlife.com)
 

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Cerenia is foul tasting. Putting it inside a small gelatin capsule works wonders. Also, it is better to administer a on a regular schedule to keep nausea under control. I give 1/4 of a pill every other day, and at one point was doing every day. Your dosage may vary.
 
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Sillycat41

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Maybe ask the vet to let you try the Zofran then and see if might work for your cat. Also, if he keeps cooked chicken down, you could consider adding EZComplete to make the chicken nutritionally complete for him. I believe there is information on the raw feeding site about that, as well as on the EZComplete web site. EZComplete Premix Information (foodfurlife.com)
Thanks... I'm going to ask my vet if we can try Zofran instead. I'll look for EZComplete to try.
 
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Sillycat41

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Cerenia is foul tasting. Putting it inside a small gelatin capsule works wonders. Also, it is better to administer a on a regular schedule to keep nausea under control. I give 1/4 of a pill every other day, and at one point was doing every day. Your dosage may vary.
He is so hard to pill... not sure if I can get a small gelatin capsule in him. I also would try to give it every other day. Thanks.
 

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I just started using Zofran for my guy. The dose is really tiny. What I have been doing is hiding the tiny sliver of a pill, in a tiny bit of food. My guy is lapping it up, not noticing the Zofran.
The Cerenia tablets are much larger. I am not sure if that will work with your baby.

What about wrapping it in some cheese? I have not tried it, my guy is too darn smart, but many people wrap a pill in a bit of cheese, or a favorite food.. Cats are smart. They can smell things we cannot. I know, from experience with my last guy that the fish flavor of anything is nasty.. ugh..

Perhaps the Zofran will work better.. it is worth a try. You could even try it in-between some treats, which are kind of broken apart. -- I am using freeze dried salmon, as my guy seems to like it. The skin is so hard, leathery and sharp, but I take the freeze dried salmon off, into tiny pieces, putting it on a small plate. My guy loves it, and licks the plate..
Just a suggestion.

I wish you luck..

As others have stated, you may need a preventative, rather than a post vomiting solution.

My guy is on chemo, so I am giving the Cerenia, on chemo days. The Zofran is daily.. just in case.. It is so frustrating---
trial and error, as with humans.. sometimes things work, other times they do not...

((hugs))
 
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Sillycat41

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I just started using Zofran for my guy. The dose is really tiny. What I have been doing is hiding the tiny sliver of a pill, in a tiny bit of food. My guy is lapping it up, not noticing the Zofran.

Perhaps the Zofran will work better.. it is worth a try. You could even try it in-between some treats, which are kind of broken apart. -- I am using freeze dried salmon, as my guy seems to like it. The skin is so hard, leathery and sharp, but I take the freeze dried salmon off, into tiny pieces, putting it on a small plate. My guy loves it, and licks the plate..
Just a suggestion.

I wish you luck..

As others have stated, you may need a preventative, rather than a post vomiting solution.

My guy is on chemo, so I am giving the Cerenia, on chemo days. The Zofran is daily.. just in case.. It is so frustrating---
trial and error, as with humans.. sometimes things work, other times they do not...

((hugs))
I think all my Jengo would need is a sliver of Zofran too as he doesn't have chronic vomiting. Just a little dose every day or even every other day might be enough to control it. Sorry to hear that your guy is on chemo. :-( Very sad that our beloved pets get so many diseases now-a-days.
 

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The dose of Zofran, I am using is twice a day. It is a preventative dose. It is a tiny enough pill---very difficult to separate.
My guy's dose is 1/4 tablet, twice a day. I have a heck of a time trying to cut it. I saw some tips on line.
I use a pill cutter to cut it lengthwise. Then I gently take the 1/2 tablet between my thumb and forefinger, (tricky little devil),
holding it horizontal, longways.. I use a cat nail trimmer to cut it into 1/4's... some people use a razor..

Thank you for you comments about Geoffrey.. Yes, he is kind of day by day with stuff.. lots of issues with the meds. I swear the medications are worse than the disease, right now....

Good Luck!
 

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Admittedly, I don't know the size/shape of Zofran, but I am able to take Felimazole, which is a somewhat small but rounded pill, and use a pill cutter not only to cut in half, but to cut each half into two pieces. Not always 100% precise, but not bad. I use a small sharp-edged knife to 'wedge' it into the pill cutter, and then 'chop'.

I probably will be asking for Zofran for Feeby. She didn't really respond to Cerenia when she was given it some time ago, but now I think I need something else for her as the Mirataz has either lost its 'mojo', or she is need of additional meds to help her feel like eating.
 
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Sillycat41

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I can relate to the problems with trying to cut a tiny pill.
I just started using Zofran for my guy. The dose is really tiny. What I have been doing is hiding the tiny sliver of a pill, in a tiny bit of food. My guy is lapping it up, not noticing the Zofran.
The Cerenia tablets are much larger. I am not sure if that will work with your baby.

What about wrapping it in some cheese? I have not tried it, my guy is too darn smart, but many people wrap a pill in a bit of cheese, or a favorite food.. Cats are smart. They can smell things we cannot. I know, from experience with my last guy that the fish flavor of anything is nasty.. ugh..

Perhaps the Zofran will work better.. it is worth a try. You could even try it in-between some treats, which are kind of broken apart. -- I am using freeze dried salmon, as my guy seems to like it. The skin is so hard, leathery and sharp, but I take the freeze dried salmon off, into tiny pieces, putting it on a small plate. My guy loves it, and licks the plate..
Just a suggestion.

I wish you luck..

As others have stated, you may need a preventative, rather than a post vomiting solution.

My guy is on chemo, so I am giving the Cerenia, on chemo days. The Zofran is daily.. just in case.. It is so frustrating---
trial and error, as with humans.. sometimes things work, other times they do not...

((hugs))
My little guy is also too smart to fall for the cheese trick. Dogs fall for that. :-D Yes, I agree... I need a "preventative rather than a post vomiting solution." And I think a tiny dose would be enough. He is only 8.4# now. He's my kitty soul mate. <3 Here's his photo:
 

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Sillycat41

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The dose of Zofran, I am using is twice a day. It is a preventative dose. It is a tiny enough pill---very difficult to separate.
My guy's dose is 1/4 tablet, twice a day. I have a heck of a time trying to cut it. I saw some tips on line.
I use a pill cutter to cut it lengthwise. Then I gently take the 1/2 tablet between my thumb and forefinger, (tricky little devil),
holding it horizontal, longways.. I use a cat nail trimmer to cut it into 1/4's... some people use a razor..

Thank you for you comments about Geoffrey.. Yes, he is kind of day by day with stuff.. lots of issues with the meds. I swear the medications are worse than the disease, right now....

Good Luck!
Beautiful boys!! How old are they?
 
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Sillycat41

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Admittedly, I don't know the size/shape of Zofran, but I am able to take Felimazole, which is a somewhat small but rounded pill, and use a pill cutter not only to cut in half, but to cut each half into two pieces. Not always 100% precise, but not bad. I use a small sharp-edged knife to 'wedge' it into the pill cutter, and then 'chop'.

I probably will be asking for Zofran for Feeby. She didn't really respond to Cerenia when she was given it some time ago, but now I think I need something else for her as the Mirataz has either lost its 'mojo', or she is need of additional meds to help her feel like eating.
Never heard of Felimazole... I assume that is an anti-nausea pill too, right? My Jengo was on Mirataz too but it didn't really give him an appetite. It's SO hard to find the right combination of meds for a sick cat... trial and error I guess. Good luck with Feeby!
 

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My Betty takes meds, two capsules, twice a day. She is such a pro with them using a modified version of the technique below. Ask your vet for a can of Hills A/D. This is supposed to be irresistible kitty crack to get sick cats eating again. It’s not a forever food to replace what he’s already eating. I only use it for meds these days. One can lasts me almost a week. I spoon out about a teaspoon from the can in the fridge, and place it on a small microwave safe tray. I nuke it for two seconds. Flip it. Two more seconds. I’m not trying to warm it up. I simply want to take the chill out of it. For how I use it, it actually works better colder than warmer. But not so cold that it makes Betty regurgitate. On another tray, I place her meds for that shift. I use a pill cutter even for tiny pills. It’s not an exact science. But they calculate the dosage for some “spillage.” At first, any meds I wanted to give Betty had to go into a size five capsule. I bought them in white from Amazon so that I could clearly see if she was licking the A/D off and flicking the capsule aside. It took awhile to teach her. Fortunately she liked A/D. And eventually she learned that she wasn’t getting her plate of food for that meal unless she ate her pills. Now she’s such a pro that I can stick meds into size fours (smaller numbers means larger capsules) and I don’t remember the last lick and flick. I actually dread when they give me a liquid medicine now. 🤦🏼‍♂️

 

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I have got empty gel capsules from the health store and put the cerenia piece in that to give it so she doesn't taste it. You can also ask for the higher concentration (mg) tablets, so you have less actual amount to give. Example: Cat is supposed to get 12mg., so that is 1/2 of the 24mg tablets. Or, if 6 mg, it is 1/4 of the 24mg tablets. It also comes in a 6omg tablet that is for dogs. Although the tablet is larger; it still turns out to be a smaller size that you give. Although it can be hard to divide up. I have done it by breaking the 60 mg. tablet into either 5 or 10 pieces. If you wanted to get really technical you could always purchase a tiny scale and weigh it out that way. I always just eyeballed it and didn't have a problem.
 
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No, it is for hyperthyroidism. Sorry, only mentioned it in terms of pill splitting.
Okay. I did some research and found a list of medications for acute vomiting... about 20 different ones! I'm going to ask my vet if he has had experience with any others that we can try. I just don't think Cerenia agrees with Jengo.
 
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Sillycat41

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I have got empty gel capsules from the health store and put the cerenia piece in that to give it so she doesn't taste it. You can also ask for the higher concentration (mg) tablets, so you have less actual amount to give. Example: Cat is supposed to get 12mg., so that is 1/2 of the 24mg tablets. Or, if 6 mg, it is 1/4 of the 24mg tablets. It also comes in a 6omg tablet that is for dogs. Although the tablet is larger; it still turns out to be a smaller size that you give. Although it can be hard to divide up. I have done it by breaking the 60 mg. tablet into either 5 or 10 pieces. If you wanted to get really technical you could always purchase a tiny scale and weigh it out that way. I always just eyeballed it and didn't have a problem.
I just looked up small gel capsules and I'm confused about what size to get. Which size do you use for a small dose of meds.? I think the capsule would have to be very small to pill my little cat. He was on half of a 16mg pill but now I'm trying the compounded liquid Cerenia. It's supposed to be fish flavored, but he shakes his head and runs around like crazy when I give it to him. It must taste bitter and terrible... flavors can't cover that. I feel like l'm torturing him when he reacts like that. Taking him to the vet tomorrow and will ask if there is another med we can try. Then order some small capsules and try that method. I do have a small scale but found it almost easier to use a small mortar and pestle to crush the pills and then use a razor blade to divide in halves or quarters.
 
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