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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1,807 thoughts onBravecto Class Action Says Meds Aren’t Safe For Pets
I have posted in the past re: my than 3 yr. old golden doodle who was given Bravecto the season of 2019 for the first & last time. She went deaf. After 2 days at MSU VET CLINIC seen by several specialist & multiple tests done, there was no reason found for her going deaf. The only thing different was the use of Bravecto-highly suspected to be the flea & tic med that caused her to go deaf. This was reported to Merck & FDA.
How many more tragedies need to occur before this product is removed from the market? Are you seriously listening or do you just not care?!!
I am so sorry for all those who have lost their beloved pets. It is devastating to witness all of this & no action is being taken.
Please take this product off the market.
My 7 yr old German shepherd started having seizures last July, I took her to the vet who immediately said she had epilepsy, she has had several more seizures and she twitches all the time when she’s asleep. The vet has put her on Pexion but she’s not the same dog as before this all started. It’s now costing me over $100 a month for the meds and she is still has seizures. I was unaware of this issue with Bravecto until the 2 of March 20, I gave her, her Bravecto chew on the 1 of March 20. When I spoke to my vet yesterday he said that he was unaware of a class action into Bravecto.
Yes this hurt my baby gave him seizures and neurological disorders. He passed a year after…
I gave my 3 year old husky Bravecto and he had diarrhea for about a week or so and was very lethargic for at least 2 months. He also developed sores by the joints of his legs and had patches of hair loss. The vet encouraged us to continue the med 3 months later and said it had nothing to do with Bravecto but there was no way I was giving him that again after such a terrible reaction. It was obvious to me that it was from Bravecto, and makes me so angry the veterinarians encourage meds that have such a bad reputation for bad reactions and deaths! I soon found a lot of info about other dogs having severe reactions and death soon after so never again will our dogs have a med again like that.
Hello,
My name is Tonya.
I left a comment on here in January 2020 regarding my dog Cocoa.
She was given Bravecto in October 2019, her health drastically declined,, lumps and bumps started rapidly appearing, she lost her strength, couldn’t stand up, she got to where she couldn’t walk, stopped eating her body swelled so much, she didn’t even look like the same dog.
She passed away December 12th 2019.
2 months after recieving Bravecto.
My dog suffered severely from this poison.
Her bloodwork levels were off the charts.
Our vet said this would not harm her.
That was a huge lie.
I can give more information if toy need it.
Lost my dog Rocket, two months before his second birthday. He was 16 months when I gave him his first and only dose of bravecto. He started having occasional tremors, then started having trouble with coordination and sight. Could not lower his head to eat or drink, would walk in endless circles. Became very ataxic and fell over all the time. Stopped playing because it would trigger focal seizures. He eventually lost the ability to see, walk, eat or drink on his own. At the end he even needed help relieving himself. We went to specialists, a neurologist gave him an MRI. We spent at least $5000 trying to find a solution and cure but he was too far gone. He was a healthy, happy, playful, and active puppy before I gave him bravecto and it took him from me. He was my support animal for cPTSD, and I had to watch him die and not be able to do anything about it. We put him to sleep after we ran out of treatment options, and I will never forget watching the life go out of him in my arms.
So very sorry for your loss
We lost our cat, several dogs in our kennel drooled, shook anf threw up. Several puppies from litters produced by treated females died at birth, shortly after, had cleft palate; heart murmurs and retained testicles. I reported it to the mfg. We lost quite a but of money.
I have been reading all the posts. I do believe my Chewy was killed by taking Bravectol I took my little Chewy to the vet for a 6 month check-up. The vet gave him his heart worm medicine, and sent us home with Bravecto to administer the next day. This was Monday. I forgot the next day and didn’t give it to him until Thursday. By Friday, he was throwing up and refusing to eat. I followed the Vet’s suggestion to make rice and chicken, he wanted to eat but could not. After the throwing up, came the diarrhea. This went on for the whole next week. I kept calling the vet, they said he would be fine. By Saturday, he couldn’t even raise his head I took him to the vet. I had researched and had come to,the conclusion that his symptoms were what was said were Bravecto’s side effects. I tried to tell the vet, but was told that Bravecto had been given to him before and it couldn’t be the cause. They kept him through the weekend. On Monday we were told he was going down fast and we had to have him put to sleep. How after a check-up, where everything is good, does a dog die two weeks later? He didn’t get sick until he had the Bravecto. I will always believe that the Bravecto killed my little Chewy.
I gave my dog a bravecto tablet a week ago. Immediately he had refused to eat it but we coerced him. Within hours he was refusing food, and this continued for 4 days. Around day 3 he vomited a large amount in his sleep and then again when waking. The following day he had extremely bloody diarrhea and continued to refuse food. He was very lethargic, did not want to walk, and had to be carried up the stairs, and continued to refuse food. The following day we took him to the vet and he received subcutaneous fluids and a blood panel. The next day after reviewing his blood sample we where told he had increased levels of pancreatic enzymes, more than 5 times normal levels and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. He is currently receiving medication to combat the loss of fluids from diarrhea and vomiting. Luckily he has began eating again and stool is now solid. he is still very tired and i am worried he may have suffered from organ damage related to the inflammation of the pancreas. We where told that the only known serious side effect was seizure for dogs with a previous history of epilepsy. Obviously this is not he case as i have read multiple reports of dogs developing pancreatitis and organ failure after taking this toxic drug. I will be contact merck to report this reaction and would very much like compensation. more importantly i am continuing to monitor my dog who has never before experienced any of these symptoms with a topical treatment in his 11 years of life. I hate that the pervasive influence of the drug companies and their sales representatives has not only overtaken our medical system but also now our veterinary medical system, there is never a valid reason to use such a risky medication to combat something as common as fleas. The only reason i can think of is that companies like merck need to increase their profits with patented drugs at the cost of injuring countless innocent animals. It is a very sad state of our current society and i only hope that companies like this suffer the consequences of unjust and downright careless practices. Please do not give this drug to your animals and demand that your vet acknowledge the dangers associated with many of these classes of drugs.
My vet recommended Bravecto after having issues with the Seresto collar, he showed no adverse or side effects while taking it. Had to put him down yesterday due to leukemia and lymphoma. He was a 4 y/o hound, very loving and full of life until the symptoms showed up early in the week, lab results confirmed our worst fears.
From now on will only use non chemical flea and tick prevention.