Merck Animal Health has been hit with a class action lawsuit by consumers who claim that their dog and cat drug Bravecto contains a pesticide that is harmful to pets.
Bravecto tablets and topical medications are used on both cats and dogs, and are marketed as a way to prevent ticks and fleas for up to three months.
Plaintiff Valerie Palmieri says she paid just under $50 for one Bravecto chewable tablet to treat her 78 pound German Shepherd Jake for fleas and ticks.
After taking the pill, Jake started to vomit, did not eat, and began to show symptoms of lethargy, according to the Bravecto class action lawsuit. The plaintiff reportedly took Jake to the emergency animal clinic after the dog was no longer able to walk.
Palmieri claims that she contacted Merck to talk about Jake’s possible adverse reaction to taking the drug. The company allegedly denied that that Jake’s sickness was caused by Bravecto but offered to pay for the emergency room visit.
However, the company would only pay if she signed an agreement which would release any claims against the company, according to the Bravecto class action lawsuit.
The plaintiff states that she refused to release her claims as she wasn’t sure if Jake’s symptoms would be long-term and was still not sure if her dog’s symptoms were caused by the drug.
After more tests and a trip to a neurologist, the plaintiff’s veterinarian allegedly told her that he “presumed” that Jake’s diagnosis of meningitis was a result of “Bravecto toxicity,” which was contrary to what she was told by the defendant.
Since he ingested the drug, Jake has continued to have neurological episodes, according to the Bravecto class action lawsuit. In September of this year, he reportedly fell down a flight of stairs and broke his leg. The plaintiff claims that she has spent “tens of thousands of dollars” treating Jake after he ingested Bravecto.
Palmieri says that when she purchased the tablet, the packaging and materials enclosed therein did not state that neurological adverse reactions were possible when taking the pill. In addition, the defendant allegedly did not tell veterinarians about the possible safety issues that the drug posed to pets.
“Because Defendant failed to disclose the risks of Bravecto to consumers and misrepresented the safety of Bravecto, consumers would be reasonable in purchasing Bravecto to treat their pets in a safe manner,” the class action lawsuit notes.
The Bravecto class action lawsuit also states that in September 2018, the FDA issued an alert about the possible neurological events that are associated with medicines like Bravecto to treat fleas and ticks.
The FDA has subsequently asked manufacturers to change their labels to “highlight neurological events because these events were seen consistently across the isoxazoline class of products” and “to provide veterinarians and pet owners with the information they need to make treatment decisions for each pet on an individual basis,” according to the Bravecto class action lawsuit.
The plaintiff states that the defendant now discloses that there may be some neurological reactions to taking Bravecto, including tremors, ataxia, and seizures.
“Every consumer who purchased Bravecto without being informed of the true facts about its health and safety risks prior to purchase was injured at the point of sale when, instead of obtaining a safe flea and tick medication, they obtained Defendant’s unreasonably dangerous and defective product,” the Bravecto class action lawsuit states.
Did you purchase Bravecto for your pet? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Mark A. Dicello, Adam J. Levitt, and Amy E. Keller of DiCello Levitt and Gutzler LLC and Jessica J. Sleater and Ralph N. Sianni of Andersen Sleater Sianni LLC.
The Bravecto Class Action Lawsuit is Valerie Palmieri v. Intervet Inc., et. al, Case No. 2:19-cv-22024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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1,840 thoughts onBravecto Class Action Says Meds Aren’t Safe For Pets
I lost my precious Lady Loralie LaLa, after an emergency visit on October 1st of ‘24 when the vet prescribed this flea protocol, Bravecto. It was given to her before we left the clinic after I asked if it had any harmful side effects and the Veterinarian doctor replied oh no they use this product a lot and haven’t had any serious problems reported. I trusted her and allowed them to give her that three months Joe right there in the lobby before we left. That evening she had a grandpa seizure and was out of it for a couple of hours I thought she passed, but she was still breathing with her eyes open, but like staring into space eventually she came out of it, but was wobbly when she walked. Her walking became easier however she had a seizure every other day that kept taking a piece of her brain away to wear in the end she couldn’t walk. She didn’t have an appetite and it was time to say goodbye to my precious little girl. I called the clinic back that Evening after she had her seizure and all they could tell me was oh it must be something else that’s wrong with her and I knew in my heart of heart they didn’t know what they were talking about because my dog, my baby girl, my sweetheart, my lifesaver my everything Was not acting herself at all, and I took videos several videos of her as she slowly deteriorated losing her sight, losing her balance, losing her quality of life I couldn’t stand it any further, and I had to make that call, which was the most heartbreaking moment in my life Until that day, my LaLa had fought and survived two cancers for UTIs, a kidney infection, pancreatitis, liver infection, a brain tumor and enlarged heart a heart murmur bronchi cephalic all this she survived through Natural, Cures and Remedies. She was totally holistic like myself and God help me. I told him OK go ahead and give it to her. I felt like I am the one at fault because I wasn’t diligent and researched it before giving it to her. I’ll never forgive myself. The sad part about it was the Vet veterinary clinic Didn’t wanna help me help her and was trying to pass it off as something else was the cause of her seizures. My regular vet prescribed her an anti-seizure medication that really didn’t work. The seizures kept coming stronger until she couldn’t take it anymore. I have a video recording of her last five months showing her body declining after each seizure. Somebody has to be accountable and somebody has to warn these clinics and their vets about the danger of this product. It’s lethal. It was to my precious little girl.
My kitty also no meds no shots for at least 5 years. Received braveco from the vet on Thursday after taking her to another and not asking us first if they could put the medicine on her. I cam home Friday from work to find her struggling. She couldn’t walk or see. We had to rush her to the emergency vet.
Hi, My Frenchie started not being himself after his last dose of Bravecto the first week of July. He slowed down then did not want to eat, I thought it was the heat. Now after two emergency vet visits and two regular vet visits he is declining, fever, lethargic, no appetite. They have run so many tests, waiting on FUO test (Fever Undetermined Origin). His symptoms seem to fit what I am reading. They looked at aspiration pneumonia and IVDD which I think is the go to when they see the breed. His first tests were great except inflammation, second set white blood cells are up. He had a seizure and we thought it was due to fever, he is stuffed up and it seems like he cannot smell his food. He is not walking well and has a slight consistent tremor. Is this an active law suit? Has there been any success turning the effects around? I am so scared for him, I have spent a few thousand trying to determine cause. If it is Bravecto what are my options?
In the last week my family lost 2 of our babies. My oldest was 14 (daushund/Chihuahua) and was healthy until giving her bravecto. Our boy was 10 (Chihuahua/terrier) also healthy. We gave them bravecto at the same time and they died within a week of each other, about a month after taking this. They had never been given this brand of flea/tick medicine before and NONE OF MY BABIES EVER WILL AGAIN.
I’m currently terrified that the only baby we have left will face the same fate. She’s a Chihuahua/jack Russell and only 4 years old. Given Bravecto at the same time as the other two, but so far isn’t showing any signs.
My 10-year-old beagle started having seizures after being on this for 10 years of his life. he’s now on medication with multiple vet appointments. They need to STOP selling this POISON!!
My 10 year-old maltese bichon suddendly developpe a series of seizures. As weeks went on, he experineced various other neurological symptoms. We had to ask our vet to put him to sleep. He had NEVER taked any Bravecto or any other oral pest-killers throughout his whole life.
We’ve had two labs that were treated with brevecto and had to be put down in the last 6 years Lexi was 4 and Bailey was 6. Both had severe neurological issues and had to be put down. Symptoms included vomiting, intermittent loss of sight and directional hearing and in the end the ability to walk. 6 years ago Lexi developed symptoms that baffled the veterinarians and in the end it was their feeling that she had a brain tumor & required euthanasia. After her we rescued a 6 month old yellow lab Bailey. We started her on brevecto as well. After 4 years we started to notice she would have bouts where she would have issues recognizing myself and my wife at random times. Then last month 4/25 she started with the above mentioned symptoms. We took her to our vet and had blood tests run on her and mentioned that we noticed the symptoms after giving her Brevecto. The vet said she hadn’t heard of any side effects from administering Brevecto but, she would check with the maker. She called back a said that Merk was offering to reimburse us for blood work and office calls. Then on 5/16 after playing and being what seemed like a normal dog she went down hill fast and we ended up at a great emergency vet clinic @ midnight that day. We were told by the emergency room vet that she also thought she had a brain tumor as well. We decided to also put her down because she couldn’t walk now. It was soooo sad. Then our local vet called a few days later to offer us condolences after hearing from the ER vet that Bailey passed away. She had also called Merk and again they offered to pay some of the ER vet bills as well. My goal from Lexi & Baileys deaths is to act to inform anyone and everyone to beware of the possible hazards of giving any pet Brevecto! I also was just informed by a family member that there are some class action lawsuits that are happening & the FDA warnings from 2018. Why aren’t the veterinarians not being informed of the Brevecto hazards so that they can properly inform us the consumer? Any help would be beneficial. It’s our job as humans to be good stewards in life.
I used to give all of my dogs bravecto. One went blind at nine and had many other issues including balance issues and incontinence. Eventually she stopped eating and we had to make the terrible choice! In the past two years my nine year old chihuahua has started exhibiting neurological issues which I would have never thought to contribute to having taken the bravecto tablet our vet recommended. We thought it was safe!