From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-12 21:59:00 UTC
Subject: Revolution: (Was Re: Acarexx for ear m
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Karen Purcell, DVM" <drkaren@w...>
wrote:
> Hi Bruce,
>
> >
> > Ok, ok - not you've got our attention. Give with the anecdotes.
If
> > it works, selamectin would be a godsend, as it supposedly works
> > against fleas, heartworms, and earmites, (also ticks and
sarcoptes
> > mites, which ferrets rarely get.)
> >
> > I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE ON THE LIST WHO IS OR
HAS
> > USED THIS PRODUCT. Have you had any problems, and has it been
> > efficiacious? (This is what lists are for!)
>
> I've had 3 clients use this to treat ear mites in their cats, and
> we consistently found ear mites for 2 months in one case, 3 months
in
> the others (before I left that practice) even with proper
application
> of Revolution. Also, there was an FML post a while back describing
> ferret deaths attributed to Revolution. I took those with the
usual
> grain of salt, but think twice about using it on my patients.
> Truthfully, I did use it in my own ferrets for ear mites, but
> resorted to direct ivermectin therapy the next month when the mites
> persisted. After 2 treatments, the mites were gone.
> Hope this answers your need for info, my current employer does
not
> stock Revolution, so I haven't used it recently.
OK, being the ever vigilant purveyor of inromation, I am currently
reposting the FML post regarding adverse effects after administration
of Revolution. (PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A REPOST FROM THE FML, AND
DOES NOT EXPRESS MY PERSONAL OPIONION OF THIS PRODUCT, WHICH HAS YET
TO BE FORMULATED).
***BEGIN QUOTE FROM FML*****
Hi my name is Deb and I am a registered Vet Tech here in Missouri. I
work
at a wonderful clinic that supports what I do. We recently had a
product
seminar that we were invited to by the rep to learn more about the
product
Revolution. The Pfizer vet at the meeting made the product sound
wonderful
especially for fleas and earmites. She also said that it could be
used on
ferrets and gave us the dosage. Several weeks ago I decided to try
it on
four of my ferrets that had earmite problems. I had six ferrets at
the
time , all healthy and happy. About 10 days to two weeks later all
four
were sick and now three of the four are DEAD!!!!
When the last two got real bad it finally dawned on me what had
happened.
All six are in the same cage and only these four got ill. Nothing had
changed and all got the same food and enviroment. The last one to
die was
sent to The University of Missouri Vet School Diagnostic Lab for
necropsy.
They so far can not find a reason for the death.The toxicology test is
still pending. Please if any of you got the same information at a
seminar
do not listen to what they said. This product can KILL. I am
concerned
about using it on anything else and am considering throwing the rest
of
my free samples away. This price is to high. So far there has been
no
response from Pfizer except to say that there is no proof that the
product
did this. I would say that if three of four animals died that is
pretty
suspicious. The last ferret has gotten support treatment and is doing
better but is still somewhat ataxic.
Please spread the word do not use it on ferrets. Thanks for
listening.
Deb RVT"
******END QUOTE FROM FML*****
Now the analysis of this post at first blush reveals a tremendous
tragedy, but as is so often the case, no definitive evidence that
this product is the cause of these animals death. (Deb, if you are
out there, I'd live to hear more, as I know this post was sent to the
FML shortly after the animal's death). There is also no listing of
the dosage in these animals. Unfortunately, I was unable to come up
with any followup posts listing UMiss's results from the tox screen.
Why ten days to two weeks - that seems a bit odd for a toxicity -
usually toxicity from avermectin compounds are seen within 24 hours.
Perhaps there were extenuating circumstances which resulted in a
delayed reaction, but all of the other posts on the FML and the FHL
do not suggest any reactions at all. As an unbiased observer, I am
at this point hesitant to say that it is harmful to ferrets without
any more definitive evidence (but that's how pathologists work - we
are ever-cynical.
Right now, the overriding evidence appears that this product is safe
for ferrets - but certainly it appears that it may not be as good for
ear mites as reviously suspected (although the company does indeed
suggest that thorough cleaning of the ears should accompany
administration).
Let's continue to monitor this situation - a drug with this potential
advantage in ferrets should not be discarded because of a single
unproven report of adverse reaction.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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