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
First of all, I received the flea and tick med from my veterinarian, Bravecto plus. 6.2-13.8 lbs. For cats.
My 13 year old cat Mr. Peppers, was a loving healthy (per blood work from appt on January 20th 2022) Beautiful cat. Vet put on bravecto plus, in the office. Saterday and Sunday he was OK. Drinking eating snack. Tuesday didn’t want to eat, drink. Didn’t want to go outside. For the last 5 days won’t walk upstairs to eat.stays in the rec room. He won’t go to litter box pupils are large I think he knows me, purring. I figured it out today it had to be flea and tick med. My vet gave it to him. He drank alittle milk. I didn’t know what it was. It’s just devastating going to call vet in the morning. I have never seen a prodlike this in all the years I’ve had cats. I just noticed today the box says Highly Flammable. Never looked.
I gave my 13 year old sheltie a dose of Bravecto which I had obtained form my vet. Within hours he acted as though he were having a difficult time walking & standing. Then he appeared to be having trouble breathing. He died in my car just outside the animal hospital.
My 80 pound boisterous Livestock Guard Dog Dixie was literally paralyzed for days the very day after I gave her Bravecto 90 day treatment!!! (January 4, 2022 gave her Bravecto, January 5, 2022 she was not moving!!!!)We thought she’d gotten into some rat poison or something, and the vet tested her for everything and kept her hydrated for two days, and I’ve been nursing her back to health the last few days at home. She walks like a drunk dog, holds her head at a weird angle, is super lethargic, and so confused!!!! This dog is used to running free and chasing coyotes and other predators, loving life, and now she JUST LAYS ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR, SO CONFUSED!!!!!! The only thing that changed in her diet or life was BRAVECTO!!!!! This medication should be BANNED!!!!!!
August 3, 2016
Our two dogs started taking Brevecto a month ago. Zoe, our Yorkshire Terrier started having seizures a month after starting this stuff. Our Chihuahua, Isabelle hasn’t had the seizures, but both dogs have been vomiting and have had awful diarrhea. The Brevecto is the only thing new in their diet in years. They’re both 9 years old and have had good health up until now. I can’t prove this stuff is responsible their problems, but I feel that it is. Also, this product was recommended by TWO Veterinarians!
I gave my dogs bravecto on December 7 2021. 10 days later she couldn’t walk at all had to put her down my pom started not eating.lots of blood work kidneys were failing and other things he passed away this morning 1/16/2022. I am devastated this drug has to be stopped and I’m going after them those were my babies
We had two dogs that took Bravecto and both had to be put down because of seizures. Gracie, our bearded collie was the most loveable, friendly rescued. First, we started seeing very bad agrees ion and then her legs begin to give out. Next came the seizures. We had to have her put down. We were devastated!
We also had a yorkie and we put him on bravecto at the same time. Baxter started having seizures one right after another and they would not stop. His eyes turned white, could not hear or see. This was the most horrible thing to watch. His seizures were in the middle of the night and he just ran and ran in circles. We took him to the animal hospital and we had to put him down. We were devastated! ! I wish we had known about the side effects of bravecto. These two dogs were family and it hurt so bad. I did post on Facebook about bravecto to warn people about using this terrible product. I didn’t want anyone else to go through what we wen through.
My dog has been on Brave to for a year and she had several seizures. I’ve stopped giving it to her during the winter and guess what? No seizures. Count me in.
After receiving Bravecto my daughter’s dog began having seizures. He never previously had a seizure disorder. She called me sobbing and crying because he had a seizure while she was playing fetch with him in the park. He then had another seizure on the morning of Christmas Eve and then while we were opening presents he had another seizure. It was a very traumatic experience watching your dog have seizures and not be able to do anything to remove this toxic pesticide from his system. She had to leave him at the Hannah pet hospital twice and the second time he had a seizure while he was there and they started him on seizure medication. They had to write her a prescription to purchase the Bravecto flea medication that was ingested rather than applied topically to his skin: When I discussed it with them they denied that it was the Bravecto that caused the seizures. I would like my daughter to join this class action lawsuit. I want people to know how toxic Bravecto is and that it is causing animals to have seizures, ataxia, and die.
My daughter’s dog developed a seizure disorder after receiving Bravecto. She had to start him on seizure medication. He had multiple seizures and went into a coma and died yesterday. She adored that dog and he was only 10yrs old. I want to know why the FDA is still allowing Bravecto and any other flea medication with Fluralaner in it to be sold when they are aware that it is causing neurological damage, ataxia, seizures and death in animals.
My 3 year old desexed male cat has had brevecto from 4 months old. He missteps on the stairs all the time. His head is still small. Last dose he disappeared for a day and im not sure what happened. He used to be blind to where his food was if the majority was eaten.
The vet asked at one year what if any tick worm treatments he had had and I said Brevecto and she said use Brevecto plus.
I cant be sure any causal lonk, but i will add his and my voice to aid your statistics. Sorry for inclusion of irrelevancies.
Our dog has been on bravecto for about 4 to 5 years. Yesterday after giving bravecto she seemed to have a seizure. We took her in to the emergency room because she could not stand.