Revolution and red droopy ear?

A lot of folks don't like Revolution on this board, especially as it is systemic and stays in the system for the month. I used it because we had a sarcops mite (mange) issue. It worked great for us and I am very happy with it. Had zero problems.
 
I know several others who use it for fleas/ticks/heartworm and quite happy with it. One of our obedience classmates had ear mites, which were repeatedly diagnosed as an infection and with yeast. A new (ear doc) vet said to try the Revolution because ear mites are not always easily detected if they are deep seated. She had a similar reaction, to both ears (the dogs, not hers[]). She said they got red and her dog kept rubbing his ears on the carpet/scratching for several days. Her dog had long flop ears so I have no idea if it would have also caused the drooping. Went back to the vet and he said "it's mites after all, and it's working". It went away in about a week and she also had drops to use (I don't remember what ot why she had them). She swore by it and the new vet.
 
I have no idea if this is related to your issue, just thought I would mention said it was about a similar sounding problem and also about Revolution. Good Luck making your baby feel better!
 
IF you do use the Revolution, do not use your regular heartworm preventative that month. I think you know that, but thought I would mention it just to be safe...

jprinz, thanks for the reply.  I was wondering if that might be what was happening.  Also, I am using Revolution as my regular heartworm medicine.  Is that appropriate?

My vet stopped carrying Revolution as a number of his clients dogs developed heartworms while on it.  At last report it was 2ed in causing reactions & deaths, only behind Proheart6, which was pulled from the market Sept. 3, 2004--10 months after it had killed my 4 year old godlen retriever, Hunter.
 
The FDA has not updated the chart in a while.  I will dash over and see wht the figures are and post them.

Okay, Revolution was FDA approved on May 26, 1999 and at last upsdate, which has been over a year ago, deaths reported to FDA was 224.
 
Sentinel was FDA approved on March 18, 1998 and the FDA has received reports of 40 deaths.
 
Interceptor was FDA approved on Dec. 29, 1992 and the FDA has receieved reports of 128 deaths.
 
I didn't copy down all the hartguard as they are clumped by the main ingredeint.  Revolution uses Selamectin, Interceptor uses Milbemycin/Oxime and Sentinel, made by the same company uses thos two ingredients plus Lubenuron.
 
I didn't copy down the dates for Proheart6, but it was approve in '01 and pulled in '03 with 599 deaths reported in that 3 years, and several have died since then.
 
The FDA use to updeat it every few months, but has not done so in over a year.  But you can check the figures as of the last report by going to
[linkhttp://www.dogsadversereactions.com]www.dogsadversereactions.com[/link] and click on Moxidectin Section, and then click on FDA Comparison Information and the chart comes up.

If you are happy with the Revolution and it seems to be working, you have to decide if it is the way you want to go. I personally have no problem with it. I have seen all the reports and consider myself educated and aware of potential risks. That being said, I still used it and like it. I would use it again without qualms, as it was effective and my dog had no problems when i did use it (we went thru 3 doses).
 
I used to and currently prefer to use Interceptor and Frontline Plus. I mainly do this because we have to be cautious of whipworms in my area and Interceptor helps with that. The one thing I don't like about Frontline Plus is the greasy spot it leaves on Tylers furr for the first few days, but that is fairly common with a lot of spot ons.
 
All drugs, herbs, vaccines, etc can cause reactions, and most reactions are not reported to the FDA or the privatley run "adversereactions" site. This is from experience (I used to run a farm and work at the vet) and from my vets own statements. My vet actually has seen more problems with Sentinel and the Hartz flea spot on than anything else. She also does not like Merial, but prefers Ft. Dodge.
 
I say get informed, ask questions, balance the risk/benfit ratio and do what you and your vet feel is best.
 
Back to the ears- It does kind of sound like your dog may have had an ear mite issue after all- did you ask the vet about the ear droop thing you are seing? What did she/he say? How is it now?
{hope this doesn't sound snippy - it was not meant to be that way at all}
 
Sending tail wags your way!

OK, here's my take on Revolution.  I used it ONE summer.  It is supposed to protect against all but the garbage disposal backing up.  It doesn't. I had to ALSO use frontline for the darned fleas.....and they were BAD.  If Revolution isn't taking care of the fleas, how do I know, short of a blood test once a year, that it's taking care of HW?  And if it ISN'T taking care of heartworm and I do my yearly test, well gosh, those nasty things could be pretty well established by the time I know it.

You are right about the numbers of reactions/deaths reported to the FDA being low.  The FDA believes only 10 to 15% of them are reported.  And it is strange what one vets loves, another will not use.  Some vets dole out rimadyl like it is candy despite the extremely high high number of reactions and deaths.  My vet will not prescirbe it.  Some vets love Revolution, my vet will not carry it because of the high nuber of his clients dogs that came down with heartworm while on it.  Many vets would not use Proheart6 but my vet did---and will if it comes out again.  I know of 4 other dogs here in this small town that had reaction to it.  My Hunter was the only one to die, but of the other 4, one almost did.  And one is on meds for the rest of her life.
 
The thing is dogs can have a reaction to any HWpreventative (altho some are more dangerous than others) to any vax, to any antibiotic, etc.  And the scarey thing is it doesn't always happen with the first injection or tablet.  KayCee did not have a problem with any of her puppy shots or her annuals the first year.  But the 2ed year, she had a severe reaction.    Hunter did not have any trouble with his first 2 Proheart6 injections--the 3rd killed him.  It is possible there was damage being done inside from the first two and the third one just was to much, we just don't know.  I know of a couple who didn't react until their 4th one.
 
Many people swore by Proheart6 and were angry it was removed.  I damn it every day for taking my precious Hunter.  Many people swear by rimadyl, but ones who lost their dogs to it curse it for taking their dog from them.
 
About the best you can do is research, look at stats, talk to your vet and then decide what you feel is best for your dog.

Wrigley is less droopy and not itching.  It doesn't appear all that red today.  Vet says bring him in if it isn't better in a day or so.  We'll keep you updated.  Also, we'll be moving to Louisville, KY in June.  We will be finding a new, long term vet at that time and we will do research until that point about all these preventatives.  We are probably going to use the 3 months of revolution we bought until we can meet with and consult our new doc.
 
Anyone from the area want to give a great recommendation for a vet??? 

So glad to hear Wrigley has ear that is becoming more "wiggly"
 
You should enjoy Ky.  I was there twice (on assignment) for about 1 month each. Beautiful place with very kind people. My advise is whereever you live to purchase flod insurance. Ky has floods every year in a variety of parts (not to alarm you , just an FYI)
 
Good luck finding a good vet - sorry that I knwo of none. I am sure there are folks on this board who can point you in the right direction.