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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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1,795 thoughts onBravecto Class Action Says Meds Aren’t Safe For Pets
I recently started my 76 pound pit bull on Bravecto. Within hours of giving it to him he developed diarrhea and vomiting. These side effects do NOT go away within hours as they claim. It has now been 3 days and he is still sick. Lethargic, vomiting and diarrhea. Im so angry at my vet for pushing this on us. For years I used K9 Advantix, a topical application and never had an issue
I have been using Bravecto for probably 3 years on my Vet’s recommendation and the savings perks offered. I watched as my female developed tumors, possibly cancer. Just following the first dose this Spring, I noticed her unusual behavior, spaceiness, licking incessantly at the air, staring into space… then 3 Grand mall seizures within hours on May 3, 2023 which did her in; had to put her down as she was totally gone… neurological, physical, blindness, loss of hearing and awareness of anything…. I’m convinced it was the Bravecto. I have another 3 doses on hand but will not be giving it to my other dog at all now!!!
Our cat has terrible time now stumbles twitching it goes on night terror
My dog never suffer from allergies, rashes, etc. she’s a very healthy dog. I take care like my daughter. She is almos 16 years old and healthy. Years ago I decide to stop use drops to kill ticks. I prefer to check everyday to prevent and use orgánica shampoos and conditioners to keep her clean. Lola’s skins in very clean, she looks like a puppy, that is what everyone said. For the last six months her veterinary toe to use Bravetco on her skiin (neck) and she started vomiting and show up a rash or allergy reaction. I definitely will stop using this product. The vets are responsible for making us to use it.
Gave our Golden Retriever Bravecto last night and now today she has tremors , laying around and can barely breath… hoping we can see our girl again
I purchased Bravecto 3 month tab last week and gave it to my docile puppy who is 1.5 years old on Thursday, May 25, 2023. My dog is a 40lb sheepdog mix. Very sweet playful puppy. On Sunday night, May 28 around 9 in the evening, he went after my old 7 lb Chihuahua. The little one was a bit traumatized and we kept them separated. The next morning, all seemed okay and out of the blue, he malled my chihuahua (Memorial Day). My chi is in the hospital waiting for surgery. He has severe lacerations on his neck and we were told to say goodbye to him yesterday when we left him at the hospital. Hopefully he will get through surgery. However, this “sudden, out of character” behavior was terrifying and traumatic for my chi. We already have the hospital a $5000 deposit and will owe more after all is do e (if he survives the anesthesia). The only thing that was done different was giving my big puppy the Bravecto tablet! I asked my vet about creating any neurological issues after reading more about this $65 tablet. He said, it’s the same with all the side effects you read about human medication. The risk is very low!!
We started giving our Pomeranian Bravecto in Sept of 2020, and shortly after that she expired several seizures. After spending thousands at the emergency vet and putting her on Phenobarbital medication that she takes twice a day every day now, just this week our Vet told us to stop giving her Bravecto because it can cause seizures. So now we’re pretty sure it’s all connected.
Gave my chocolate lab mix Bravecto in July 2020, she was 9 at the time. She developed myoclonic jerking that has persisted since then. I contracted Merck was given a case number and told they would follow up, I never heard from them again. I’ll never give that drug to another dog ever!
My chocolate lab has been on bravecto since she was young and last year started developing seizures. She now has epilepsy and this has completely changed our way of life.
I gave my 7 year old chocalate mixed lab a brave to, within 2 weeks his stomach started to blowup and he stopped eating, he went into liver failure and I had to put him to sleep😞
Gave my 9 year old yorkie a Bravecto pill last Wednesday, May 10th, she’s just under 10 pounds. Friday she started with diarrhea, by Sunday she had both diarrhea and vomiting. It’s now been 5 days of this and she’s not getting over this so will be calling the vet today.