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, GA

Editors 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 Eddy

FOLLOW UP- FIRST MEDICAL REPORT

Another tidbit for you to digest here: Pfizer is ALSO the manufacturer of RIMADYL, which is also the subject of some close scrutiny for its involvement in illness and deaths in some canine patients who were taking it.

Here is the URL for Revolutions Website: http://www.revolutionpet.com/revconsumer/

Ross Becker of Good Dog Magazine gives Revolution a Paws Up....
Revolution Prescribing Info
Info on Safety Studies Performed
FDA Freedom Of Information Re: Revolution
National Animal Poison Control Center

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