Many dog owners soon realize or within five minutes their pet has motion sickness (car, boat or airplane), especially young dogs have carsickness. Some dogs outgrow this problem. Receptors in the ear called the vestibular appartus help an animal process position and movement. A dog will experience motion sickness or carsickness if the signals coming in (relayed by the eighth cranial nerve to the brain) are excessive: Symptoms include drooling, vomiting and or diarrhea. Severe vomiting can lead to dehydration and death in dogs. According to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Animal Health market research, estimated 1.2 million dogs experience vomiting each year caused by motion sickness. Suggestions to curb or prevent motion sickness, when taking your dog for a drive: In the beginning take very short trips, avoid feeding your dog three hours prior to travel (never take your dog on a long trip with full stomach), make sure your dog had drank water before the trip, drive slow around curves, approach stops signs or red lights slowly (avoid sudden or sharp stops), keep at least one window cracked open to get fresh air, try to prevent your pet from looking out the window, provide lots of room to get up and move around, make sure the temperature inside the car is kept not to hot or cold, and stop ever so often or once an hour to let your dog stretch or quick walk and drink water.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) meclizine (Bonine), and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) are commonly used medications to help reduce nausea associated with motion sickness. These medications are available over the counter or without a prescription, however should never be used unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian. Critically important is the correct or proper dosage for use in pets. Ginger (herb) has been known to be effective to prevent motion sickness in dogs (especially ginger cookies) and humans. Ginger snaps work well for medium sized dogs. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your dog Ginger. In severe cases of motion sickness, maybe necessary during long travel periods of time, a sedative maybe prescribed by a veterinarian.
In February 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cerenia (known generically as maropitant citrate), manufactured by Pfizer Incorporated (New York, NY). First known medication to prevent and treat dogs from acute vomiting, regardless of causes including motion sickness. Pfizer researchers and veterinarians spent seven years to develop and research, finally receiving FDA approval for marketing and sale of Cerenia. During clinical trials involving 577 dogs, Cerenia was shown to be safe and affective. The medication treated a wide range of dog breeds for vomiting, causes such as parvovirus (Viral disease of dogs, affects the intestinal lining. Without treatment 80 percent or more of infected puppies will die), hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE – Vomiting and/or bloody diarrhea possible attributed to intestinal ulcers, gastrointestinal tumors or obstruction or infectious disorders.), and renal disease (Usually caused by normal aging process, due to the declining function of the kidneys). The generic maropitant citrate can prevent and treat acute vomiting due to chemotherapy (During one of the research studies, support the approval of Cerenia, ninety-five percent effective in preventing vomiting undergoing chemotherapeutic treatment with Cisplatin (Interferes with the growth of cancer cells) and pancreatitis (Inflammation of the pancreas).
Dr. S. Kristina Wahlstrom, VMD, MS, group director U.S. Companion Animal Veterinary Operations, Pfizer Animal Health said: “In many cases it is important to treat vomiting in order to prevent further deterioration of the dog’s health and to alleviate suffering. Stephen Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said: “This approval is good news for many dog owners whose dogs suffer from motion sickness and for whom even a small journey can trigger vomiting.”
Cerenia is administered once daily, either injectable or tablet formulation. Cerenia is recommended for use in dogs sixteen weeks of age or older. The medication is not recommended for dogs used for breeding, pregnant or lactating bitches, dogs that have ingested toxins or dogs with gastrointestinal obstruction. Side effects observed include: Muscle tremors, excessive salivation, and vomiting. The medication starts to work within one hour of administration. In the summer of 2007, Cerenia will be available by prescription only from veterinarians.
Pfizer Animal Health is a global leader in discovering, developing and marketing medicines and vaccines for companion animals and livestock, including beef and dairy cattle, and swine. In 2006, Pfizer sales reached $2.3 billion.
