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
My dog (collie/gsd cross) hasn’t been right since last March when she was given Bravecto. My vet did every test imaginable for every disease imaginable but REFUSED to acknowledge that the common denominator between 10am & Zola being I’ll at 4pm was Bravecto. At a cost of over £3,000 to me. There should be a lawsuit brought against Mercke/MSD here in the UK.
Both of our puppies nearly died after just one dose. Our vet confirmed this was the cause.
I have videos and documentation.
My dog had this three or four times. Was ill, not eating, vet said stomach bug and that she had grade 3-4 heart murmur. At 4 yr old never been told she had prob with heart. A friend has warned about Bravecto and I stopped it. Merck informed and denied link with their product. Few months later, another vet check heart murmur barely detectable grade 1.
I gave it to all 4my dogs. First time all ate it easily. 2nd time only the oldest ate it without being bribed with raw mince. I noticed Miley would throw up yello bile. All of them wouldnt eat for about 2days afterwards. The 3rd time also she didn’t want to eat it, and all of them got it broken into little pieces via raw mince. Miley was throwing up badly this time, with all of them stil not having an appetite for 2 or 3 days. Roxy also threw up a yellow bile-like liquid. I could link these symptoms to the times they got the Bravecto and decided to stop it. Unfortunately Miley never recovered and died in the following week. I bought it from The Cottage Cet in Gordon’s Bay and then from Wellington Animal Hospital who didn’t want to listen to my complaints.
Hi. I gave Bravecto to my 6 month old German shepherd wolf hound cross in Australia. She was training for a career as a working dog I search and rescue.
Over the following 12-24 hours she grew lethargic and couldn’t walk. Wouldn’t eat or drink and I took her vitals which were poorly along with blanched gums.
I rushed her to the vet and she was tested for snake bite, paralysis tick and eventually she was diagnosed with IMHA and nearly died. If I didn’t have a veterinary background I may have just left her to see if she perked up but I’m told if I hadn’t rushed her in she would have died overnight in her sleep. though the vet was baffled as to how.
We have all the data and tests available at my veterinary clinic.
The vet wondered if it might have been the Bravecto dose that triggered a highly irregular bout of IMHA but was told by the company that it couldn’t have been the cause. IMHA is very rare in young dogs. Especially one who was fighting fit and in great condition.
My dog had been damaged for life by her illness which we believe was cause by Bravecto. And still struggles after having to take high levels of cortisone to save her life during her vital developmental and cognitive growing time.
When I contacted the company representatives they said they hadn’t heard of anything like this before. And that drugs for animals weren’t tested like human medications. Yet I found a face book group full of stories like mine.
It seems there are no regulations?
No one cares?
I’m a dog trainer and I tell my story Objectively to my clients when they ask about tick treatments. I say that I personally wouldn’t use Bravecto. I leave it up to them to choose but I’m always relived when they chose against it.
Glad this is happening.
My gsd was in the vets for a week after having been given 1 x Nexgard.with severe gut issues and faeces with dark blood puddles and breathing issues. He now cannot have a lot of protein as he has IBS issues and has to have special dietary biscuit and canned food. He also has to have regular B12 injections. When I spoke to my Vet could the Nexgard have caused the issue, “no he said I quite happily give it to my own dogs and will continue to do so” He continues to promote Braveto, Nexgard etc and I no longer see this Vet.
We used to give our dog bravecto (not knowing of its side effects) and she started having seizures in the months that followed. It’s been a very difficult and traumatic process. as the vets couldn’t really tell us what caused the seizures. (She wasn’t born with them, and couldn’t really pin it on old age as she is only 6 years old). So we really believe bravecto could of triggered it and made her sick!
Add me to the list.
My french bulldog took bravecto in July 2018. She immediately started to vomit, drool and pass gelatinous diarrhoea. She attended the vet the next day who said she had pancreatitis but after 3 months of treatments costing thousands she started to eat again and have normal stools. She also suffered neurological instability and the vet said she had an FCE. She was a perfectly healthy 2yo dog until the day she took Bravecto.
My golden chow Sandy had bloody stool and had to have ulcerated eye surgeries (3xs) , each after taking her dose of bravecto. She also had neurological twitching and hitting her head against the wall. And last but not least she developed Cushing’s disease. Please add me to the class action suit, I have all the medical records.
Our pup aged 10 months miniature schnauzer was changed from Nexguard to Bravecto by our vets and practically overnight developed seizures and then could not walk we tried everything to get a response from her via the vet and even asked for her to be referred to a specialist vet but were told she would not survive the journey she lasted a few days but never regained consciousness . We were distraught and the vet practice although not admitting liability never issued us with. a vet bill – speaks volumes….