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 my dog a dose of Bravecto and he became very sick with GI problems-vomiting, diarrhea, not eating, lethargy and then he was unable to walk straight. I would have to hold him up while he went tinkle in the yard. We had to hospitalize him and it took him months to get back to himself. So sad.
My dog took this in April and the diarrhea started not long after , he lived 6 months until I had to say goodbye. It was an awful 6 months. He was very healthy never had an issue at all with him. Nothing ! At the end he couldn’t even eat :(
I purchased 2 Bravecto chews and gave the first one to my otherwise healthy German Shepard who began exhibiting symptoms within days: scratching, shaking, tremors, lethargy. Over time the symptoms subsided somewhat. When I gave the second chew to my dog three months later the symptoms appeared again. Bravecto is toxic. Do not give ot to your dog.
I gave my German Shepherd a dose of Bravecto a few years ago, thinking that it was safe. Not long after giving him the med, he began having shaking episodes and hot skin. Then, he began having issues using his back legs. He was wobbly. I thought that maybe he had injured himself somehow. Now, he has been declining so much that he can’t stand on his back legs without wobbling and falling over. He drags them completely. His skin is still very red, hot, sweaty and he suffers tremors still. I only tried giving him a topical this year. I am so sad that I may need to put him down, because he is in such poor shape. I just now realized that his symptoms may be long term side effects from Bravecto. I had a neurologist test him for DM, but she said the gene was not being expressed. No vet can tell me what the problem is caused by. Is it too late to join this lawsuit?
After using Advocate flea treatment every 4 weeks and not having any real effect with the treatment of fleas, we were recommend by our vets to try the bravecto flea treatment and after a few months of being on the bravecto she suffered her first seizure, she was almost 8 years old and has continued to suffer with seizures since . She is now on 2 different tablets totalling 7 a day . Prior to using the bravecto she had never suffered with seizures at all
I started to give my chessador Bravecto last year, now he has runny eyes and extreme hair and weight loss. He went from 140 lbs to 89 lbs. I have been at the vets asking why he is having the hair loss, runny eyes and weight loss. We just did a full blood panel on him and now I am waiting for the results. I never even thought it might be from the Bravecto but doing some research I am convinced it is from the medication.
I gave Sedona the pill for fleas and ticks. Two weeks in and she has a severe rash all over the legs and brown spots everywhere! Her pee pee is turning brown and I’m worried This is going to kill my dog ! Please add me to this law suit?
Karen Lee Ketcham 520-245-6203
greetings,and thank you for providing this information.on Wednesday,October 20,2021,i gave my 11 year old dog his first dose of Bravato,a chewable tablet for 22-44 lb. dogs;he weighs 25 lbs.The veterinarian did not warn about possible adverse reactions.Shortly after ingesting the chewable Bravato,my dog started shaking and drooling,and is was very lethargic.By Thursday,he was unable to stand up from his bed.He has refused food/water,until today,Monday,October 25,2021,when he accepted some soft cooked chicken with broth.i am devastated to see my dog in this condition,as yes,he had fleas and he had been scratching,but this medication made him “an invalid”,not the happy,active dog he was before Wednesday
Devastating loss of a perfectly vibrant healthy male rottweiler, just one dose. Vet thought he “suddenly” developed a neurological back issue. Tried everything, had to make that heartbreaking decision. And to think I fed him that killer dose of Bravecto. Should be renamed to Murdero. Happened in 2019. I’m still sad and furious.
After battling fleas all summer, we finally purchased Bravecto for our 5 dogs in Sept 2021. About 3 weeks later, our beagle had sudden swelling of her lymph nodes especially in her neck. She has now been diagnosed with lymphoma. What are the chances that Bravecto caused the lymphoma?