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
After 2 dosing cycles of Bravecto my GSD developed seizures.
my beloved and trusted companion is suffering because of
unwillingness of Merck and co to pull this awful drug from the market
My dog has been on Bravecto since she was a puppy. At age 2 she collapsed. Rushed to vet and they administered fluids and ran some tests. Everything was normal. 2 yrs later she had a grand mall seizure. The last pill was 72 days before. I don’t know when the next one will come. I’m devastated.
I gave my German Shepard dog Skye Bravecto a week ago. She is 8 years old tomorrow. She had it one time before, last year. A day after she got the pill she fell down the stairs, developed a head tilt, dragging back leg, walking sideways, doesn’t want to eat much, far away look in eyes. My dog has totally changed since I gave her the Bravecto. The vet gave her fluids under her skin a few days ago but said there’s nothing else they can do. She’s gotten worse every day. Today I took her to a holistic vet and she gave her fluids, acupuncture, some meds to help with diarrhea and to boost immune system. We don’t know if Skye will make it. After reading I know now my Shepard may have the MDR1 gene mutation making her more sensitive to these meds. Why aren’t we warned by vet and Merck? I called and filed a report with Merck. Was told they have never had a dog in their case studies have a head tilt. I thought, that’s odd, I’ve read story after story of dogs having head tilts. There is a huge disconnect between the public and the vets and Merck. The vets seem unaware of these issues. It’s mind boggling. Please help get this drug off shelves
Our German Shepherd has these problems after 5 doses of Bravecto. Getting worse and worse. He is 8 yrs old.
About 5 years ago, I used Bravecto on my dog Abby. She never had seizures, but she does now. She will be 9 years old in July 2020. So, the seizures did not start when she was younger, only after she took this drug. I have her on seizure medicine now, buy she averages about 3-4 seizures a month even on the meds. It is really bad when she does have them. I do keep a diary of the witnessed seizures. When I see the commercials on TV for this drug, I want to scream-DO NOT buy this drug for your dog.
We gave Bravecto to our chihuahua and shortly after he began having seizures. He was placed on seizure medication but the seizures did not get better. He came in from out side one afternoon and jumped on the couch then his last seizure started. He died from that seizure. It’s been a few years but I would not have given him that medication had I known It was a death sentence.
Our Vet gave our 8yr old Boxer Bravetco within a couple weeks he started having seizures the day he had his first seizure went to him in, the drew blood came in saying he was as healthy as a horse, I mentioned the Bravetco and she said yes it does show its a raw side affects. The vet said to let it ride its course that maybe the seizures would stop, No they got worse after about a month in a half to 2 months xhe passed.
i treated my lab with bravecto on may 20th i took her to my vet on the 23rd they tested her for different things. she became very lethargic wont eat or drink. they put her on iv . i,m very worried about her. my vet suspects it,s a reaction to bravecto
Everyone that had a dog or cat die or harm was caused by Bravecto, please contact the lawyers that are handling this case. They legally cannot contact you from here.
We gave our perfectly healthy 15 year old mutt Bravecto April 27, 2020. She soon developed Ataxia were her legs weren’t working and a head tilt like vertigo. She has been back to the vet 6 times now in 2 weeks dealing with the on going issue. Our vet even said Bravecto could have been the cause of this and made a note in file to never prescribe again. I’m devastated I even gave her this medication. I am aware she is old but she was perfectly fine and bam developed these issues. This medication should be taken off the market!!
My dog, Jerseywas prescribed Bravecto. I had read the insert before giving it to him & there was nothing stating that it could be harmful. But it is , my dog began having grand mal seizures & now has to take seizure medicine 3 times a day
Since the initial dose, the veterinarian that prescribed it left & a new veterinarian is there. Jersey has been back because of the seizures. I asked about Bravecto because Jersey was due to have one. The new vet quickly said “No, dont give him that.” She obviously wasnt aware that Jersey had been taking it. That’s when I became aware of the danger of Bravecto. I started researching it & was shocked at all the similar accounts due to Bravecto. They should be held responsible for the harm their product has caused. There concern is all about making money with no concern about the safety of our pets