The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of two formulations of Cerenia (maropitant citrate), a new class of drug that is effective against certain causes of vomiting in dogs.

Cerenia tablets are indicated for the prevention of acute vomiting and vomiting due to motion sickness, and Cerenia injectable Solution is approved for the prevention and treatment of acute vomiting.

Cerenia is the first product approved for: the prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness and the prevention and treatment of acute vomiting in dogs. Both products are available only by order of a veterinarian, an US FDA press release stated.

Motion sickness affects many dogs, who can become ill as early as five minutes after the start of a trip. In addition, dogs undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from a parvoviral infection, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or other disease, can suffer from acute vomiting that can cause electrolyte abnormalities, weakness, dehydration, and possibly death. Dogs frequently must be hospitalized and treated with intravenous (IV) fluids to address problems from severe vomiting.

"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," said Stephen Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. "But it is even more important for cases in which vomiting -- whatever its cause -- can be a serious health hazard."

In one of the studies supporting the approval of Cerenia, the drug was tested on dogs with cancer undergoing chemotherapeutic treatment with cisplatin, an agent that induces strong vomiting. In these trials, Cerenia was 95 percent effective in preventing vomiting from cisplatin.

Cerenia is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. New York.