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 also lost my schnauzer due to Bravecto, I contacted my vet, Merck and the FDA. I have a claim number. They sent me a $500 check to pay for my bills which I did not cash. My vet said it could not be the drug, prior to that when I had my dog there for a check up he ask me how I kept him in such good shape, a month later he had itching, mood changes, lethargic, not eating, diarrhea, restless, muscle wasting, back end weakness, and he started chewing on his toes which the vet called self mutilation. We had to put him down about 7 months later. He also had lab work that was way out of wack.
They need to stop making this drug!
Our damog had seizures and neurological issues and the vet had to put her to sleep. Bravecto didnt deny that this is the side effect and offered to pay for autopsy.
Our sweet Abby passed of IMHA less than a month after receiving bravecto. She was a month shy of her third birthday. She stopped eating on Sunday, she was at the vet by Monday and gone on Friday. The first thing my veterinarian asked on Monday was did she come in contact with any poison, when I said just the bravecto her response was well that’s not it, bravecto is safe for pets. I feel like I killed my bestfriend because Merrick has misinformed and omitted serious side effects. I have told friends in the rescues I am involved with about what happened but because of the misinformation given to them by both Merrick and their vets alot of the animals are still receiving these types of preventive. It makes me sick!
My pug was on Bravecto and within 24 hours of taking each pill he had a seizure. If happened a few times before we isolated the cause.
Me too. I lost 2 rough coat collies to flea meds. Makes me so sick that I can barely talk about it.
My dog was recently given Bravecto for the first time, previously used a different product. The vet is who recommended it to us. She has had skin issues since as well as being lethargic. Tonight we noticed a poop discharge where she was laying. Will never give this product to my dog again and can not wait for it to be out of her system. Not happy with the manufacturer or the Vet!
I gave my 4 year old shar pei bravecto and he started to have grand mal seizure
He was my sweet boy that i thought i would have many years left with but that wasn’t the case. This has been going on for years and yet the still sale it, its very upsetting to me i trusted this company and they could careless that they are killing animals
Hello,
I gave Bravecto to 2 of my dogs. One of them, my beautiful one year old and completely healthy Bella, died 4 days after. My other dog, 3 year old Amber, is still sick, her liver ALT was over 10 times the normal when first checked, and she is still fighting for her life. I need help. This is not alright. This is cruel and has to be stopped. This medicine killed my dog and potentially another (we dont know how she will do). I have the prescription, the purchase receipt, the boxes the medicine came in and the vet bills. Im ready to fight so no more dogs will die.
My dog took bravecto 2 weeks ago. After a couple of days became lethargic, over drank and peed inside. THen was fading and didnt’ want to walk or move from the couch or the floor. He is 6 years old and took him to emergency vet two days ago. Tests came in showing he is now diabetic. He once had a pancreatic attack many moons ago but has been fine for years. Right after taking hte Bravecto he started getting worse and worse. I never realized that there could be serious adverse reactions to the drug and now am stuck with 600$ vet bill and insuling dependent dog for the rest of his life!!! Not sure if you want more info but please feel free to reach out.
12 days after giving my dog Bravecto, she had to be put down. She developed what the vet thought to be, neurological issues. Within a few days after taking it, she began to be less active, didn’t eat unless it was brought to her, but barely even ate then. Suddenly she had a hard time walking. Very unstable on her feet. We then brought her to the vet and all labs were done and came back normal. That very same night, approximately 3am she bagan to whimper through the night. At this point she had lost all control of herself. She couldn’t move whatsoever. She could lift her head, but that is about it. By the time i could get her to see the vet (9am), she couldn’t lift her head at all. I lost my puppy of 8 years that day (4/21/20). My heart aches. I oray every day i don’t lose my other dog that i had given it too.