Drugs Used for Motion Sickness in Dogs and Cats
Drug | Mechanism of Action | Dose in Dogs | Dose in Cats | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chlorpromazine HCl | D2 dopamine antagonist, 5-HT3 effects; antihistamine and alpha-adrenergic antagonist | 0.5 mg/kg, IV, IM, SC, q 8 h; 1–3 mg/kg, PO, up to q 6 ha | Questionable efficacy in catsb,c | Inhibits apomorphine-induced emesis in dogs; may potentiate seizures |
Prochlorperazine | Phenothiazine derivative Multiple mechanisms of action, including antagonism of dopamine, histamine type 1, alpha-2-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors | 0.17–0.7 mg/kg, IM, SC, q 6–12 hd | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg, SC, q 8 he | Antiemetic |
Meclizine HCl | Piperazine derivative; antihistamine | 12.5 mg/dog, PO, q 12 hf | Not effective in cats | Give 1 h before travel for motion sickness |
Diphenhydramine HCl | Antihistamine | 2–4 mg/kg, PO, IM, q 8 hg | Not effective in cats | Prevents motion sickness; is sedative, antiemetic |
Dolasetron mesylateh | 5-HT3 receptor antagonist | 0.6 mg/kg, IV or PO, q 24 h | 0.6 mg/kg, IV or PO, q 24 h | Useful for chemotherapy-related nausea |
Ondansetron HCl dihydrate | 5-HT3 receptor antagonist | 0.3–1 mg/kg, IV (slowly) or PO, q 8–12 hi,j,k | 0.5–1 mg/kg, PO, SC, IM, or IV (slowly), q 8 hl | Use caution in dogs with MDR1 gene mutation; give IV 30 min before chemotherapy |
Metoclopramide | D2 dopamine antagonist, mild 5-HT3 effects | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV, q 6–8 h;1–2 mg/kg/day, IV CRIm,n | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV, q 6–8 h; 1–2 mg/kg/day, IV CRIm | Do not use in GI obstruction, with phenothiazines or narcotic analgesics |
Maropitant | NK-1 receptor antagonist | 1 mg/kg SC, q 24 h, or 2 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h up to 5 consecutive days; motion sickness: 8 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h until resolution of acute vomiting (for dogs > 7 mo old)o,p | 1 mg/kg, SC, IV, or PO, q 24 h for up to 5 consecutive daysq | Dose 2 hours before travel; not recommended in animals < 16 weeks old; SC route may cause pain on injection |
aHall J. Diseases of the stomach. In: Ettinger S, Feldman E, eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat. Vol 1. WB Saunders; 2000:1154-1182. bOgeer J. Chlorpromazine HCl (Thorazine). DVMetrics North American Companion Animal Formulary. 14th ed. Revised January 18, 2024. c Posner L, Burns P. Sedative agents: tranquilizers, alpha-2 agonists and related agents. In: Riviere J, Papich M, eds. Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 9th ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2009:337-380. d Niemegeers CJ.Antiemetic specificity of dopamine antagonist. Psychopharmacology. 1982:78(3):210-213. doi:10.1007/BF00428152 e Trepanier L. Acute vomiting in cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2010;12(3):225-230. doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2010.01.005 f Garosi LS, Lowrie ML, Swinbourne NG. Neurological manifestations of ear disease in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012;42(6):1143-1160. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.08.006 g Platt SR. Vestibular disease. In: Silverstein DC, Hopper K, eds. Small Animal Critical Care Medicine. 2nd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015:452-458. h Ogilvie GK. Dolasetron: a new option for nausea and vomiting. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2000;36(6):481-483. doi:10.5326/15473317-36-6-481 i Soetelo CK, Shropshire SB, Quimby J, Simpson S, Gustafson DL, Zersen KM. Pharmacokinetics and anti-nausea effects of intravenous ondansetron in hospitalized dogs exhibiting clinical signs of nausea. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2022;45(6):508-515. doi:10.1111/jvp.13087 j Kenward H, Elliott J, Lee T, Pelligand L. Anti-nausea effects and pharmacokinetics of ondansetron, maropitant and metoclopramide in a low-dose cisplatin model of nausea and vomiting in the dog: a blinded crossover study. BMC Vet Res. 2017;13(1):244-256. doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1156-7 k Foth S, Meller S, Kenward H, Elliott J, Pelligand L, Volk HA. The use of ondansetron for the treatment of nausea in dogs with vestibular syndrome. BMC Vet Res. 2021;17(1):222-231. doi:10.1186/s12917-021-02931-9 l Quimby JM, Lake RC, Hansen RJ, Lunghofer PJ, Gustafson DL. Oral, subcutaneous, and intravenous pharmacokinetics of ondansetron in healthy cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2014;37(4):348-353. doi:10.1111/jvp.12094 m Macintire DK, Drobatz KJ, Haskins SC, Saxon WD. Metoclopramide. Manual of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. Wiley-Blackwell; 2012:604. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781119421870.app10?msockid=02cc6156f0b8695426a8761df1bc688e n Whitehead K, Cortes Y, Eirmann L. Gastrointestinal dysmotility disorders in critically ill dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2016;26(2):234-253. doi:10.1111/vec.12449 o US Food and Drug Administration. [Maropitant citrate] injectable solution dogs. Freedom of Information Summary, NADA 141-263. Approved January 29, 2007. https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/818 p US Food and Drug Administration. Maropitant citrate tablets dogs. Freedom of Information Summary, ANADA 200-833. Approved January 12, 2026. https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/17886 q Hickman MA, Cox SR, Mahabir S, et al. Safety, pharmacokinetics and use of the novel NK-1 receptor antagonist maropitant (Cerenia) for the prevention of emesis and motion sickness in cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2008;31(3):220-229. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.2008.00952.x | ||||
