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Cerenia and FIP.

Species: Cat
Breed: dlh tortie
Age: 1-2 years
Holly was diagnosed with the Corona Virus when she was only a few months old. It appears to be mutating into FIP :( Yesterday she had an ultrasound done and the results showed that she had inflamation around the fat in her abdomen. My vet perscribed Cernia for her. Initially I was told that she would prescribe a anti-inflamatory/steriod/antibiotic and pain reliver. Upon reading how Cernia benefits a cat, it says that it treats vomiting in animals. Holly isn't vomiting, I did not tell my vet that she was either.My vet gave me 4 pills, one for each day, she said we would stop after four days, wait two days and prescribe again. My question is, how is Cernia going to help with the inflamation in her abdomen?I have not read anything that it helps with inflamation. I would appreciate receiving an explanation as to how this medicine will help or benefit Holly. Thanks for your help.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi and thanks for your question. I'm so sorry to hear that your vet is suspecting FIP for Holly.

I'm really not sure why Cerenia would be prescribed. It really wouldn't do anything for inflammation.

If Holly has a poor appetite, it is possible that the Cerenia could help. It is for nausea and even if a cat is not vomiting they can still be nauseous.

It's not a bad idea to give your vet's office a call and ask if they can explain why the medication was prescribed. It's possible that there is an alternate use of Cerenia that I am not aware of. Or, it's possible that there was a mistake. The dosing of once a day for 4 days sounds normal for Cerenia, but I can't see how this would be beneficial for FIP unless there was nausea present.

Let me know what they say.

Dr. Marie.


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Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

Customer reply:

Hi Dr, Marie, thanks for responding, I did call my vet and asked again the purpose of prescribing Cerina. She said that Cerina has several uses and helping with the inflamation was one of them, and that more and more is being learned about the benefits of Cerina. I am confused since I have not found anywhere that says it helps with that. The important thing I suppose, is that Holly's appetite is coming back. I do have another question, I keep a supply of amoxicillian, (still in powder form) for Holly, it seems to be the only thing that makes her feel better or helps when she has diarrhea, can I give her the Cerina and amoxicillian? I know amoxicillian isn't for the inflamation, but she always seems to be doing better when on it for about 2 days. I never give her the antibiotic for the 2 weeks. Just till she seems like she is doing better.I appreciate your help, I too am very sad to learn that although the Corona virus doesn't usually mutate into FIP, it seems to be with my Holly. Thanks, Lissa


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

It certainly is possible that new uses of Cerenia are being discovered. I am currently on maternity leave and have not been in the office for the last year so it is possible that there is new information that I don't have. With that being said, if Holly was off of her food then Cerenia certainly was indicated as it can help with nausea. There can be nausea present even if there is no vomiting.

Regarding the amoxicillin, you definitely would not want to do this. Giving antibiotics sporadically or just because they may help can actually be quite dangerous and can promote antibiotic resistance in the world. There really is no indication for amoxicillin that I can see here.

If Holly seems to have diarrhea that is responsive to amoxicillin you may want to ask your vet if a short course of a drug called metronidazole may be helpful. This is an antibiotic with properties that help with intestinal inflammation. We don't tend to see as much resistance with metronidazole and I am more comfortable using it for short stints where it seems to help.

Hope things continue to improve!

Dr. Marie.



Customer reply:

Congratulations on the baby. It is good you can spend some quality time with your new one. I have used the metronidazole before, and as you already know everyone HATES it!!! She drools profusely when given the metronidazole. I don't use the amoxicillian often, probably not even once a month. But thanks for the feedback on it. I certainly don't want to make things worse for her, life is tough enough for her. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. Lissa


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Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.