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 had 2 girls, their Mum were given Bravecto as prescribed by vet on day 14 of her pregnancy, no warning on leaflet. we lost ruby last October due to uncontrollable daily seizures diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy, we still have April. shes now 3 and has fits every 2-9 weeks and clusters, Gibson was PTS at 2 years old due to epilepsy, his organs being formed in each other, one pup was still born and one PTS at day 2 as cleft pallett
Manufacturers deny any link to drug but independent vets agree that the cause as most certainly Bravecto
I asked them to just change their leaflet to stop UK vets prescribing this for pregnant dogs- they refused
I can not leave the house with out my dog as her recovery is terrible and she would seriously injure herself
It is a constant worry, the worst thing to watch
I am fortunate i can work from home but has completely changed our life
we can not go on holiday and its heartbreaking that this was most certainly avoidable
Add me please, this drug given on April 7th, 2020, took my beloved dog Piper’s life by Sept 10th, 2020 and I have 2 other dogs that jt was given to that I nkw have to have checked for internal damages. I was NOT counseled in the least, on any ill effects that this drug may have posed before it was given to me to administer to my dogs, as a matter if fact I did not request this particular medication, it was suggested/afvised to me by our vet. It caused many, many adverse effects and ultimately death, in my border collie, and she has no related issues before she took this, have all medical records to confirm. I am devastated, disgusted and angry, this took my girl! She died from prominentiver, kidney issues but ultimately heart enlargement, and ALL lobes if her lungs filled with fluid. So hurt and angry with Merck for letting this product be on the market, and us just blindly being fooled!
Yes! Definitely add me to this class action suit.
My 8 yo Golden Retriever, with no previous health issues, was given one dose of a similar drug, just a different brand, same isoxazoline type pesticide. He immediately got very ill, bloody diarrhea, drunken walk, confusion, lethargy, panting, vomiting, and then the violent seizures started and never stopped. He lived for one more year, with constant seizures which took a piece of him every time.
We spent so much money with the vets trying to get him help.
Neither the University Emergency Hospital Vets nor my local vet would even entertain the discussion that it could be these pills. They danced around the topic.
I called the drug company as well and they tried telling me maybe he got into some rat poisoning or something.
I have so much more to say if anyone is interested. These are pesticides and we should not be feeding them to dogs.
Vets earning too much money to not prescribe it, my vet agreed it was bravecto but still they recommend it – its disgusting
Yes-Please add me to the class action case.
My 8yrs old Papillion mix had horrible side effects after taking Bravecto (oral chewable) for over 6+months. He lost his appetite & when I could get him to eat, alot of the times he would throw it up. He was very weak & lethargic and seemed to be depressed. He didn’t even want to go on walks, which is his favorite thing to do. At first I thought it might be his food, because we had just changed brands, due to the fact he has a very sensitive stomach. However, I noticed after the Bravetco had worn off, he started to act like his regular self. His vet said the medication may have upset his stomach, so we changed to the Bravecto 8mth collar. I still notice some of the mentioned side effects on occasion, but I just thought it was an upset stomach. I wonder if the collar is causing the same issues as the & oral medication did. If anyone knows, please advise. Thank you. Have a blessed day.
I had two cats. One i had to let go after a year of treatment starting in sickness and anaemia, going to collapsing, then hind legs issues.. ultimately a heart issue.
My second cat has become very poorly with sickness diahorrea, weight loss and hind leg issues.. currently at the specialist..
I had to put Ruby my Boston Terrier down today after being in Intensive care for 4 nights. She continued to get worse and was diagnosed with IMHA after taking Bravecto. She had many other adverse side effects also. I reached out to Merck about my concerns and today after insisting this company do something about this awful drug they have asked her vet to perform a necropsy. My heart is broken and Ruby can never be replaced.
I’m so sorry ❤️ My winter has been sick since the second she took the pill 4 years ago. So disgusted when I see local vets pushing it!
yep its disgusting
My Boston Terrier has been suffering for over a year now after one Bravecto tablet. Seizures. scabs all over that never end, leg tremors and breathing issues. This is so horrible. I trusted the vet and then they tell me it’s not related although I had a perfectly healthy dog with no issues prior to taking this.
Can a person get their money back on this?
I am not on either side of this issue,what I tell people if you buy a puppy from me and use any of these products for fleas and ticks if they kill the fleas and ticks they can kill or injure your dog. Especially ones that are long acting it’s a mistake to use these products better to treat your lawn with a less lethal form of protection. I have been a commercial breeder for 50 years, since my dogs are all in elevated kernels they never have fleas and ticks I don’t even have a flea product at my kennel.
Once I put my dog Snickers on Bravecto she broke out in a horrible skin rash and wasn’t acting like herself. She used to be so full of energy and never had a very bad skin rash until my vet prescribed this for her. I am so upset since she has never had a problem or skin rash since before Bravecto.
Just took my cat to the vet after he developed a limp and became lethargic in the days following being given Bravecto. We took him to a new vet and they immediately identified the symptoms as neurological damage due to Bravecto. He’s being cleaned and we just hope that there is no lasting damage. I wish I had researched this sooner instead of trusting the vet.
Those at Merck who allowed this to hit the market despite the clear harm it poses should be thrown in jail.