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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
1,807 thoughts onBravecto Class Action Says Meds Aren’t Safe For Pets
I gave my 13 yr old beautiful Chihuahua girl Bravecto March 2020. BY June she began to show signs of abdominal growth, tenderness,lethargy, lack of appetite. By mid June she was diagnosed with a splenic mass. Surgery was performed the following day. A 2 lb. Cancerous mass and spleen were removed. My Vet said that it was rare to see this kind of tumor in a small dog! She passed 21/2 months later. The Bravecto killed her…she was healthy and strong before the Bravecto…
Can’t imagine how difficult the care after surgery, the worry, the sadness. My Wheaten (15 year old) suffered of the spleen tumor (huge) about 6 mths after the last Bravecto I gave him. Decided against the spleen removal due to his age, and the vets advice that it would only buy him a few months. Toughest decision I ever made, but it definitely was the Bravecto.
My little West Highland terrier cross was on this for about a year. Developed grade 3 heart murmur. A friend warned me that her neighbours dog had developed neurological problems on Bravecto so I immediately stopped it. Next visit to vet and a barely detectable heart murmur. Reported to Merck but swept under carpet.
Nobody has explained how a heart murmur can develop in a healthy dog at 4 years old then almost disappear.
Please add me, I’ve waited 3 hrs for this. Gave 5 of my health active dogs Bravecto in 2016. Two hours later Shadiw had a massive seize and died. The remaining 4 became lethargic and refused to eat anything. They were wasting away. After 30 days of vet visits and hundreds of dollars in blood test Max’s Liver failed and he had to be euthanized followed by Cujo 12 days later for the same thing. Vet could give no explanation. Daisy was diagnosed with Liver Cancer 6 months later and Satan developed Rear Leg Paralysis. Both died several months later. The vet continued to say Bravecto had nothing to do with it and manipulated the health record of Max and Cujo after I reported this to FDA and Merck filed the 1932a Adverse Side Effects Report. Money is not my motive. Public awareness of the dangers to these Isoxaline Class Insecticides and holding Merck accountable for the deaths of hundreds of thousands dead pets worldwide is the only satisfaction I’m looking for.
What a horror, I’m so sorry for your loss❤️ And I agree. I just want to save others from this pointless loss of life.
We put our dog Jack on Bravecto almost 3 months ago since our vet said it was safe and gave the okay for a prescription. Jack had a seizure the other day and we brought him to an emergency vet hospital where they concluded it was from the Bravecto. He’s now on anti seizure meds and will have to have blood work done. I don’t know how we’re going to afford this more than likely lifelong treatment for him.
Thank you for adding me to this group. The guilt, sadness and grief still hits me very hard and have PTSD at times thinking about the trauma and pain our sweet little girl experienced before passing on 6/27/2020, due to cluster seizures.
Harper was our sweet pittie mix that we adopted six years ago. She joined our family and became very bonded to our other pittie mix, Chloe, who was only 6 months at the time, and misses her probably more than us.
Harper was referred to UC Davis dermatology department, in October 2019, for her skin allergies. The treating Dermatologist recommended switching from Frontline to Bravecto, since they recommended we start bathing her daily. So as good dog parents we do as we are told, especially by a specialist, not knowing we were basically going to be causing her undeserved suffering and untimely death. Harper had her first seizure on 12/16/2019. We took her to our local Emergency Vet ER. They kept her over night to observe and she had a 2nd grandmal seizure and was started on IV Keppra. We picked her up at 9am the next morning and drove straight to our regular vet with discharge summary and labs in tow. We were told that she may have a brain tumor and a referral was made to Neurosurgeon/ Neurologist at UC Davis. We had to wait until Jan. 13, 2020 for her appt. due to the holidays. She was kept on Keppra every 12 hours and instructed to take her to ER if she had more than 3 seizures in 24 hours or 1 lasting longer than 5 minutes.
On Jan. 13,2020, we made the 3.5 hour drive to UC Davis and Harper had an MRI of the brain, U/S, spinal tap, chest X-ray and labs… we were so relieved when the neurosurgeon told us everything was normal…no tumor, no malignancy, and she was healthy dog . She was diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy.
Little did we know when we left there relieved, and grateful, that our sweet baby was going to experience horrendous, traumatizing, painful seizures. Harper went from seizures every 3 weeks, to every 8-10 days, to daily cluster seizures in a matter of 3 months.
On June 25th after 5 hours of cluster seizures, and 6 doses of midazolam, we made that call that we had already discussed with our regular Vet. She said we would know when it was time…it was time! We got to spend June 26th feeding Harper anything she wanted to eat, beef, chicken, watermelon… all the foods she never was able to enjoy with all her allergies. We loved on her, sang to her, tried not to cry around her or our sweet Chloe and drove her to our Vet, for the last time, on June 27th at 7:30 am. We brought her favorite toys, blanket and sat on the floor with her, while she wagged her tail, licked us and the staff whom she loved! I did everything I could to manage her seizures and save her life! But in the end, I gave her the only gift I could at that time and that was to pass away in our arms, surrounded by those who loved her. Even our Vet was crying… absolutely the hardest day of my life.
Harper was treated with KBro, Penobarb, Keppra, Zonisamide, Clorazapate, CBD oil, Accupuncture, and Midazolam. Nothing helped our sweet girl. I don’t ever want anyone or another sweet animal to have go through what Harper did. Thank you for letting me share Harper’s Story!
Add me to the class action suit. My 16 year old cat George was given Bravecto 90 day topical in May, 2019 by the Vet I was taking him to. Within one year he developed a very aggressive form of intestinal cancer which killed him on July 2, 2020. He was my smart, gorgeous long haired Siamese boy who was completely healthy prior to May, 2019. I blame the Bravecto 90 day topical and I hope Merck is forced to declare bankruptcy.
Please include me. We’ve been usi g for a few years per our vets high recommendation. Used to have no problems and worked. Last year, only used once 3 months ago. Has not been 100% effective and my 8 yr old golden lab has not been himself, cannot jump and has been uncomfortable. He’s not the same. Will be taking him to vet for exam.
6 weeks on and my staffy is still on anti seizure meds from cluster seizures brought on my this poison. And to think that they are using isoxazoline class drugs on chickens that we are eating!!
Got to wonder if MERCK are mixing up dodgy batches of this stuff. Large percentage of pets are having no ill effects, why are certain pets so affected by this drug whilst others seem immune
We just lost our six-year-old Mastiff and our thirteen-year-old dashound the same week from bravecto. Both had seizures. Took the first one to the vet and was put on anti-seizure medicine which only helped for a few weeks. At the time he passed he was having a seizure every few minutes. It was his third dose and our dashoundssecond dose.
My Yorkie has liver and pancreas disease. Vets can’t explain why.
She was put on Bravecto two years ago. Also some neurological symptoms.
my Vet gave my Golden doodle Bravecto in the office without telling me of any side effects. This was 2 years ago. She had convulsions that night and next morning could not walk on back leg. The dr thought it best to euthanize. i couldn’t afford test. I wish i had known more back then. The FDA should mandate that all pet owners should be given all side effects up front.