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 gave bravecto to my weiner dog and within a week sores started appearing on the tips of his ears and continue to spread at this point his ears are hardening and stuffing off from the tips up been to the vet twice and are going to a different vet for a better opinion from a vet that didn’t prescribe it to him ,
three of my cats have died of cancer and the fourth now has cancer if his / they were on b ravecto for nine months all dead
can you have someone cantact re lawsuit
I’ve suspected for years Bravecto caused my dog’s seizures. Going through his medical records today and I have no doubts now. It’s all right here. I’m lucky this poison didn’t kill my sweet boy but now he’s on meds for life and still seizes every 3-4 weeks.
I have purchased bravecto and it has made my dogs sick with pancreatitis. My vet bills have been very big from overnight stays. The pancreatitis has happened after doses have been given, getting critical at about two after treatment.
I have a dog in the hospital now overnight. We realized this happened again after being given bravecto. This drug needs to stop being given to dogs.
My dog too got sick with this with pancreatitus. I had to pit her to sleep.
I purchased Bravecto for my German Shepherd. After taking it he became very ill. He suddenly lost his ability to walk and he wouldn’t eat. I took him to the vet and they said he was very ill and needed to go to the ER. I took him and they gave him antibiotics. I tried giving them to him but he wasn’t able to swallow them. He kept getting worse. I called my son and asked him to come and help me put him in the car. He died in my car on the way to the vet. I wish I would have seen this back then, I would never have given him this medicine.
I am surprised a vet actually stated Bravecto was the cause. The vets in our area promote this product religiously and alway support the products they sell. I will stay away from this. Diatomaceous Earth works for fleas and causes no problems. My vet did not know anything about it?????
We gave the Med to our chihuahua last year and she has been have seizures and did not before. Now she is on phenobarbital for seizures.
Can you have someone contact me reference lawsuit
I gave my 86lb yellow lab Bravecto on Friday 5/21 after it being recommended by our vet. By Monday, he had thrown up and had explosive diarrhea all over the house. He refused to eat or drink anything for 2 days. We brought him to the emergency vet and they said all levels were fine. Gave him an appetite stimulant and antibiotics and sent him home. He was back to normal by Wednesday. Then this morning, we woke up to more vomit in the house and blood in his stool. He was shaking and drooling uncontrollably and couldn’t even keep his eyes open. He is now back in the emergency vet overnight for observation and to push fluids. Praying he makes it through this. I am a complete mess!
My dog was given Braverto Thursday night and started noticing symptoms. By Monday he was vomiting, having diarrhea, disoriented, panting, lethargic, not eating. Took him to emergency hospital. He had 105 fever. White and red blood cell was low. Liver level high. Stomach was gargling. He’s on IV, pain meds, antibiotics, liver protectant. Praying he makes it through this nightmare.
I have my dog his first dose of Bravecto last Sunday morning. Sunday evening he was noted to have a grand mal seizure while laying in his bed. After the seizure subsided we took him to the animal hospital where they kept him over night. He had another grand mal seizure at 4am. Merck, the manufacturer of Bravecto instructed the animal hospital to try a lip infusion to try and eliminate some of the Bravecto from his system. He was also placed on Keppra to control the seizures. Unfortunately, after 3 days in the hospital he continued to have grand mal seizures despite being on full doses of Keppra. The last seizure he had left him unable to walk. We were forced to make the most difficult decision of our lives and had to lay our precious dog to rest. These seizures and ultimately his demise were a direct result of taking Bravecto.
Lipid infusion**