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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Severe/intractable vomiting (parvo enteritis, pancreatitis, chemotherapy) when conventional antiemetics fail
DogExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Severe/intractable vomiting (parvo enteritis, pancreatitis, chemotherapy) when conventional antiemetics fail — Extra-label
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Intractable vomiting — controversial, some avoid entirely
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Intractable vomiting — controversial, some avoid entirely — Extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens3
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects202
Well tolerated overall — —
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Constipation, sedation, extrapyramidal signs (head shaking), arrhythmias, hypotension — <10% incidence (human data)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Vomiting209 reports
- Diarrhoea146 reports
- Death by euthanasia140 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in Neurological)119 reports
- Not eating112 reports
- Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)109 reports
- Elevated total bilirubin95 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS87 reports
- Anorexia86 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')79 reports
- Abnormal ultrasound finding70 reports
- Decreased appetite70 reports
Cat
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in Neurological)47 reports
- Vomiting42 reports
- Not eating38 reports
- Death by euthanasia32 reports
- Weight loss29 reports
- Dehydration28 reports
- Anorexia27 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS25 reports
- Anaemia NOS24 reports
- Hyperglycaemia24 reports
- Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)23 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS22 reports
Monitoring1
Clinical efficacy (vomiting frequency); GI signs
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Hypersensitivity to 5-HT3 antagonists
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
May mask ileus/gastric distension — do not substitute for NG decompression when indicated; hepatic dysfunction; use caution in MDR1-mutant dogs (P-glycoprotein substrate in humans, unconfirmed in dogs)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Oral bioavailability in dogs is under 10% — if using ondansetron for a dog, IV or SC administration is far more reliable than oral dosing despite oral being commonly prescribed.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
In cats, the longer half-life via the SC route makes SC dosing preferable to IV/PO for sustained effect.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Reserved for intractable vomiting when maropitant/metoclopramide are insufficient — not typically first-line given cost and administration-route limitations.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions4
Apomorphine — Contraindicated combination in humans — severe hypotension
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
QTc-prolonging drugs (amiodarone, cisapride, halothane, isoflurane, sotalol) — Theoretical additive QTc risk
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Tramadol — May reduce efficacy of both drugs (human data)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metoclopramide — Physical incompatibility if mixed in IV line — do not combine in same catheter
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics4
Bioavailability — <10% PO (dog) — raises real questions about oral efficacy; 32% PO / 75% SC (cat)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Half-life — ~30 min PO (dog, short); 1.2–3.2h (cat, longest via SC route)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Extensive hepatic
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Elimination — Hepatic — unlikely to need dose adjustment in renal impairment
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
No overt fetotoxicity/teratogenicity at high doses in rodent studies. Human FDA category B. Excreted in rat milk.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 909–910; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 580–582 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references11
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- The Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous and Subcutaneous Ondansetron in Female Beagle Dogs.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- A novel Ondansetron extended release injectable suspension (OERIS): evaluation of Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics in a phase I trial.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Simultaneous determination of ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol residues in poultry, red meat, and fish by high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet method.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Bioavailability of Oral Ondansetron in Dogs: A Crossover Study.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- The statistical and pharmacological sensitivity of nonclinical QTc analysis comparing jacketed telemetry and multilead snapshot recording in the same dogs.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
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