? 5/29 Callie Has anyone had problems when giving their cats Cerenia?

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Glennie

Glennie

Member Since 2016
Callie has been hiding under the bed all afternoon and wouldn't eat at shot time. I gave her 1/8 tab Cerenia for nausea. This is the second time I've given it to her in the past week. Both times she started frothing at the mouth (big strings of saliva hanging out of her mouth. Sorry for the visual!) The first time I smashed it and put it in a tiny bit of food, and this time I smashed it very, very finely and used a tiny bit of water and syringed it in. She didn't choke, but started frothing after a few seconds. Any ideas? I can't give her her insulin tonight since she won't eat anything, not even her favorites.
 
I have never had that happen with Jones, he gets a 1/4 tab though. That 1/8 of a tab must be very tiny!

I pop it into the back of his mouth and he gets a small treat to wash it down.
 
Frothing is very common if water (saliva) makes contact with the cerenia. The water you chased the pill with caused the foaming.

Yes, it is freaky for the human to watch and upsetting for the cat to experience. It happens.

Cerenia is something it takes time and technique (practice).

Did your vet prescribe chasing with water?
 
Tracey&Jones said:
I have never had that happen with Jones, he gets a 1/4 tab though. That 1/8 of a tab must be very tiny!

I pop it into the back of his mouth and he gets a small treat to wash it down.
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It was really tiny, but since it was only the 2nd time I had given it to her, I thought it was be better to start small. That's so good Jones will take it with a treat. I couldn't even get Callie to eat a treat. This is only the 2nd time she's had to even take a pill so maybe the whole pill thing with her just doesn't work. She's in hiding now so I need to hunt her down. Thanks for your response. :bighug:
 
apple said:
Frothing is very common if water (saliva) makes contact with the cerenia. The water you chased the pill with caused the foaming.

Yes, it is freaky for the human to watch and upsetting for the cat to experience. It happens.
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Okay, so no more mixing with water. Sheesh! Poor thing! :oops:She frothed even when I had it with food. Was that because of the saliva? So do I just expect her to froth when taking it? Will it happen every time? It really scares her, and she is so mad at me. Thanks! I appreciate the info. :bighug:
 
I've given cerenia in the past. I either popped it into the back of Teasel's mouth or used a pill gun. I suspect it must taste bad and that's the cause of the frothing and avoidance.
 
You don't need one to give cerenia. It's not required, just a thought.

Time, practice and trying different techniques is how you get better at not having a foamy cat.

Your vet or a health food store should have them.

Don't let the foam freak you out. It looks worse than it is. If you need to dose tonight do it. Aim for the back of the throat.

It takes practice.
 
Glennie said:
Where do I get them? Are they very big? How do you give them?
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They make small ones. You want size 3 or 4. I bought one on Amazon. Some health food stores sell the small ones but call first. The higher the number the smaller the capsule. You don't want anything larger than a 3.
 
Thanks Kris, Apple, and Elise. I think I will try to find the gel caps. If it makes it easier for her to take, maybe that will help. I found her and loved on her without moving her, and she finally came out. Now if she'll eat. I wonder if any of the Cerenia got down in spite of the frothing? Thanks, as always, for sharing your knowledge. I really appreciate it. Hugs to all and have a great evening.
 
Anne & Zener GA said:
We use pill pockets. The duck and pea flavor is supposed to be the best for diabetics (no grains but does have carbs). I think this is only in the dog version which is fine for cats. You can cut out a little piece, enough to hide the cerenia.
https://www.chewy.com/greenies-pill-pockets-canine-roasted/dp/33772
Liz
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I thought cerenia was not to be put in pill pockets because it makes it less effective? I use #4 gel caps, work great. Chase with a drop or two of syringed water.
 
Glennie said:
Callie has been hiding under the bed all afternoon and wouldn't eat at shot time. I gave her 1/8 tab Cerenia for nausea. This is the second time I've given it to her in the past week. Both times she started frothing at the mouth (big strings of saliva hanging out of her mouth. Sorry for the visual!) The first time I smashed it and put it in a tiny bit of food, and this time I smashed it very, very finely and used a tiny bit of water and syringed it in. She didn't choke, but started frothing after a few seconds. Any ideas? I can't give her her insulin tonight since she won't eat anything, not even her favorites.
Click to expand...

The problem is probably that she does not like the taste and that starts the frothing. There is a solution. Buy some gel cap - your pharmacist has them - , put the cerenia in the gel cap and then give it to her. The gel cap has no taste.
 
Cerenia, by all accounts, tastes awful - really, really bitter according to our vet. But 1/8 of a pill is so small, I wouldn't try adding it to food or mixing it with water - I would just put it all the way in the back of her mouth and hold her mouth shut until she swallows it. I never had a problem giving it that way. If I was giving Cerenia plus other meds, then I used a gelcap, but even 1/4 of a Cerenia is so small, there isn't usually a problem getting it down a cat on the first attempt. Oh and because the reason we give Cerenia to cats is because of nausea, getting a bitter taste when a cat is already nauseous is going to cause an insane amount of frothing and salivating because for those few moments it probably intensifies the nausea.
 
I hadn't heard that the pill pocket makes cerenia less effective. We give it about mid-cycle, there's time for it to kick in before the evening meal. Also, if you give the pill alone, you should follow with some syringed water, to make sure the pill goes all the way down.
Liz
 
Anne & Zener GA said:
Also, if you give the pill alone, you should follow with some syringed water, to make sure the pill goes all the way down.
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I usually cheat on that a little because all of our cats loathe syringed water - it's the one thing they fight over anything else. I give a treat as a chaser instead - it will still push the pill down and because the treats are freeze-dried, they always go and drink a little water after the treat anyway. :)
 
I went to 3 pharmacies today, the vet, and one health food store, and none of them sell gel caps. Well, the heath food store does, but only size 0 and 00. So I'll try Amazon tonight. Callie threw up again this morning and hid under the couch all afternoon. She did eat enough so I could give her the insulin. Now just holding my breath that she doesn't vomit. I really appreciate everyone's ideas and feedback on the Cerenia. Thanks! As always, I learned a lot from you all.
 
These ones should be fine for just Cerenia - they're size 5 https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Gelati...496196312&sr=8-12&keywords=gelcaps+empty&th=1

If you prefer to buy from Amazon themselves rather than a third party seller, it looks as though size 4 is the smallest. These ones work fine https://www.amazon.com/Herb-Affair-...1496196312&sr=8-4&keywords=gelcaps+empty&th=1

When you're giving meds in a gelcap, I always find putting a tiny dab of butter on the capsule just before you give it helps it slip down easier.
 
Anne & Zener GA said:
I hadn't heard that the pill pocket makes cerenia less effective. We give it about mid-cycle, there's time for it to kick in before the evening meal. Also, if you give the pill alone, you should follow with some syringed water, to make sure the pill goes all the way down.
Liz
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Avoid hiding the tablet in fatty foods such as sausages or pill pockets, as these may keep CERENIA from dissolving and delay its effect.

http://cerenia.com/using-cerenia.html
 
manxcat419 said:
These ones should be fine for just Cerenia - they're size 5 https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Gelatin-Capsules-Size-YELLOW/dp/B01M6CTS40/ref=sr_1_12_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496196312&sr=8-12&keywords=gelcaps+empty&th=1

If you prefer to buy from Amazon themselves rather than a third party seller, it looks as though size 4 is the smallest. These ones work fine https://www.amazon.com/Herb-Affair-Clear-Gelatin-Capsules/dp/B00RD9N60W/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496196312&sr=8-4&keywords=gelcaps+empty&th=1

When you're giving meds in a gelcap, I always find putting a tiny dab of butter on the capsule just before you give it helps it slip down easier.
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Thanks so much for the sites. I was going to order them tonight, but Callie is a little low so I'm hanging out with her. I really appreciate the info.
 
manxcat419 said:
These ones should be fine for just Cerenia - they're size 5 https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Gelatin-Capsules-Size-YELLOW/dp/B01M6CTS40/ref=sr_1_12_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496196312&sr=8-12&keywords=gelcaps+empty&th=1

If you prefer to buy from Amazon themselves rather than a third party seller, it looks as though size 4 is the smallest. These ones work fine https://www.amazon.com/Herb-Affair-Clear-Gelatin-Capsules/dp/B00RD9N60W/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496196312&sr=8-4&keywords=gelcaps+empty&th=1

When you're giving meds in a gelcap, I always find putting a tiny dab of butter on the capsule just before you give it helps it slip down easier.
Click to expand...
April, thanks so much for the site. I got them ordered. :D
 
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