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
Last time I gave Bravecto my dog was constantly licking his paws for a year, the vet denied it was related. Last week I gave it again and within six hours he was sick, nothing else happened in between. He walked doubled down his tail between his legs. It lasted two days. I feel so bad giving him this poison. Never again! the vets are dishonest, shouldn’t the vets be held responsible? They must report their cases, not hide behind manufacturer’s “advice”.
Apologies if this is a duplicate comment. We would like to be included in the class action. My Italian greyhound Noah nearly died after a single dose of Bravecto in May 2016, hemorrhaging profusely. Over five years later he continues to struggle with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis that was not previously an issue before taking the Bravecto. I would do absolutely anything to turn back the clock and never give him this drug. I also gave a dose of the drug to my Italian greyhound mix, Isaac, at the same time and I am convinced he suffered neurological effects from it, but cannot prove these as directly as Noah’s injuries .
I would like to be included in the law suit. I purchased Bravecto on Oct. 20, 2021, and applied it to my healthy, vibrant, 2 1/2 year old cat. On Oct 21 he was lethargic and hiding. On Oct 22 he was unable to stand. I took him to an emergency vet hospital where they treated him forblood poisoning, but he became septic. He had to be euthanized on Oct. 23. My entire family is devastated.
We gave Bravecto to our 13-year old poodle on October 2, 2021, and she had 4 seizures over the next 3 days. Now she is a zombie, walking around bumping into things and today, 8 days later, she’s stopped eating.
We would like to be included in this lawsuit.
I gave my dog bravecto 2 times and he developed soft tissue cancer. These products need to be band.
I gave Bravecto to my pug in August of 2021 and within days she was itching and scratching so bad that I had to put her on apoquil to which I am now on my third prescription of apoquil.
Very expensive is apoquil to which if I would have known giving her Bravecto would have caused this I would have never given the flea medication. Please also add me to the class action lawsuit
Just gave my beautiful husky this drug and within 2 days she had a seizure! I’m very concerned after reading all these stories!!
My vet gave me Bravetco 3 month chew treatment to give to my 9 year old Pomeranian and within a week he was diagnosed with elevated renal failure, within 1 month it had progressed to stage 4 renal failure. He has been suffering ever since. Extreme nausea, loss of appetite, he needs daily sub Q fluids for 9 months now, I have to syringe feed him meds and meals sometimes, he vomits, diarrhea, bloody poop, it’s ongoing. I’m lucky to still have him, but he hasn’t been the same ever since.
It has costed me thousands of dollars treating and diagnosing him, I’ve had to switch vets multiple times, and seen specialist and internist. All seem to deny bravetco can do any harm. My original vet told me it was safe and does not cause kidney failure, but it happened! Exactly after I gave it to him!
Gave my Gsd mix puppy brevecto chew 5 days later he had a horrible groin rash, & head tilt when walking to the left. I will never give brevecto to my dog again!!
I gave my bichonpop bravecto and a day later she started not eating, vomitting and diarrhea. My very energetic perfect girl became so lethargic and so sick so quickly. She ended up on IV fluids and medication for over a week with dangerously high liver counts, and I was told the chances were high she wouldn’t make it.. The ONLY reason I still have my beautiful, perfect 4 year old girl is fully due to the very best veterinarian who refused to let her down. This product should NEVER be sold again. The fact that they continue to produce and sell this product, despite overwhelming proof of serious reactions, is criminal in my view.