Cough after Selamectin (Revolution) in dogs

The FDA has received 224 reports of cough in dogs after Selamectin. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.8% across reports for all dog medicines.

224Reports

9.4%Marked serious

2.2%Recovered

8.0%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

22 50%

1–2 days

7 16%

3–7 days

6 14%

1–4 weeks

1 2.3%

Over a month

8 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 2.2%

Still unwell when reported

32 14%

Died

16 7.1%

Euthanised

2 0.9%

Not known

169 75%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't prevent heartworm

87 39%

Lethargy

41 18%

Vomiting

28 13%

Loss of appetite

28 13%

Abnormal radiograph finding

27 12%

Breathing problems

21 9.4%

Death

18 8.0%

Diarrhea

17 7.6%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Selamectin prevents heartworm and treats fleas, ear mites and some worms (spot-on).

Products with this ingredient include Revolution. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Some herding breeds (for example Collies) carry the MDR1 gene variant and can be more sensitive to this drug class at high doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Selamectin cause cough in dogs?: 224 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 1 day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Cough with similar medicines

Cough after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 727 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Cough after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 853 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Cough after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 434 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Cough after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 304 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Cough after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 193 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Cough after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 117 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Cough after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 57 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Cough after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 24 reports · 2.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Selamectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with cough