Death after Selamectin (Revolution) in dogs

The FDA has received 785 reports of death in dogs after Selamectin. That is 2.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

785Reports

32%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

97%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

62 31%

1–2 days

35 18%

3–7 days

28 14%

1–4 weeks

29 15%

Over a month

44 22%

How the animals did

Died

675 86%

Euthanised

87 11%

Not known

23 2.9%

Problems reported at the same time

232 30%

204 26%

194 25%

130 17%

112 14%

106 14%

Didn't prevent heartworm

103 13%

Liver problems

102 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

186

1–3 years

103

4–7 years

149

8–11 years

167

12+ years

126

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 death in dogs?: 785 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 3 days 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 2,810 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Death after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 3,307 reports · 2.5% of its reports
Death after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 2,447 reports · 4.8% of its reports
Death after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 920 reports · 2.9% of its reports
Death after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 1,015 reports · 3.4% of its reports
Death after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 609 reports · 5.1% of its reports
Death after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 125 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Death after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 60 reports · 5.2% of its reports

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