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
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Mike & Mary Martin June 16 2020 Our harts go out to all the pet owners that were affected by Bravecto. We had a very healthy twenty month old cocker spaniel. On November 27 2017 I forced him to swallow the poison. Ten days latter he had his first seizure. On January 16 2018 I notified Merck after his second seizure. As of today he has fourteen seizures he is now on Phenobarbital for life. He is averaging a seizure every 100 days. Thank you for reading our comment, Everyone should leave BRAVECTO at the Vet. Please add this to the lawsuit.
Just got my Yorkie out of hospital after 3 day stay. Vomiting diarrhea bloody. This was just after getting 3 month chew of Bravetco. Her white blood count is very low a sign of poisoning. I am concerned that this horrible drug will be in her system for a long time. I don’t know what else she may suffer. So very worried. Cost for het emergency stay very high but worth it if it saves her life.
I can only say thank you, thank you, and thank you. I just stumbled upon this whole issue while looking up something else, and I am horrified. My Cairn and Chihuahua mix have taken Bravecto for 2 years now, and I’ll be a wreck until August 15th when we can put them back on Frontline. While we have not, fortunately, experienced anything other than low appetite in our younger (& smaller) dog, there had been no discernible reason for that. We lost our first Cairn, Gracie, after she’d taken Atopica for severe allergy symptoms for 5+ years. Only after we lost her to lymphoma did we find out that cancer was a known risk. Gracie’s problem was severe enough that we may have still opted for the Atopica, but we should have had the opportunity to make an informed decision, the chance to perhaps reduce the dosage or try something new. Instead, we lost Gracie just before her 10th birthday, when a Cairn’s life expectancy is easily 15 years. We lost our 2nd Cairn, Sophie, to a splenic tumor, just after her 10th birthday. She’d been put on a “specialized diet” after having bladder stones before she was 2 years old. I’m ashamed to admit that I trusted the recommendation of our vet without researching the particular contents. When I did, I found I couldn’t pronounce the majority of the things in it, and, once again, believe I lost my 2nd love way too early and, for her, unnecessarily painfully. I’m trying very hard to protect the health of my 2 dogs, but so many pet products are just wads of food waste and chemicals, so it’s not always so easy to do. Again, sincere thanks for sharing this invaluable and important information
My Beagle Snoop almost died from Bravecto. After taking he became paralyzed and lethargic. I have videos of him so sick we had to carry him out on a sheet to go to the bathroom. Vet suggested euthanasia but thank God we found another vet who treated him with gingers crossed that he would get better. Which he did after several months. I stopped giving this horrible medicine to any of my 4 dogs. And of course I was stuck with months worth because the first vet pushed me to buy months worth in advance. Horrible medicine. Again I have videos to prove how sick he was and now he is fine!! thanks to Dr Force. Please add me to your suit!!!!
Our 6 month old healthy Labrador boxer cross died 4 daUs after her first dose of Bravecto. First day started vomiting then ataxia in back legs, no appetite. Then after admission to vets, scan showed no mobility in stomach, given an emetic to empty stomach. Next day no improvement and developed fluid in lungs no medication strong enough to remove fluid just kept increasing fluid in lungs, day 4 she was euthanised.
I just put my Siberian husky down after the third dose of. Bravecto. Max went to the vet and had some blood work done and his lab report came back good except that his liver enzymes were a little high. He was happy, he was playful he was eating. I bring him home give him the Bravecto, he stopped eating and drinking and barely survived the trip to the 24 hr emergency. I am shocked and just confused and so upset. They knew his background and his history. Why are they still giving this to people to give to their dogs? My heart is broke and my boy is gone. I’m not giving up and I’m going to fight for him.
I have given my 7 month Olde English bulldog puppy 2 rounds of Bravecto. He had it once in February of 2020 and just a few days ago for the 2nd time. I was completely unaware of this from and was given it by the vet, without them asking me anything on his history or them relaying or telling me a single word about the pros/cons of it after taking or the issues its caused. Noone ever gave me the side effects that are known to happen or any warnings or otherwise stated, as well. He developed an insanely bad case of hives, large lumps and itchy sores and wheals all over his entire body legs and even his face. He became overly lethargic, began vomiting and drooling,just one day after taking the medication the 2nd time. He will not get out of the bed to go potty, he cant raise his head and wont eat! I am SO DEVASTATED BC OF THIS MESS, that I hope to educate just one person on the matter so it doesn’t room their pets lives and owner happiness, a sit has mine. I had a very healthy and happy puppy dog, until only days ago a
after a flea/tick treatment, that of course was prescribed to him by my vet, ruined his little like and mine too. He is no longer the sweet happy loving boy I just got for xmas!! It makes me so sad to look at him, and i try not.to cry daily bc no one is doing anything about this crap being on the shelves or the process of getting this medication boasted for what it is and removed by the FDA EVERYWHERE!
Saban just doesnt look at me the same anymore, and I’m unsure at this time if he has any permanent neurological damage, but once that information becomes available to me, if my sweet boy has to lose his value of livinga and possibly his life, well it’s not going to be a good day for that animal hospital.
When I took him to the vet the 4th of June which was the day after the 2nd course of bravecto, I was told he had these enormously large wheals and drooping in his face due to hives and an allergic reaction to his food or the environment. #callingbs
However, we have done absolutely nothing differently since the day we brought him home. I didnt pay 2k dollars for a dog bc I like wasting money, nor did i fall in love with him for my health. He is apart of my family and he is truly my best friend. He is also a service dog for my depression and anxiety issues. I am beside myself with grief right now and am glad that i wasn’t just exaggerating about what i thought had caused all of the issues he is having. I knew it was the bravecto from the very first day after the problems occurred, but was deterred from getting any answers or my vet having any acceptance of responsibility, after I deliberately brought all the issues id previously read about and discussed online with people able this drug. Might i add, this was also asked and spoken on BEFORE even giving him the first dose.
I would like someone to plz provide me some info on whom can be contacted to take this a little further than just this here comment page please!!
Thanks so much for listening and caring about my buddy?
My very healthy Chihuahua was given Bravecto and has been suffering from neurological disorder and hair/skin disorders. I have a video of him running up stairs in October and 1 month after taking this horrible medication he started losing balance and falling over! It is now June and for the last 3 months he can barely stand up. I have to assist him when going to the bathroom and he poops the bed because he can no longer stand to dedicate! Brandon McLean 310.867.9668
We gave our Jack Russell “Chase” Bravecto on the 8th of April. Two weeks later he was violently ill. From that point he never ate or drank again. He spent a week at the vets on IV and various meds to no avail. Chase was a healthy, happy dog. He was running, playing and enjoying life until he got the Bravecto. Never had any health issues. We brought Chase home from the vets on the first of May. By this time he hadn’t eaten in a week and could no longer stand or walk. Chase passed at home on the 2nd of May.