Revolution for Dogs

Revolution for Dogs is a well-known brand of flea and tick control medication for dogs. It is a topical treatment that helps protect dogs against various parasites, including fleas, ticks, ear mites, and sarcoptic mange. Revolution is available through veterinary prescription and is considered a broad-spectrum parasiticide.

Key Benefits:

• Active Ingredients: Revolution for Dogs contains the active ingredient selamectin, which belongs to the avermectin class of antiparasitic compounds.
• Flea Control: Revolution kills adult fleas and prevents their eggs from hatching, effectively breaking the flea life cycle. It provides month-long protection against fleas.
• Tick Control: Revolution also helps control ticks, including American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) and deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). It can prevent tick infestations for up to a month.
• Other Parasite Control: In addition to fleas and ticks, Revolution is effective against ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) and sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) in dogs.
• Heartworm Prevention: Revolution for Dogs also acts as a heartworm preventive. It can kill the immature stages of heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) before they can cause harm to the dog's cardiovascular system.
• Easy Application: Revolution is applied topically, usually on the skin between the dog's shoulder blades. It comes in pre-measured, single-dose tubes for different dog sizes.
• Veterinary Prescription: Revolution for Dogs is available only with a prescription from a veterinarian. It is important to consult with a vet before starting any new medication for your dog, as they can provide the appropriate dosage and guide you on proper administration.
• Safety: Revolution is generally considered safe for dogs when used as directed. However, like any medication, it may have potential side effects or interactions with other medications. It is crucial to follow the instructions provided by the veterinarian and consult them in case of any concerns.

Indications:

• Flea Control: Revolution kills adult fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.) and prevents flea eggs from hatching. It is effective in controlling flea infestations in dogs.
• Tick Control: Revolution helps control ticks, including American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) and deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). It can prevent tick infestations in dogs.
• Ear Mite Treatment: Revolution is indicated for the treatment and control of ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations in dogs.
• Sarcoptic Mange Treatment: Revolution is also used to treat and control sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) in dogs.
• Heartworm Prevention: Revolution acts as a monthly preventive for heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) in dogs. It kills the immature stages of heartworms before they can cause harm to the dog's cardiovascular system.

It is important to note that Revolution for Dogs should be used as directed by a veterinarian. The dosage and frequency of application may vary depending on the dog's weight, age, and health status. Always consult with a veterinarian before using Revolution or any other medication on your dog to ensure appropriate usage and to address any specific concerns or considerations for your pet.

How it works:

Revolution for Dogs contains the active ingredient selamectin, which works by targeting the nervous system of parasites, including fleas, ticks, mites, and heartworms. Here's how it works for each specific parasite:

1. Fleas: When Revolution is applied topically to a dog's skin, selamectin is absorbed and circulates in the bloodstream. When a flea bites the dog, it ingests selamectin along with the blood. Selamectin then affects the flea's nervous system, causing paralysis and ultimately leading to its death. It also prevents flea eggs from hatching, thereby helping to break the flea life cycle.
2. Ticks: Similar to fleas, ticks come into contact with selamectin when they bite a dog treated with Revolution. The selamectin affects the tick's nervous system, leading to paralysis and death. It can help control tick infestations and reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases in dogs.
3. Ear Mites: Revolution is effective against ear mites (Otodectes cynotis). When applied topically, selamectin is absorbed into the skin and ear canal. It targets the nervous system of ear mites, killing them and providing relief from infestations.
4. Sarcoptic Mange: Selamectin in Revolution can also treat sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) in dogs. It works by killing the mites responsible for the infestation, providing relief from the associated itching and skin irritation.
5. Heartworm Prevention: Revolution acts as a monthly heartworm preventive. When applied to a dog's skin, selamectin is absorbed into the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body. It targets and eliminates the immature stages of heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) before they can develop into adults that can cause damage to the dog's heart and lungs.

It is important to note that Revolution for Dogs is specifically formulated for dogs and should not be used on other animals or humans. Additionally, it is crucial to follow the instructions provided by the veterinarian and use Revolution as directed to ensure its effectiveness and maximize its benefits in controlling parasites.

View Revolution product insert.

The recommended minimum dose is 2.7 mg selamectin per pound (6 mg/kg) of body weight. Administer the entire contents of a single dose tube (or two tubes used in combination for dogs weighing over 130 pounds) of Revolution topically in accordance with the following tables. (See Administration for the recommended treatment intervals.)

For dogs over 130 lbs use the appropriate combination of tubes.

Recommended for use in dogs 6 weeks of age and older and in cats 8 weeks of age and older.

For cats over 22 lbs use the appropriate combination of tubes.

Administration:

A veterinarian or veterinary technician should demonstrate or instruct the pet owner regarding the appropriatetechnique for applying Revolution topically to dogs and cats prior to first use. Firmly press the cap down to puncture the seal on the Revolution tube; a clicking sound will confirm that the cap has successfully punctured the seal. Remove the cap and check to ensure that the tip of the tube is open. To administer the product, part the hair on the back of the animal at the base of the neck in front of the shoulder blades until the skin is visible. Place the tip of the tube on the skin and squeeze the tube 3 or 4 times to empty its entire contents directly onto the skin in one spot. Keeping the tube squeezed, drag it away from the liquid and lift to remove. Check the tube to ensure that it is empty. Do not massage the product into the skin. Due to alcohol content, do not apply to broken skin. Avoid contact between the product and fingers. Do not apply when the haircoat is wet. Bathing or shampooing the dog 2 or more hours after treatment will not reduce the effectiveness of Revolution against fleas or heartworm. Bathing or shampooing the cat 2 hours after treatment will not reduce the effectiveness of Revolution against fleas. Bathing or shampooing the cat 24 hours after treatment will not reduce the effectiveness of Revolution against heartworm. Stiff hair, clumping of hair, hair discoloration, or a slight powdery residue may be observed at the treatment site in some animals. These effects are temporary and do not affect the safety or effectiveness of the product. Discard empty tubes in your ordinary household refuse.

Flea Control in Dogs and Cats

For the prevention and control of flea infestations, Revolution should be administered at monthly intervals throughout the flea season, starting one month before fleas become active. In controlled laboratory studies ›98% of fleas were killed within 36 hours. Results of clinical field studies using Revolution monthly demonstrated ›90% control of flea infestations within 30 days of the first dose. Dogs and cats treated with Revolution, including those with pre-existing flea allergy dermatitis, showed improvement in clinical signs associated with fleas as a direct result of eliminating the fleas from the animals and their environment.

If the dog or cat is already infested with fleas when the first dose of Revolution is administered, adult fleas on the animal are killed and no viable fleas hatch from eggs after the first administration. However, an environmental infestation of fleas may persist for a short time after beginning treatment with Revolution because of the emergence of adult fleas from pupae.

Heartworm Prevention in Dogs and Cats

For the prevention of heartworm disease, Revolution must be administered on a monthly basis. Revolution may be administered year-round or at least within one month after the animal's first exposure to mosquitoes and monthly thereafter until the end of the mosquito season. The final dose must be given within one month after the last exposure to mosquitoes. If a dose is missed and a monthly interval between dosing is exceeded then immediate administration of Revolution and resumption of monthly dosing will minimize the opportunity for the development of adult heartworms. When replacing another heartworm preventive product in a heartworm disease prevention program, the first dose of Revolution must be given within a month of the last dose of the former medication.

Selamectin, the active ingredient in Revolution, is a macrocyclic lactone compound. These compounds effectively prevent the development of adult heartworms when administered to dogs and cats within one month of exposure to infective (L₃) Dirofilaria immitis larvae. Efficacy of macrocyclic lactones decreases below 100% in dogs, however, if first administered ›2 months after exposure to infective larvae. Thus, in heartworm endemic regions, delaying initiation of heartworm prevention using Revolution beyond 2 months of first exposure to infective larvae (e.g., starting puppies and kittens at ›8 weeks of age), or gaps of ›2 months in the administration of Revolution during periods of heartworm transmission, increases the risk of the animal acquiring heartworms. Animals with unknown heartworm history that test negative for heart-worms prior to the initiation of Revolution may be harboring pre-patent infections at the time Revolution was started. Testing such animals 3-4 months after initiation of Revolution would be necessary to confirm their negative heartworm status.

At the discretion of the veterinarian, cats ≥6 months of age may be tested to determine the presence of existing heartworm infections before beginning treatment with Revolution. Cats already infected with adult heartworms can be given Revolution monthly to prevent further infections.

Ear Mite Treatment in Dogs and Cats

For the treatment of ear mite (O. cynotis) infestations in dogs and cats, Revolution should be administered once as a single topical dose. A second monthly dose may be required in some dogs. Monthly use of Revolution will control any subsequent ear mite infestations. In the clinical field trials ears were not cleaned, and many animals still had debris in their ears after the second dose. Cleansing of the infested ears is recommended to remove the debris.

Sarcoptic Mange Treatment in Dogs

For the treatment of sarcoptic mange (S. scabiei) in dogs, Revolution should be administered once as a single topical dose. A second monthly dose may be required in some dogs. Monthly use of Revolution will control any subsequent sarcoptic mange mite infestations. Because of the difficulty in finding sarcoptic mange mites on skin scrapings, effectiveness assessments also were based on resolution of clinical signs. Resolution of the pruritus associated with the mite infestations was observed in approximately 50% of the dogs 30 days after the first treatment and in approximately 90% of the dogs 30 days after the second monthly treatment.

Tick Control in Dogs

For the control of tick (Dermacentor variabilis) infestations in dogs, Revolution should be administered on a monthly basis. In heavy tick infestations, complete efficacy may not be achieved after the first dose. In these cases, one additional dose may be administered two weeks after the previous dose, with monthly dosing continued thereafter.

Nematode Treatment in Cats

For the treatment and control of intestinal hookworm (A. tubaeforme) and roundworm (T. cati) infections, Revolution should be applied once as a single topical dose.

Safety:

Revolution has been tested safe in over 100 different pure and mixed breeds of healthy dogs and over 15 different pure and mixed breeds of healthy cats, including pregnant and lactating females, breeding males and females, puppies six weeks of age and older, kittens eight weeks of age and older, and avermectin sensitive collies. A kitten, estimated to be 5-6 weeks old (0.3 kg), died 8 ½ hours after receiving a single treatment of Revolution at the recommended dosage. The kitten displayed clinical signs which included muscle spasms, salivation and neurological signs. The kitten was a stray with an unknown history and was malnourished and underweight (see Warnings).

Dogs: In safety studies, Revolution was administered at 1, 3, 5, and 10 times the recommended dose to six-week-old puppies, and no adverse reactions were observed. The safety of Revolution administered orally also was tested in case of accidental oral ingestion. Oral administration of Revolution at the recommended topical dose in 5 to 8-month-old beagles did not cause any adverse reactions. In a pre-clinical study selamectin was dosed orally to ivermectin-sensitive collies. Oral administration of 2.5, 10, and 15 mg/kg in this dose escalating study did not cause any adverse reactions; however, eight hours after receiving 5 mg/kg orally, one avermectin-sensitive collie became ataxic for several hours, but did not show any other adverse reactions after receiving subsequent doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg orally. In a topical safety study conducted with avermectin-sensitive collies at 1, 3 and 5 times the recommended dose of Revolution, salivation was observed in all treatment groups, including the vehicle control. Revolution also was administered at 3 times the recommended dose to heartworm infected dogs, and no adverse effects were observed.

Cats: In safety studies, Revolution was applied at 1, 3, 5, and 10 times the recommended dose to six-week-old kittens. No adverse reactions were observed. The safety of Revolution administered orally also was tested in case of accidental oral ingestion. Oral administration of the recommended topical dose of Revolution to cats caused salivation and intermittent vomiting. Revolution also was applied at 4 times the recommended dose to patent heartworm infected cats, and no adverse reactions were observed. In well-controlled clinical studies, Revolution was used safely in animals receiving other frequently used veterinary products such as vaccines, anthelmintics, antiparasitics, antibiotics, steroids, collars, shampoos and dips.