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
My dog started having seizures after bravecto i am one of the lucky ones right now he is off antiseizure meds after 6 long hard scarey months. Unfortunately i live in costa rica and the ticks are out right now, so i will have to fight tick fever…but i will never ever give him any kind of tick meds again.
I lost my beautiful boy Buddy after he took this awful medication. He suffered neurological symptoms, the loss of use of his hind legs, pain, and eventually death after taking Bravecto. He was 13 years 9months and 4 days old. He was the love of my life. HE was my son. I would love to be a part of the suit against Merck and I would love to see this drug off the market. It’s still painful to talk/write about but I have everything documented.
We have a 2yr old Husky femaie, a veryhealthy happy girl 90lbs. The vet prescribed Bravecto yesterday. She had her dose at 11pm and by 530AM she started having seizures. We were at the vet as soon as they opened and they now have her on anti-seizure medication. At the time of this post she’s had 4 big seizures. Bravecto is killing our dog! I tried the website for the posted attorney but the site won’t load. Please advise.
I gave 1 dose to my 2 year old golden doodle yesterday at 4pm and he passed away this morning around 5 am. He was a healthy dog, and was perfectly fine.
To everyone who is asking about how to get involved in this class action suit, you have to contact the lawyer directly. andersonslater.com
I know this is a Brevecto site- but all of these meds need stopped and there isn’t a place to post for Simparica…I have a Golden Retriever who was 7 when given one dose of Simparica- she lost the use of her legs and had seizures… the company Zoetis told me there was no antidote – it would have to run its course. To this day 2 years later my poor girl has ataxia and tremors. She was a Master Agility dog but I am so afraid she would get hurt and cannot compete any longer. I have reported to my vet, to the company, FDA, but more obviously needs to be done to stop these medications from being on the market!
I have a ten year old West Highland Terrier I adopted from a shelter last year. My vet suggested Brevecto and so I gave my dog the 3 month chewable tablet. I gave her the tablet at 6:30 pm 3/26/20. She had a seizure at 8:30 am 3/27/20, I witnessed three more within the next 24 hrs. I contacted the vet and was told there may be an underling condition but since she had already ingested it, to just keep an eye on her. The morning of 3/28/20 she had her most violent seizure. I contacted the vet, they did blood and urine work at a cost of approx. $370. She is improving daily. The vet told me that the dosage is the strongest just after ingestion. Since the 28th she has not had a seizure but I feel convulsions when I hold her. When she is walking the convulsions make her back legs go out from under her. She seemed disoriented and confused when I called her name the first few days after giving her the drug.
Today 4/1, she is more like her old self. The last few days, being stuck working from home it has been tough watching her suffer. I wish I had researched the drug before trusting the advertising, the vet and the medication. I will not give her the drug again and I have had notes entered in her file.
To everyone who is asking about how to get involved in this class action suit, you have to contact the lawyer directly. andersonslater.com
I did.
I posted on here last year and have had no reply! Can you tell me if you received my post?
Thank you
My beautiful 5 years old Golden Retrieve, after taking Bravecto started with seizures and a couple of month after that he died. He was very healthy and strong dog, Bravecto killed my baby. Please they have to stop that medication.