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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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1,791 thoughts onBravecto Class Action Says Meds Aren’t Safe For Pets
I purchased Bravecto 3 month pill for my German shepherd Kane. The next two days he wouldn’t eat and looked weak. The 3rd day it was almost like he was paralyzed on the right side. He couldn’t walk without his right front paw collapsing and his right back leg not holding up. Took him back to doctor, she ran blood work on him and said he was losing blood but couldn’t explain his ,the paralyzed weakness, on right side. My son and I went over everything with her and she kept saying did he get hit by a car or something. No he’s in a back chain link fence when he’s outside. Even tho she didn’t give us much hope, she sent me home with some antibiotics and prednisone. We’ve been trying to force feed him some chicken or whatever we can to take with the medication. He mostly drinks water excessively. He is a healthy 7 year old German shepherd! Our heart!!
My 8 year old dog healthy dog died from Thrombocytopenia last week. We noticed his eyes were blood shot, seemly from a busted blood vessel. We rushed him to the dog vet, only for him to be diagnosed with low platlettes and anemia. He died the next day from internal bleeding. While they say this can be brought on by various other conditions, his blood work was not flagged a year and a half back after he had an operation. The only thing that was different was us resuming Bravecto two weeks prior since Spring was upon us.
My 15 yr old lap dog of 15 lbs was very legartic for 10 hrs then had diarrhea for 5 days along with slight vomiting..been feeding rice chicken only to regain his strength..its day 6 and finally feeling better …I will no longer use or promote this medication for any animal..I haven’t had a normal day or nights rest due to severe diarrhea and vomiting from my dog
My 15 month old Great Dane is now figting for his life now. He has been on bravectò since he was 16 weeks old. He has kidney problems, vomiting, no appetite, etc. Why why why did i listen to the vet?!?!
MY dog Zoey has been taking Bravecto for years. She was a healthy dog and had no neurological issues at all. she could hike, run, chase balls, and do whatever she wants. for the past three years she has developed a neurological problem where I have to carry her up and down stairs and she is unable to walk without stumbling and falling over. I was never told about these side effects at all and continued to give her bravecto. She just had her last pill a month ago. I believe that her issues are because of the continuous taking of bravecto. I have spends thousands of dollars because of her neurological issues. She was my service dog and is unable to perform her duties anymore due to these issues either. we got for walks using a stroller. I would like to be contacted by a lawyer to know what my options are going forward to get justice for my dog and family. She’s nine years old and healthy otherwise.
My husky Harley is the sweetest baby she has such a sweet nature, I regret so badly giving her the Bravecto ! She started having neurological problems & seizures after consuming the product. Her legs had gotten so weak that she tore her ACL ,she had to have surgery & then the seizures continued, with alot of foaming at the mouth I was devastated! My husband had rescued another husky & everytime Harley had a seizure the husky attacked her on the neck , in which I was told was a normal reaction to a seizure I had to physically remove her off of Harley & on that day I was bitten by Harley on my face .Of course she did not know what she was doing, being attacked by my other husky & having a seizure at the same time! This product is horrible & has caused my husband & I alot of heartache & worry ! My face now has a scar for life from this product!
I gave bravecto to my 13 year old Yorkie. He passed away a week later. No one told me about any side effects he may get from it. What are my next steps?
I bought a three month tablet for my dog. After giving it to him he began to vomit. He seems different since then. His cognition and reflexes are slower than it was before taking it. Fortunately he has not had anything too serious that required a vet visit as a result but scary reading about others pets.
My 16 year old boy used this product for the first, and sadly, only time in June of 23. When I got home from church he was lying on his stomach and could not get up. He started having scary seizures. He was a beautiful Bagle. I took him to the vet emergency vet. While waiting, I had told a tech what had happened to him. Someone in the waiting room with their dog told me about the dangers of the product, as he was formerly in pharmaceuticals. I filed a report late July with the company about Spot. They contacted our vet and the emergency vet. I didn’t know about the class action suit until yesterday. What are my next steps? I know he was old, but I would never have wanted him to go to the Rainbow Bridge so scared. My husband and I were with him at the end. I miss him so much.
My dog has seizures and vet bills have cost me thousands of dollars. She was on brave to 90 day treatment for about 2 years and now I’m buying meds for her for the rest of her life. Phenobarbital just stopped working and I have to take her back to the vet now for another battery of tests. I would like to get involved in one of these lawsuits just to try and recover some of the money I spent. This stuff was highly recommended by her vet at that time.
My golden retriever had been on bravecto since 2019. I had no idea about neurological problems that could come of it since the vet prescribed it. A week ago he was stumbling we took him in and they couldn’t find anything in blood work. He did it again and we took him back to the ER – tested positive for anaplasmosis and got antibiotics. But the next day he wasn’t moving, incontinent, labored breathing. He passed away with no prior sickness, they think it was menengitis but after reading more about bravecto I feel like the neurological issues are from that after reading more. A completely healthy dog – I never would have given him bravecto if I was told this information.