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 10 year old Bullboxer Bravecto over the course of 6 months.
She died of internal bleeding presumably from a tumor on her heart
I would like to be added to this class action. I gave this drug to my dog and soon had major issues, along with burns on my cat’s back.
We would like to be added to the Bravecto class action lawsuit after it almost killed our dog. Merck was helpful at first with the science facts I requested, but of course has denied any reimbursement of vet bills.
Let me know if this law suit is successful. It would be nice to do the same with Credelio.
Please add me to this class action
I’m in the US and would desperately like to see anything done here to get this product removed, and make the company accountable!!
I have a three-year-old Shar-Pei who has never had any kind of health issue at all. On August 7th he took his first dose of NexGard, he had his first seizure on the 14th of August. My vet convince me it had nothing to do with the NexGard, so he got a second dose on September 7th, he had a seizure on September 21st. He has had no more NexGard, and he never will. However, he had a seizure on October 9th, and then another one today November 9th. I called and made a formal complaint with the company itself, but I’m sure that will just be lost in some file cabinet somewheres. We need to do something in a class-action manner in the United States as well. Neurological problems and seizures are not side effects that we should be told to just tolerate!! Someone at the FDA should get off their ass and do something they know what they’re doing to these babies.
I want to be on this list. We were never told about this and the neurological problems that can occur. Our Pomeranian has been suffering from neurological problems for 9 months now and we simply do not know what to do. We have been to the vet many times. We are sure it is Bravecto. How do you get on this lawsuit? We would like to be included.
About 30 hours after giving Bravecto to our 9.5 year old Boxer, he suffered a seizure. He had no control of his legs, his face appeared to be blue, he wet himself in the house and had difficulty breathing. The episode lasted about 90 seconds, he appeared to us to be dying. We have requested the Merck Incident Report Form from our vet, we will complete and submit it.
Is this lawsuit still open?
I responded back in December 2019 regarding my dog Cocoa.
I haven’t heard anything from anyone reading a follow up on the lawsuit
She passed away 12-12-19 freon having this bravecto ..
Any information will greatly be appreciated
Thank you, Tonya
Our 10 yr old shih tzu was perfectly healthy with the exception of an ear infection every now and then plus he had dry eyes, which that breed is susceptible to. One dose of Bravecto in April 2020 and he developed a couple seizures. The 3 different vets I took him to said the same thing, almost word for word, “I’ve never had any of our patients develop seizures with Bravecto!” I seriously think the vets ALL know exactly what’s going on and they are rehearsed on what to say to their patients/clients to keep lawsuits at bay for them. The original vet that gave our dog the Bravecto never gave me any pamphlets on it nor did they verbally state ANY side effects from Bravecto! I want to join this class action lawsuit. Something has to be done to get this poison off the market and fast!
I know what you are saying. my beautiful 20 pound kitty went down to 10 pounds when he passed bravecto killed him. he had a check up all was good.and vet never said there was side affects from this poison. he died in 7 weeks we took him to 3 different vets. we traveled 3 hours for a special treatment to save him he was to far gone , he died in our arms