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
My 13 year old Cairn Terrier has been on Bravecto since it was released in 2016. Over the last year and then some he developed ataxia, spasms/tremors and had his first grand mal seizure last week. I have spent thousands at the vet and have taken him to a specialist to rule out what could be causing these neurological issues, and so far, nothing has really stood out. He is otherwise a very healthy and happy boy. I only recently read that bravecto could cause neurological problems and seizures and I can’t help but think my dog has slowly been poisoned over the years. These drugs are made to attack the nervous system of fleas and ticks, so it makes sense it could act as neurotoxin to the dog. I don’t believe there have been any long term studies of the effects of these drugs, and now we are starting to see them!
Bravecto is an effective and tasty treatment for dogs to safeguard them from fleas and ticks. It is a soft oral treatment that efficiently kills approximately 99% of fleas and ticks in a few hours of administration consider its fro petcareclub .com
I forgot to add she has had excessive shedding, itching as well. No matter what shampoo I use nothing helps.
My Missy is 6 years old and been on Bravecto since she was able to be on it. She continues to have muscle spasms while sleeping and allergies. I thought these spasms and allergies were normal but now believe they are linked to Bravecto. She had stomach issues and bleeding a year after starting Bravecto not sure if relating to this medication but she still has bowel troubles. Please add me ti this suit. I have paid 50 – 65 for this medication at different weight levels she has gained weight and no matter what food I try she does not lose weight. She is at least 20 lbs overweight I need to know if this is one of the symptoms as well. Thank you. I had to take her and my other pet to emergency vet in 2015 or 2016 cannot remember exact dates for severe bleeding in stool. Cost me over 800 for both pets but since then I only have one pet now.
My dog is a Westie/Wheaton (we think) mix, he is 3 years old and has Meningitis for the second time. He takes Bravecto since we adopted him and has had 2 proheart injections (one in September 2019 and the other in November 2020) 2 weeks after these injections he began shaking and diagnosed with meningitis. Has this ever happened to anyone else?
My White Bichon Frise took Bravecto and it almost killed him. We had to immediately take him to the after hours veterinarian to receive care it caused him to become lethargic, continual vomiting, confusion and has permanently change his coat. He is now permanently brown and white. This is definitely a dangerous drug for animals and needs to be removed the market.
i have lost one dog and dealing with another diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, litter had 3 x epi dogs 2 PTS, cleft pallet, i still born and 1 with misformed organs, Mum given bravetco at 14 days pregnant
makes me angry as could have been avoided, Vets are still prescribing this to pregnant dogs, it can not be reversed :)
I gave my dog Bravecto for the first time when he was 7 months old. Shortly after that he had a seizure. Never had one before. I got him when he was 3 months old. Being that he was a rescue dog I thought maybe it was from abuse. Come to find out it might be from the Bravecto. And unfortunately I have been giving Bravecto to him for 5 YEARS!! He has seizures roughly every month now. I have quit giving him Bravecto.
Add me to the class action suit as I want this drug taken of the market. My MinPin developed bloody diarrhea after taking Bravecto and was diagnosed with Cushions syndrome.
I’d like to know if this lawsuit is still open/pending. If so, please add me to the list. My healthy 6 ye. Old Maltese was given 1 dose, experienced seizures, excessive drooling, ataxia, vomiting, anorexia, respiratory failure, hypoxia, and passed away within 2 weeks after $4,000 and trips to the vet, emergency vet, and ICU . My 60 lb. Goldendoodle also experienced vomiting, blood in stool, excessive drooling, but lived. I had no idea and was not told about these possible side effects. Absolutely horrible.