BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A new class of drugs to prevent and treat acute vomiting and motion sickness in dogs was approved by U.S. government for the first time, media reported Thursday.

    The approved drug Cerenia, made by Pfizer Inc. and known by the chemical name maropitant citrate, was the first to prevent and treat vomiting in dogs, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    "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, director of the 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."

    When used in tablet form, the Pfizer Inc. drug can prevent vomiting associated with motion sickness. And in the injectable form it can prevent and treat acute vomiting due to chemotherapy, parvovirus, kidney disease, pancreatitis and other causes, said the FDA.

    In one study, Cerenia was tested on dogs with cancer undergoing chemotherapy with the drug cisplatin, which induces severe vomiting. In these trials, the drug was 95 percent effective in preventing vomiting on cisplatin, according to the drug agency.

    Both versions of the drugs are available only by order of a veterinarian, media reported.

    (Agencies)