Is Selamectin (Revolution) safe for dogs and cats?
Low risk for petsSelamectin presents low risk to dogs in most breeds at FDA-approved topical doses. The topical route provides substantially lower peak systemic blood levels than oral macrolide administration, giving selamectin a more favorable safety margin in MDR1-deficient breeds compared to oral ivermectin. However, MDR1/ABCB1 genetic sensitivity still applies — Collies, Australian Shepherds, Shetland Sheepdogs, and related herding breeds with the 4-bp MDR1 deletion may experience mild neurotoxicity (ataxia, sedation) at topical selamectin doses. MDR1 genetic testing is advisable for susceptible breeds before initiating therapy. At recommended monthly spot-on doses, selamectin is well-tolerated in the vast majority of dogs, with local application site reactions (temporary hair loss, pruritus) the most common reported adverse events. Avoid concurrent use of P-gp inhibitors (ketoconazole, cyclosporine).
What is selamectin (revolution)?
The IUPAC name is (1R,4S,5'S,6R,6'S,8R,10E,12S,13S,14E,16E,20R,21Z,24S)-6'-cyclohexyl-24-hydroxy-21-hydroxyimino-12-[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-5',11,13,22-tetramethylspiro[3,7,19-trioxatetracyclo[15.6.1.14,8.020,24]pentacosa-10,14,16,22-tetraene-6,2'-oxane]-2-one.
Also known as: (1R,4S,5'S,6R,6'S,8R,10E,12S,13S,14E,16E,20R,21Z,24S)-6'-cyclohexyl-24-hydroxy-21-hydroxyimino-12-[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-5',11,13,22-tetramethylspiro[3,7,19-trioxatetracyclo[15.6.1.14,8.020,24]pentacosa-10,14,16,22-tetraene-6,2'-oxane]-2-one, selamectin, Revolution, UK-124,114.
- IUPAC name
- (1R,4S,5'S,6R,6'S,8R,10E,12S,13S,14E,16E,20R,21Z,24S)-6'-cyclohexyl-24-hydroxy-21-hydroxyimino-12-[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-5',11,13,22-tetramethylspiro[3,7,19-trioxatetracyclo[15.6.1.14,8.020,24]pentacosa-10,14,16,22-tetraene-6,2'-oxane]-2-one
- CAS number
- 220119-17-5
- Molecular formula
- C43H63NO11
- Molecular weight
- 770.0 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC1CCC2(CC3CC(O2)CC=C(C(C(C=CC=C4COC5C4(C(C=C(C5=NO)C)C(=O)O3)O)C)OC6CC(C(C(O6)C)O)OC)C)OC1C7CCCCC7
- PubChem CID
- 9578507
Risk for dogs
Low riskSelamectin presents low risk to dogs in most breeds at FDA-approved topical doses. The topical route provides substantially lower peak systemic blood levels than oral macrolide administration, giving selamectin a more favorable safety margin in MDR1-deficient breeds compared to oral ivermectin. However, MDR1/ABCB1 genetic sensitivity still applies — Collies, Australian Shepherds, Shetland Sheepdogs, and related herding breeds with the 4-bp MDR1 deletion may experience mild neurotoxicity (ataxia, sedation) at topical selamectin doses. MDR1 genetic testing is advisable for susceptible breeds before initiating therapy. At recommended monthly spot-on doses, selamectin is well-tolerated in the vast majority of dogs, with local application site reactions (temporary hair loss, pruritus) the most common reported adverse events. Avoid concurrent use of P-gp inhibitors (ketoconazole, cyclosporine).
Regulatory consensus
1 regulatory bodyhas classified Selamectin (Revolution).
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2023 | Not evaluated by IARC — selamectin is an FDA/CVM-approved topical spot-on veterinary macrolide antiparasitic for dogs and cats; chemically a semisynthetic avermectin derivative; treats and prevents fleas, heartworm, ear mites, sarcoptic mange, and ticks; MDR1/ABCB1 breed sensitivity applies; no carcinogenicity classification |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where pets encounter selamectin (revolution)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Selamectin (Revolution):
-
Alternative drug class; Non-pharmacological therapy; Lowest effective dose
Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is selamectin (revolution) safe for pets?
Selamectin presents low risk to dogs in most breeds at FDA-approved topical doses. The topical route provides substantially lower peak systemic blood levels than oral macrolide administration, giving selamectin a more favorable safety margin in MDR1-deficient breeds compared to oral ivermectin. However, MDR1/ABCB1 genetic sensitivity still applies — Collies, Australian Shepherds, Shetland Sheepdogs, and related herding breeds with the 4-bp MDR1 deletion may experience mild neurotoxicity (ataxia, sedation) at topical selamectin doses. MDR1 genetic testing is advisable for susceptible breeds before initiating therapy. At recommended monthly spot-on doses, selamectin is well-tolerated in the vast majority of dogs, with local application site reactions (temporary hair loss, pruritus) the most common reported adverse events. Avoid concurrent use of P-gp inhibitors (ketoconazole, cyclosporine).
What products contain selamectin (revolution)?
Selamectin (Revolution) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
See Selamectin (Revolution) in the pets app
Look up products containing selamectin (revolution), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in pets View raw API dataSources (1)
- Selamectin Revolution Zoetis FDA CVM Topical Spot-On; Monosaccharide Avermectin GluCl Chloride Channel; Flea Heartworm Ear Mite Sarcoptic Mange Tick Dogs Cats; Sebaceous Gland Depot Transdermal 4.4% Bioavailability; MDR1 ABCB1 Lower Risk Topical vs Oral; Human Skin Contact Wash Hands Post-Application; Log Kow 7.7 Aquatic Daphnia Ecotoxicity; Bathing Swimming Caution Post-Application (2023) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →