nbc5i.com - Family - Heartworm Medicine Linked
To Sickness, Death
(http://www.nbc5i.com/family/3345322/detail.html)
Scroll down to see chart about Revolution
which states:
"Revolution (Selamectin): Total adverse reactions
8695. Total Deaths 181. Year Approved. 1999"
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Canine Revolution Dangers
(http://www.doglogic.com/revolution.htm)
SAGES STORY
On 3/15/00 I asked my Vet for a Heartworm preventive for my 2 year old Australian Shepherd, Sage. They recommended Pfizer's Revolution for dogs. It was applied on 3/15/00. On 3/20/00 Sage developed a cough, but she was otherwise fine. She'd had a bath at the Vet on 3/15/00 also, so I decided to watch her for further symptoms. On 3/23/00 she was fine, until late afternoon when she became quiet and didn't want to play. By 7pm that night, she had trouble opening her left eye and whimpered when she jumped down from the couch or bed. In the past, Sage always had a tendency to bruise easily. She had sensitive skin and had worried an area until it had bruised. She had no trouble with her blood clotting and had been previously spayed.She now had bruising on her body. When I took her to the Vet, he asked if she had been in rat poison. I informed him that she was an inside dog and only went out to play with the kids and to use the bathroom. My neighbors have pets and do not put out poisons. They also asked if she had had a blow to the head because there was blood in the whites of her eyes that was not there yesterday. I stated that she was not hit in the head. I asked if it could be the Revolution and was informed by the Vet that it could not be. I told my vet that was the only thing that Sage had been exposed to.He did a CBC and her platelets were 87 and WBC count was 27,000. Her Hematocrit (Hct) was 37. He treated her for infection and rat poisoning and sent us home. Within 3 hours she was falling over. I rushed her back to the Vet and he kept her until 5pm that afternoon. I brought her home after they said she was doing better.At 6pm she was again falling over and I called my Vet back and was informed to bring her back the next day. By 11pm, she was bleeding from her nose and had vomited with streaks of bright red blood. My husband and I
drove her to an ER clinic in Savannah, GA and was told that it was either a tick born disease or rat poisoning or a blow to the head. I again asked if could be the Revolution and was informed no. They kept her and treated her as my vet. When I called at 6am, I was informed that she was having seizures but she was otherwise stable. I was worried about a subdural hematoma and talked with my Vet. He suggested I take Sage to Charleston, SC to see a
Specialist. She arrived there at 4:30pm. When I gave her history, I again asked if it could be the Revolution and was informed no. Later that night Sage continued to have seizures and she bled into the orbits of her eyes, but they said their was still hope. At 6:45am they called and said Sage had arrested and was on a ventilator.We asked that they let her go. This has been devastating to my family. We loved Sage. She was a family member. At 10am, the clinic called and asked permission to perform an autopsy. They informed me that another dog had died last month there, with symptoms the same as Sage. The dog was an inside dog and the only thing different was that the owner had started Revolution. The dog died of low platelets and intracranial hemorrhage just like
Sage. (editors note: these symptoms resemble
those of Thrombocytopenia.)The vet in Charleston called the Revolution people (Pfizer) and they are paying for Sages autopsy. They also paid for the other dogs' autopsy. That autopsy showed low platelets and intracranial hemorrhage from a toxin. (? Revolution was the only toxin the owners had given). I will not know the results of the autopsy for a month, but I presonally believe it could have been the Revolution. If 2 dogs have died in the Savannah Charleston area in the last month, how many nation wide?Please spread the word for owners to be careful about using this drug on their dogs. No dog should suffer like my Sage suffered. I am simply expressing my OPINION at this point. No proof has been made of our suspicions, but we feel obliged to notify the public of our fears of a potential problem.
Thanks for Listening,
Terri Eddy
Rincon, GAEditors Notes: I verified this information of 4/2/00 by speaking with Terri on the phone. Terri is a nurse, and is knowledgeable regarding drugs and testing. While she is very saddened by the loss of her beloved Sage, she is NOT accusing Pfizer of anything. Instead she wishes other dog owners to exercise caution in the use of this drug until more info is forthcoming. When the results of Sages Autopsy are available, I will publish them here. Here is Terri's Addendum:Attention: If you have read my previous message concerning Revolution and the death of my dog Sage, please read this message. This is strictly my opinion until the autopsy reports are back. I just want people to be cautious when considering using this product on their animals until further evidence is available. Terri EddyFOLLOW UP- FIRST MEDICAL REPORT
______________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm praying as hard as I can. Mira, our
Maltese, was given Revolution by a MI Vet
after her Rescue (she was on the wires in
MO for TEN years). It was supposed to be
the "Cure All" almost 5 years ago
when it was given to her. Mira, God love
her, survived without any major problems
but our Vets here in NY said they feel a
drug strong enough to kill off so many things
is TOO STRONG for them to dispense. Prayers
for Bear and please let us know......
Kay, Puppy, Becce, Mira, and Ivy
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: EMERGENCY! STOP, DROP and PRAY REQUEST!
Date: 6/6/2004 9:18:35 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Londeb29@aol.com
To: Pup3
I can't believe it, it happened to my adopted bichon Shelby AKA Sante Fe Sandi on May 14, 2004. I decided to contact Pfizer after my vet politely told me to try it again the next month and if they same thing happened again then I should change flea medication. Pfizer has refunded my money for the Revolution and I am now trying to get paid for the vet bill. The dosage is too stronge for our delicate bichons. The drug range is under 10lbs or 10 to 20 lbs and Shelby is only 11 lbs which is what the vet told me I needed due to Shelby's increase in weight. My vet gave Shelby a few injections and it took 3 days for her to begin to move around again. She is doing better but has not been the same since. I should have notified my bichon family as I thought this was an isolated incident. I am so sorry I may have been able to save Bear from this terrible toxic drug.
Sincerely Debbie Perryman
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: EMERGENCY! STOP, DROP and PRAY REQUEST!/ Information about Revolution!
Date: 6/6/2004 4:33:40 PM Central Daylight Time
From: susankoehrn@insightbb.com
To: pup3@aol.com
Canine Revolution Dangers
(http://www.doglogic.com/revolution.htm)
Dale, I have attached a website that describes
2 experiences with Revolution and at the
bottom of the site has additional links to
get even more info about side effects, etc.
It sounds like some very bad stuff. We should
all be looking for natural/organic ways to
help our babies. Chemicals kill! I hope this
info helps even a little. Our bichons cannot
handle drugs of any kind. Take care, Susan
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: EMERGENCY! STOP, DROP and PRAY REQUEST!
Date: 6/6/2004 3:48:36 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nancyhakala@aol.com
To: Pup3
Hi Dale,
Thanks so much for the update. There have been many dogs who have become critically ill and have even died from Revolution. :(
Praying for this little one's recovery,
Nancy
We have had several adverse reactions for
Bichons, with revolution. Below is more.
Pfizer says it is not recommended for any
dog that is sick or weak.
A http://www.smallpawsrescue.org/pup3/revolution.html
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/CVMFortDodgeDocument.doc
nbc5i.com - Family - Heartworm Medicine Linked
To Sickness, Death
(http://www.nbc5i.com/family/3345322/detail.html)
Scroll down to see chart about Revolution
which states:
"Revolution (Selamectin): Total adverse
reactions 8695. Total Deaths 181. Year Approved.
1999"
<Subj: Re: EMERGENCY! STOP, DROP and PRAY
REQUEST!
Date: 6/6/2004 9:18:35 PM Central Daylight
Time
From: Londeb29@aol.com
To: Pup3
I can't believe it, it happened to my adopted
bichon Shelby AKA Sante Fe Sandi on May 14,
2004. I decided to contact Pfizer after my
vet politely told me to try it again the
next month and if they same thing happened
again then I should change flea medication.
Pfizer has refunded my money for the Revolution
and I am now trying to get paid for the vet
bill. The dosage is too stronge for our delicate
bichons. The drug range is under 10lbs or
10 to 20 lbs and Shelby is only 11 lbs which
is what the vet told me I needed due to Shelby's
increase in weight. My vet gave Shelby a
few injections and it took 3 days for her
to begin to move around again. She is doing
better but has not been the same since. I
should have notified my bichon family as
I thought this was an isolated incident.
I am so sorry I may have been able to save
Bear from this terrible toxic drug.
Sincerely Debbie Perryman
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: EMERGENCY! STOP, DROP and PRAY
REQUEST!/ Information about Revolution!
Date: 6/6/2004 4:33:40 PM Central Daylight
Time
From: susankoehrn@insightbb.com
To: pup3@aol.com
Canine Revolution Dangers
(http://www.doglogic.com/revolution.htm)
Dale, I have attached a website that describes
2 experiences with Revolution and at the
bottom of the site has additional links to
get even more info about side effects, etc.
It sounds like some very bad stuff. We should
all be looking for natural/organic ways to
help our babies. Chemicals kill! I hope this
info helps even a little. Our bichons cannot
handle drugs of any kind. Take care, Susan
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: EMERGENCY! STOP, DROP and PRAY
REQUEST!
Date: 6/6/2004 3:48:36 PM Central Daylight
Time
From: Nancyhakala@aol.com
To: Pup3
Hi Dale,
Thanks so much for the update. There have
been many dogs who have become critically
ill and have even died from Revolution. :(
Praying for this little one's recovery,
Nancy>
<I called my vet the other day. He did
state that he recommends Revolution for cats,
but has discontinued the sale of it for dogs.
He stated that he has witnessed dogs get
very sick from Revolution & even die
from the product! In May of 2002, I had
a very healthy yellow lab, named Zack, that
all of a sudden died one Sunday afternoon.
He was okay one minute & the next we
found him lying in the bushes beside our
house. Zack was dead. A week earlier he
was given Revolution. Revolution was contacted,
but stated they had no complaints or any
adverse reactions that had been reported
to their company & did absolutely nothing.
Revolution is the most expensive product
on the market today. Consumers need to realize
& be made aware that these inexpensive
as
well as "top of the line" (expensive)
"flea & tick control products"
are both dangerous & DEADLY.
Nicole 8/3/05<
<If anyone would like to help me with
my crusade to put this company out of business,
please contact me.
animalnutzo@yahoo.com
Laura 8/23/05
PS. We also had a really bad reaction two
years ago with one of my dogs to Revolution.
The company never responded. Our dog was
in the ICU for three days and was on massive
amounts of medication to counter act the
reaction to that product. >
<Last week our blind epileptic 4 year
old lab received a flea treatment. Our Vet
checked the product information sheet before
applying the widely used treatment of Revolution.
There was nothing to indicate he could not
receive a treatment. We are an Animal Sanctuary
and use the product always without so much
as a question as we regard it as safe. Our
lab came into contact with some rescued kittens
that had fleas which is why we gave him the
treatment, more as a preventative measure.
We love our boy very much and spare nothing
on his care (he broke his two front legs
and spent over $8000.00 on surgery to fix
them)
Anyway, three days after applying Revolution
our epileptic dog who has seizures like clockwork
every three weeks, went into a series of
cluster seizures. We brought him to our
regular Vet who had him transferred over
to an emergency centre. We started to rule
out what was causing the clustering. That
is when I remembered the Revolution treatment.
I called the drug company and asked in desperation
if possibly this is what could have caused
his cluster seizures. Their response was
"Based on your dog's history of epilepsy,
he would not be a
good candidate for our product." When
I asked them why they simply could not put
that in the product information leaflet,
Their response "Not enough research
to warrent so." They also explained
the time of 3 days after application as to
time of seizing. It takes that long to be
absorbed into the central nervous system.
Our Vet was furious, as she had no idea and
she felt horrible as she truly loves our
special dog, nearly as much as we do.
Our boy survived the clusters (THANK GOODNESS),
and the drug company has agreed to pay for
all the bloodwork we did, however we are
on our own for the other $1000.00 we spent
on the emergency ICU care to pull him through.
We love our boy, and would never do anything
to harm him, why can they not just put this
stuff on the label?????Kelli 8/30/05
Pfizer will only reimburse my fee's associated
with bloodwork...not the 36 hour care in
ICU or the IV hookup or medication. They
said that is in accordance with their policy.
They also said they have no information linking
dogs with epilepsy going into cluster seizures,
so they will not change the general product
information sheet due to my one epileptic
dog having a (possible) reaction.
His blood was so obscured the day of the
cluster seizures the bloodwork was useless,
so they had to redraw blood today. CBC toxology,
phenobarb/KBR therapeutic test, thyroid test
etc...
I am just worried sick for the next month
until this stuff is suppose to be out of
his system.
His epilepsy is controlled to like I said
earlier..1 seizure every three weeks....seems
odd that three days after receiving revolution
(the only change) he went into a series of
cluster seizures :(
Why do they not want to put the "possible
side effect" on their general information
sheet?
I now have told three of our Vet's about
it, and they said they were NEVER told about
that possible
side effect ever.
Kelli 8/30/05
Pfizer claims they have no information linking
Revolution with cluster seizures when it's
used on dogs with epilepsy. However, they
DO have information linking Revolution with
serious adverse drug experiences (ADEs) when
it's used on "sick, debilitated or underweight
animals." That's why the FDA made Pfizer
put a warning on their label in 2002, stating,
"Do not use in sick, debilitated or
underweight animals" That's also why
Pfizer's representative told you, "Based
on your dog's history of epilepsy, he would
not be a good candidate for our product."
Here is a document from the FDA's Center
for Veterinary Medicine concerning adverse
reactions to heartworm drugs for dogs (including
Selamectin, which is the generic name for
Pfizer's Revolution):
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/CVMFortDodgeDocument.doc
James TerBush