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 7yr old chi mix who had a complete wellness check prior to ingesting his first Bravecto chewable died unexpectedly a few days later. 5 days after taking the flea pill he developed acute pancreatitis and died.
Was the Class Action Lawsuit against Merck Animal Health (Intervet, Inc./Merck Pharmaceuticals) settled? I would be very interested to know the status of this lawsuit because of the direct harm to my cat and the suffering she is still enduring 60 days following the application of Bravecto.
My nine-year-old great Pyrenees/Australian Shepherd mix took Bravecto a week ago.. within days he was having trouble walking and was completely disoriented and confused. He began having violent seizures. He eventually had a seizure and did not recover from it and we had to put him down to keep him from suffering anymore. My dog was healthy. He had had two knee surgeries several years ago and was very stiff from that but otherwise he was in good health for his age. I am furious that these companies are allowed to keep putting this poison out there. I had no idea that there were side effects like this. Is this class action lawsuit still pending? If so, I would very much like to tell my story and join. We are devastated and heartbroken over this.
My cocker spaniel was one year old when he had his first dose three days later he had his first seizures he is five now still has seizures he is on phenobarbital for life. If your dog is taking this medicine one day he may be sick and you not know it. That could be the fatal dose. I use coconut oil on my dog now to kill fleas it works ?
My American Eskimo puppy was given this medication at his vet last summer. He had a rash on his stomach and we battled diarrhea for months. When I asked the vet I was told it’s most likely from the “ “fleas” he never had a rash or diarrhea before. And he was given cap star prior to this with no reaction and there wasn’t any fleas in him. But they insisted it wasn’t this drug. And was from his previous flea issue. I really couldn’t understand how that made sense. But I took their word for it. They wanted me to keep him on it year round and I said no. Smart choice I just looked at the side effects and he had them. I’m so mad I almost spend hundreds of dollars on allergy testing at their recommendation, I was constantly switching his dog food. I spent hundreds of dollars. Nothing helped his stomach , I started buying the highest grade grass fed organic beef and making his food everyday. Thinking he had possible food allergies crying and becoming stressed for him.
We lost our beautiful 9 year old dog to kidney and liver failure 2months after Bravecto .His skin was driving him crazy ,he started having seizures and 2 months later he couldn’t even walk,rushed him to emerg New year’s day and never brought him home.so heartbroken,phoned vet and asked them if I fed flatlands to my dog and poisoned him would I be charged they said yes so I asked them how come they can,so confused
So sorry for your pain and your loss. Can you clarify for me what you meant when you said flatlands?
After years on Bravecto my dog had a neurological reaction with his first (and last) dose this year, given Apr 4, 2021. He was stumbling sideways, falling forward, did not notice a ball I bounced right next to his head, like he had no peripheral vision. It lasted for 48 hours that I know of but I am still watching for lasting effects.
I did c9ntact Bravecto, gave them info, they were going to contact my vet who I also called. They never did. They were almost robotic in asking details, offered no solution, did not advise me to have his liver enzymes tested, they took no responsibility and did nothing. The fact this can be toxic needs to be disclosed, better yet, it needs to be off the market!
You can not take it off or wash it off….you can only watch your pet suffer.
This is exactly what happened to our dog. Exactly.
I gave my 3 year old German Shepherd Bravecto for the first and last time 3 weeks ago. We have lived an absolute nightmare since the very day I gave it to him. There’s no way to prove its a result if this poison, but I know my dog and I know Bravecto did this. There’s still no guarantees he will make it but we are doing everything we can for him. He started with rear leg weakness that has progressed to complete inability to walk, he’s had seizures and other nuerological issues! We have him on anti-seizure meds and are treating menengitis. I’ve spent over $800 in 3 weeks trying to save him! I don’t know how the people behind the marketing and production of this poison can lay their heads down at night knowing they are getting rich by poisoning peoples beloved pets!
My pomeranian started having seizures the day I gave her bravecto and they just keep getting worst I took her to the vet but its obvious the vet is not on my side. She was a healthy dog before bravecto. Now she lives with daily seizures
We had a perfectly healthy 7 year old boxer and our vet switched to the bravecto 3 month oral pill for flea and ticks. After 8-10 days of taking the oral pill she had extreme fatigue, could not move on her own, and seem to have neurological issues hearing and LOB when walking. She would not eat for 2 days and we had her tested and was negative for all tick related diseases. I’m so glad I found this site. I will not go back to this flea and tick pill and I’m very upset with our vet for not warning us or suggesting this could be the cause. She is doing better with steroid and an antibiotic medicine. She continues to have bouts LOB and decrease hearing and confusion at time but glad she is feeling much better. Feel free to ask me any questions or if you have had the same experiences!! Thanks!!