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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1,797 thoughts onBravecto Class Action Says Meds Aren’t Safe For Pets
Both of my cats were given Bravecto on 07/28/2022. One is a 16 week old Boy and my girl is a little over a year old, neither had any illnesses before the Bravecto. Now they’re vomiting, not eating, lethargic, and drinking a lot of water. I hope they get better soon and I will not ever have them treated with Bravecto again, I will also tell everyone I know about this danger of this drug!
My sweet mini Dachshund, Hilda, was prescribed a Bravecto chewable on November 11, 2021 (with no warning of possible side effects from the vet). Within 2 hours of ingesting Bravecto, she experienced severe ataxia, had no interest in eating and was lethargic. Over the next few days, the ataxia waned, but she was lethargic, experiencing occasional urinary incontinence, not very interested in food and definitely “not herself”. Ten days post Bravecto, Hilda had a grand mal seizure. I took her to the vet the next morning. She had bloodwork and a urinalysis. Diagnosis- UTI. A regimen of antibiotics was prescribed. Nine days later, the infection was gone. Three weeks later, Hilda had a second seizure, I called Merck to report what was going on. My vet also called Merck and had a conversation with one of their vet consultants. The consensus was it was doubtful that Hilda’s seizures were caused by the Bravecto because seizures “usually occur within 48 hours of the Bravecto dose”!!! I was advised by my vet to “wait and see if the seizures become more frequent and stronger”. Two more seizures occurred, and Hilda was prescribed phenobarbital. The vet said Hilda was suffering from epilepsy because “she is about the right age for epilepsy to happen”. Previous to Bravecto, Hilda was an extremely healthy and very active 9-year-old little girl with no history of seizures. Thus began the phenobarbital treatment – with all the unpleasant side effects such as wobbly gait (hind legs) and needing to drink 5 times more water than normal which led to producing copious and frequent urination with incontinence. After about 3 months giving the prescribed dose of phenobarbital to Hilda, on my own, I began to very slowly and meticulously lessen the dosage. At 4 1/2 months after the first dose of phenobarbital, I stopped giving the medication. She has not taken phenobarbital for over 2 months now and has not experienced a seizure. She is back to her happy and active self. I truly believe she does not have epilepsy and the whole terrible ordeal was caused by Bravecto. I only hope the Bravecto is now out of her system – it has been 8 1/2 months since Hilda ingested it. If this is the case, I believe we are very fortunate to still have her, and my heart aches for all the other people who had worse outcomes. However, the long-term suffering on Hilda’s part and the stress, worry and expense on our part should never have happened. Following Hilda’s 4th seizure, I once again called Merck. I spoke with a representative who could find no record of my phone call to report Hilda’s first seizure, nor could she find a record of my vet’s phone call to Merck. She provided me with a case number.
Our aussie on his third time having it the vet doesn’t have an explanation for why he couldn’t shut his mouth originally they said could be a abscess. Treated with antibiotics for 3 weeks no change. We went to a specialist did a couple of test for genetic conditions. Now they are saying likely neurological he had elevated white cells and liver and kidney issues. He’s now on prednisone which has helped along with pepcid ac. He still stumbles and the muscles around his head have deteriorated and he tries to itch himself on things. Hoping if I keep him off it it might get better but scary knowing this could be why.
My 3yr weim (nova) went into er on 7/22 with high fever lethargy. By 7/24 she was wobbly not eating fever lethargy blood test normal. 7/25 er neurology and they did mri spinal tap because she was having seizures. They diagnosed her with meningitis. She had bravecto. They now have her on high dose of steroids awaiting final spinal fluid results. She’s the baby of the family. We have 2 other dogs and 2 cats. This is heartbreaking.
Her symptoms started wed 7/20 when she was just acting strange after my other dog (Mango) went to er with similar symptoms but was better in 5 days
Just put my 12-year-old baby fur girl down. She was a Large super sweet baby who waited in the front window for us to come home. She followed me everywhere. She caught 3 possums. She gave kisses. She was smart and funny and oh so sweet and loyal. She was fine ….. until I gave her the Brevecto chew that my Vet recommended. She lost half of her weight within the first 3 weeks of giving her the chew. She became weak, couldn’t lift her head or walk. She tried drinking water and eating food but couldn’t keep it down and threw it up all over the house. Her beautiful big almond eyes kept looking to us to help, to do something. We took her to the vet, and he said she was in Stage 4 End of Life Kidney Failure, and she was In Pain, do we want to put her down right now?? We said “WHAT????” She was NEVER SICK, showed NO SIGNS until 3 weeks ago when we gave BREVCTO to her. In fact, Vet gave me the CAT Brevecto so I had to return to get the DOG Brevecto after asking if the Dog was same as the Cat Brevecto. They said NO IT IS NOT and gave me the DOG Brevecto Chew. We spent all weekend telling our precious baby girl fur baby – “”… we are so sorry… so sorry we gave you that chew…so sorry you are in pain…!” We put our beautiful baby girl who was born here in our house and was almost 13, to sleep and our hearts are broken in half, and we are ANGRY and KNOW it was BREVECTO. Our fur Baby’s brother is FINE and DANDY still and he did not have BREVECTO! He lives with my oldest daughter, and we baby-fur-sit a lot so sister and brother can play. The last night, as normal sleeping on our bed together, brother had his paw on top of sister’s paw through the night, letting her know he was there…. omg the picture will make anybody break down it is so so sweet. PLEASE ADD ME TOO!
My 3yr weim (nova) went into er on 7/22 with high fever lethargy. By 7/24 she was wobbly not eating fever lethargy blood test normal. 7/25 er neurology and they did mri spinal tap because she was having seizures. They diagnosed her with meningitis. She had bravecto. They now have her on high dose of steroids awaiting final spinal fluid results. She’s the baby of the family. We have 2 other dogs and 2 cats. This is heartbreaking.
Her symptoms started wed 7/20 when she was just acting strange after my other dog (Mango) went to er with similar symptoms but was better in 5 days
How do I join the lawsuit? My dog has been suffering seizures for over 2 years since she took Bravecto. I have incurred and will continue to incur vet bills for blood work and medication for my sweet baby!
January 2022 our corgi eight years old took bravecto one pill after being told by vet that it was safe. We read scripts on medicine and it’d not indicate anything risky. After four hours she began to throw up but that stopped. The next day she was very lethargic and without appetite. She began to be disinterested in eating or walking and had to be carried to bathroom in yard. The third day she would eat nothing. The fourth day she could not stand and had to be given water by spoon fulls. The fifth morning when we woke up next to her she was dead with blood dripping out both eyes and nose onto the floor. It has devastated us. Please add our name to this lawsuit.
My veterinarian just prescribed Bravecto yesterday. I gave my labrodoodle the chew last night. This morning He wont eat, drink, cant walk, lethargic, anemic, and peeing blood. I called the after hours of Bravecto- I want them to pay for all my dogs hospitalizations, medications, blood work etc. I am so pissed!
Reading these comments I’m freaking out I just gave my dog his first dose on Friday 7/22/22 I asked the vet to recommend a flea medicine but wasn’t told about side effects til I’m reading up on it now !!!!!!
My 2 year old yellow Lab, Mator, has been given Bravecta at least 3 times since he turned 6 month’s by my veterinarian. About a year ago we witnessed his first seizure. I have now documented 5 over the past year. The vet took both my dogs off Bravecta when I called about the first seizure.