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
My dog was prescribed Bravecto in October 2020. Within 2 weeks he had a seizure. This was his first. I even asked the vet about this medication being safe and he stated it was. My doggie supposedly had a flea infestation of flea med resistant fleas! He had another seizure this week. January. Hoping Bravecto gets out of his system and he has no more seizures or long term effects from this drug. Looking for new vet and new flea meds.
This my dog was pushed bribed perfecto in October of 2019 she started having really bad skin irritability. Next she started to stop eating she started to walk around in circles she started to walk around in fall to the right followed by her finally having a stroke. There is a lot more to the story which I would love to discuss with an attorney. She died 47 day’s latter. Please have an attorney call me
My Newfoundland has been on Bravecto for 4 years. He hasn’t experienced any neuro issues or skin issues caused by the medication that others state on here.
My dog has been on Bravecto for 2 years as recommended by her vet, but will no longer be. I was unaware of these side effects and only found out after noticing some symptoms on my dog and starting to do my own research. Please add me.
My dog was prescribed apoquel when it was first being marketed after a long time of nothing else working. It started with a sore on the inside of his right front leg close to his paw. I took him to the vet several times over several months as it wasn’t healing. I told them I thought it was cancer as that is a major sign. They kept just wanting to watch it. His health all of a sudden quickly declined. He ended up having lymphoma. He was completely healthy dog aside from the itching. I woke up at 3 am one morning to him whining very loud. At that point he was weak and in terrible pain. I thought he needed to go outside. I picked him up and when I set him down in the yard he took a couple steps like a drunk person and collapsed. I rushed him to the vet. They told me I had to go home. Hours later they called to tell me I had to put him down. I drove as fast as I could and he was struggling to breath. I held him while they put him down. He was my baby and my best friend. When I was pregnant he would sleep wrapped around my belly. After I had my daughter he would frantically come out to me when she would cry and run back and forth between her and me until I could get to her. I miss him every day and I still cry when I talk about him. It has been 5 years since his death. I want to be part of going after this company. They need to be held accountable.
My dog developed severe dermatitis about 5 to 6 months after being put on Bravecto. She never had skin issues before this and after taking her to two vets who pushed more meds I did my own research and found that this is a very common side effect of the drug. I am monitoring her for neurological side effects as well as there is some twitching that is making me nervous. Please contact me if there is a possibility of being included. I do have more info from other pet owners who used this drug.
Sadly our Golden Retriever began having idiopathic grande mal seizures, after years of having her. It was just so awful to see her go through these. It wasn’t until she died and I was researching meds etc for our new dog, that I pieced together that the seizures began when we switched her over to Bravecto. At the time, we thought we were doing the right thing by giving her what seemed like ‘a treat’ to her. The more I read, I find the lack of public disclosure, shameful. What I want to see is ethical behaviour and transparency by drug companies, regarding pet safety.
we just lost our 9 year old Lab on New Years Day, He was a healthy dog, He had a few ear infections and he also had some dry skin issues so we took him to the vet, we were given anti biotic and Bravecto , The bravecto to be used in 30 days, so sorry to say we gave our boy Chevy his Bravecto September 12 2020, within 2 weeks he fell to his side while outside playing with me, we thought probably balance due to ear infection, another month went by and he had 5 seizures over this time, so withinh a 3 month period, New years eve he all of a sudden couldnt set or lie down , we set up with him through the night and in the morning he developed trembling and took a seizure took him to emergency early morning new years day, the nurse was so puzzled because they couldnt understand what a seizure would have to do with ear infection she said he kept his tail down but wagged it and tried to kiss her and followed her around, we had to wait in car because on covid, We were to find out in minutes we had to put our boy to sleep, he had liver and kidney failure, Our heart breaks every second of everyday and we truly believe this is the culprit, The info inside the Bravecto box that you dont see until after you buy it says USE WITH CAUTION, I would like to know how you do that
Please let us know if there is anything we can do, even if we help ONE dog.
I have not posted up until today. For the last 9 months I have been in a fight to save my Goldendoodle. She is now on the road to recovery. Our family vet as well as her internal medicine specialist all feel that Bravecto was not the cause of her non-regenerative IMHA. On March 10, 2020 she took her dose of Bravecto. By the end of March, she was exhibiting some of the symptoms including lack of energy and pale gums etc. During a visit to the family Vet to try and figure out what was wrong, they did a simple PCV test and she was at 22%. Our family vet was concerned and contacted an internal medicine specialist and by the time I got her to the specialist her PCVs were at 17%. She has had 2 blood transfusion and an IVIg (immunoglobulin) infusion. She was also treated with mega doses of Prednisone and Azathioprineb both of which were not an easy course of treatment especially with the side effects. She is now off of the Prednisone and hopefully by March 9, 2021 be off of the Azathioprine. Her latest blood work showed the HCT (PCV) at 43.7%.
During the last 9 months I reviewed FDA reports associated with the Bravecto issue and there are documented cases of the non-regenerative anemia. She will never go back on Bravecto. I have transitioned to natural essential oils to control fleas and ticks. It is working well for her.
Costs for treatment to date are in excess of $10,000. We are still 6 to 9 months from being discharged by her specialist. We are taking this one day at a time. All I know is that I have my Maggie Mae and she is back to her old whacky self.
My 12 lb terroir mix just had her Bravecto chew on Friday 1/8/21. At 5:30 a.m. I laid back down , at 8:15 a.m. I awoke and she was spinning in a circle, panting hard. She was unable to walk it appeared a stroke possibly as she could only spin one direction. She spent all day at the her vet, where the medicine was purchased. He contacted the company and they advised they would cover $500 for test and lab work. I picked up my girl at 5pm and she was still trying to spin in a circle but not as bad. The next morning she was better, she acted normal for about 30 minutes and she started wanting to spin in a circle again. I put her back in her crate to keep her from being active and watched her close. That night she seemed fine . Today is Sunday and she’s done good. The vet wants m to return with her at 8 am and leave her for the day. I’m not sure if I will bring her in . The $500 is gone from Friday and I can’t afford to keep going. She is on 3 medications now he sent home with her he also give fluids and “flushed” her system. Praying she was a lucky girl after reading doany other stories. Now I’m afraid to give her anything for fleas.