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WHAT IS AN ANTI-EMETIC ?

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Anti-emetics are often prescribed by veterinarians - but what are they ?

Emesis is the medical term for "vomiting". An anti-emetic is therefore a drug that stops vomiting. There are  many causes of vomiting - for further information about vomiting CLICK HERE.

Anti-emetic drugs are used mainly under two circumstances :

  • to treat non-specific vomiting ie when the precise cause is unknown, and 
  • to prevent travel sickness.

They are also sometimes used at the time of general anaesthesia to prevent vomiting whilst the patient is unconscious. 

If you have some of these drugs at home for your own or your family's use you should not use them for your pet. Only use drugs prescribed specifically for your pet by your veterinarian because :

  • Some of these drugs are contraindicated if your pet has another disease eg liver disease, kidney disease
  • Some of these drugs cause side-effects that may not be desirable in your pet eg drowsiness, low blood pressure, excitement, incoordination
  • Some of these drugs are contra-indicated if there is obstruction to food movement through the stomach

In addition, for certain causes of vomiting - such as poisoning, or following the ingestion of contaminated food, the act of vomiting is desirable because it removes potentially toxic materials from the body. Under these circumstances your veterinarian would not wish to give an anti-emetic in the early stages.

Last updated : September 2013