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 bought that made my pet sick I want compensated
It is so disheartening to see comment after comment with the same stories … like mine :( I gave Bravecto to my puppy on April 3rd and he got sick as many describe here, vomiting, lethargic, no appetite, took him to vet due to all these symptoms not even putting together that it could be related to the flea/tick meds. Vets office didn’t warn or even mentioned the possibility of it during the sick visit. The next night he started having seizures … he seized the second time for at least 30-45 minutes all the way from home to the emergency vet clinic. At the time no one could figure out what this was. April 2018. He passed away the next day … only meds would stop his seizing. Today my new puppy went to the vet and I asked for fle/tick meds, this time because I still thought of my beloved Koko i took off the label that covered the warning labels and saw the possible adverse side effects – my heart dropped. I finally know what killed my Koko and I feel so devastated, I should have researched more and asked questions before feeding him this crap.
We gave our 6 year healthy German Shepard the Bravecto April 14, 2021. Within 8 hours she was having seizures and unable to walk, very Lethargic, and unwilling to eat. Her back legs didn’t want to work. She was refusing to drink water.
On April 16th we took her to emergency vet hospital where they kept her overnight, gave her fluids, ran full workup blood tests. We contacted Merck and opened a case. They stated that they didn’t think it was their product but would contact the Vet at the Animal Hospital. Then the vet advised us that Merck contacted him and wanted to have X-rays completed to rule out everything and that they would pay for the x-ray and half of bloodwork.
X-rays and blood work came back normal, but they wanted to keep her overnight to watch her.
The vet that gave us the Bravecto did not advise us of any side effects, we trusted them.
We contacted Merck again, and they stated that they would reimburse us some of the money but it would take 8-12 weeks. Yes refund of all the money spent on Vet bills would be nice but they are still not held responsible for their product, and until we know the outcome or lasting effects on our Dog, we will not settle.
Our dog has been back to our Vet which she recommended taking her to a neurologist because she showed signs of neurological issues. We had to start IV’s at home to make sure she gets plenty of fluid.
Since this has all happened our dog has gotten worse, she cannot walk by herself, has to be picked up to go outside to use the restroom. Even though she is eating and with the help of us spoon feeding her, she has lost 20 pounds. We are trying to detox her body, and have been able to get her to eat a new diet, but from going from a high drive-healthy female German Shepard to needing care 24 hours a day has really angered us, and still they continue to give this poison to animals.
We have contacted a highly rated Animal Hospital where we live to make arrangements for a Necropsy to prove Bravecto is the cause, incase anything were to happen.
Every day is a struggle for us and our Furbaby.
I gave my 7 month old puppy her first dose of Brevecto on Saturday SatMay 8, 2012. One to two hours after I called Merck to tell them what was happening to my puppy. She wasn’t eating or drinking and was very lethargic. They gave me a case# and said they would reimburse for all vet bills pertaining to Bravecto. I took her to the vet on May 10,2021 I live in a small town and there is no emergency vet on the weekend. They charged me for an urgent visit. Merck told the vet to give her IV fluids, a b-12 shot and a high calorie supplement. Said if she wasn’t better by Wednesday to bring her back in for a full work up. She’s still lethargic and I’m worried! She’s not drinking and barely eating anything. I was never informed about the lethal side effects of Bravecto. I pray she pulls through
I gave my yorkie-Pom 1 dose on May 8th and within 2 minutes he vomited and got really tired. Around 6pm he started having problems walking, his one hind leg wasn’t working and he kept stiffening the leg out. As of today its somewhat better, and I did call his vet in which they said that they have heard of this.
My 7.5 year old boxer took the medication 3 weeks ago and threw up that night and for 2 days after. I contacted my vet and they said the meds were already in him and not to worry. he chewed grass at every opportunity for two weeks and then right at 2 weeks fell while my fiance was walking him. Then a week later, yesterday, he fell and had a short seizure. Absolutely brutal to witness. I contacted my vet before making the connection or reading about this lawsuit and they failed to even mention it being a possibility, eventhough they prescribed it to him. I called them back a few minutes ago and they tried there best to make me feel like it wasn’t possibly linked when I mentioned it
This is beyond disconcerting.
My dog is currently sick from bravecto! He won’t eat, vomiting diarrhea, the works. I’ve been on there site repeatedly but all it says is that they are side effects but will only last a few hours! He’s been sick for 2 days going on 3!! I’m so pissed off right now! One site said side effects were so rare that they were inconsequential. I’m taking him to the vet in the morning who I also blame for not telling me about these issues.
This is crazy! I’m horrified by these comments, because I gave my deer head Bravecto and she didnt have any of these side effects. Thank God. I was actually looking to buy more, but after reading this… I dont know. my condolences to you who suffered.
I gave this to both of my dogs, after it was suggest by my vet. Hours later one of my dogs was wobbly and throwing up. I told my vet but they never mentioned it could be the Bravecto. 4 months later gave him the next does and the same thing happened. Rushed him to the emergency vet. They never said it was the Bravecto. What they told me was that some breeds could not tolerate the medication and I could have him tested to see what breeds he was mixed with. So unethical all around. I down treat any fleas with organic coconut oil. Does anyone know whether Bravecto can damage a dogs heart too?
After giving the medicine to my full blooded German shepherd who was 4 years old perfect healthy had her shots been taken for every check up nothing was wrong with her. With in 4 days of giving her the medicine she is dead with no Warnings I wish I would have Research this product before killing my family pet and I have to live with that the rest of my life.