[Vomiting: causes and therapy]

Vomiting can be a symptom of serious disease. Although it is important to correctly diagnose the cause of vomiting so the underlying disease can be treated, often antiemetic drugs must be used for the well being of the patient. First the physiology of vomiting with the neurotransmitter receptor system and the neuroanatomical neuron pathway is reviewed. Then a synopsis of antiemetic drugs currently used in veterinary medicine is presented with classification according to receptor antagonism. Finally novel drugs used to control vomiting in human patients and which may play a future role for the veterinary patient are discussed.