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
2nd dose of brave to and my 10 year old dog had respiratory problems signs of neurological problems ever since. He would act weird and I would get him outside and he frantically eat grass for as long as I would let him. He still exhibits signs of neurological issues a year later
In 2017 I was told bravecto would be good safe and ok. Aide effects were limited for this drug. I had previously used a topical and wanted to use something internal due to young nephews petting my dogs. Both of my dogs did ok in the first 2 doses. However the day after the third dose given to my 60 pound Staffordshire Terrier he started with seizures. I called my vet who informed me there was no way Bravecto could have done anything and to wait until it was out of his system to try something else. Well I went to another vet. The new vet called Bravecto’s maker to tell them what was going on and we suspected it was from their medication. The maker of Bravecto paid for $500.00 worth of testing. Unfortunately we didnt find anything concrete so my vet said maybe something happened to my dog after his teeth being cleaned in January of that year(which also happened to be when I started the flea med). I had to put my dog to sleep after he had lost all bathroom functions, eyes started sinkinging into his head, he would walk around staring in the corners. Sometimes he would know where he was but most of the time he had no idea. It was hard seeing a bog who never urinated in his cage all of a sudden start to pee and sit in it. He was 8 when I put him to sleep.
I stopped giving my Boston Terrier the medication as soon as this happened to my big boy however I feel some of the damage was already done. From 2017 until November of 2019 he declined month by month. His eye sight started to go, he was having allergic reachtions to grass when he never did before. I do not have any proof this is any way related to the Bravecto but my gut tells me it did.
If you have any questions please reach out.
My name is Shannon
Phone 330-844-3301
My 5 year old goldendoodle died approximately 40 days after consuming Bravecto. Eye discharge, not eating sensitive to touch where the early signs, eventually became non ambulatory confused and delevoped a twitch. The neurologist diagnosed with meningoencephalomyelitis, the hospital documents were manipulated to fit a narrative make it appear my dog suffered from fungus issues. My dog was healthy my vet would agree.
My dog Sam had a tremor in March 2015 and then developed full-blown epilepsy after taking Bravecto. He stopped eating and nearly died. His meds and care have sometimes cost in the thousands per month. Count me in.
I bought Braveto for my Aussie Jasper. Within a few days of taking it I came home to vomit & diarrhea all over my house & my dog laying in the kitchen floor drooling & one side of his face & eye drawn down as if he had a stroke. He wouldn’t eat & could hardly even walk. I honestly thought I was going to have to have put down. Took him to the vet & theh dudnt really know what was wrong. He was a perfectly healthy dog up until taking Braveto. It took me weeks of forcing liquids & food down him to get him partially back to himself. He was never entirely well after that. He had seizures which never happened before & his personality completely changed. He had a horrible seizure a year ago this month & we had to make the heart wrenching decision to have him put down. I was never informed that this drug could be dangerous even deadly to my dog. I have lived with regret since the day I bought Braveta.
I’ve used Bravecto on my 6 giant breed dogs for 10 years. This is terrible!
My dog died after taking Bravecto. He had just had his annual checkup and was fine. Immediately after taking bravecto he developed a huge mass in his abdomen and died. I fully believe Bravecto was the cause.
All of my dogs experienced tremors and would hide on the day that they received Bravecto. One of my dogs started having seizures 6 months after her first dose. She would fall off furniture and down steps. That was two years ago and she still suffers periods of mental confusion ie She can’t find her food bowl, won’t eat unless hand fed, sits at thresholds but won’t step over them into next room, very anxious at times. Please add me to Class Action.
My dog Betty Boop got sick on the first dose but I thought it was her vaccine. After the week on down she fell over. And was dead within 9 weeks. My vet insisted it was safe even though it was only on the market for 6 months. She was my heart.
I lost my 14 month old beautiful, healthy, bulldog to this in September. She went in to the ER in respiratory distress, stopped breathing, and was intubated. Seizures began soon after. She was unable to walk well on her own. After 12 days at the ER – through many small improvements and a lot of set backs she passed at the ER. $21,000 bill … that I am still paying. I’d pay anything to have her back- but, that is not a possibility. Most devastating experience of my life.
I tried hard to keep my dog alive and comfortable after 3 doses of Bravecto. Minor seizures started after his first dose. There were no warnings on the labels or inserts at that time so my vet didn’t think it was related. My dog ultimately ended up with seizures, liver and kidney disease, and I had to let him go after 3 years of trying to make him well. It was so awful.