Musculoskeletal disorder after Selamectin (Revolution) in dogs

The FDA has received 61 reports of musculoskeletal disorder in dogs after Selamectin. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

61Reports

20%Marked serious

30%Recovered

4.9%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 49%

1–2 days

9 19%

3–7 days

4 8.5%

1–4 weeks

6 13%

Over a month

5 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

18 30%

Still unwell when reported

18 30%

Died

2 3.3%

Euthanised

1 1.6%

Not known

22 36%

Problems reported at the same time

23 38%

15 25%

15 25%

15 25%

12 20%

9 15%

7 11%

7 11%

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 musculoskeletal disorder in dogs?: 61 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).

Musculoskeletal disorder with similar medicines

Musculoskeletal disorder after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 197 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Musculoskeletal disorder after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 352 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Musculoskeletal disorder after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 127 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Musculoskeletal disorder after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 92 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Musculoskeletal disorder after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 60 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Musculoskeletal disorder after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 53 reports · 0.4% of its reports

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