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 Jakeโs possible adverse reaction to taking the drug. The company allegedly denied that that Jakeโs 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 wasnโt sure if Jakeโs symptoms would be long-term and was still not sure if her dogโs symptoms were caused by the drug.
After more tests and a trip to a neurologist, the plaintiffโs veterinarian allegedly told her that he โpresumedโ that Jakeโs diagnosis of meningitis was a result of โBravecto toxicity,โ 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 โtens of thousands of dollarsโ 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.ย ย
โBecause 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,โ 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 โhighlight neurological events because these events were seen consistently across the isoxazoline class of productsโ and โto provide veterinarians and pet owners with the information they need to make treatment decisions for each pet on an individual basis,โ 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.
โEvery 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 Defendantโs unreasonably dangerous and defective product,โ 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 Arenโt Safe For Pets
I was never informed that Bravecto can be harmful! I actually have one on the way and will not be giving and talking to Vet
I was recently given Bravecto by my get this year. I have a rough collie and had no knowledge of this products potential danger . Please add me to your list.
My dog fell very ill just days after taking Bravecto, the 2 vets we saw, said he was in renal failure, and there was no good outcome. He would lay still and vomit and not even lift his head.
I used to be an EMT so I got all the supplies and kept him home on round the clock IV fluids for 5 days, he seemed to bounce back..went from peeing blood to chasing squirrels.
On the 5th night he had a wicked seizure and blood poured from his mouth..I had to rush him to the ER to put him down because he was panicking and couldnt breathe and I didnโt know how to help him. It was a true nightmare.
On day 1, Merck offered help at first..then blamed me saying maybe he got into some rat poison, or drank anti-freeze, maybe he ate a tylenol tablet off the floor. When he passed away I refused their calls. I wanted them to help me save him, I was devastated as were my daughters and whole family!!! I wanted Merck to leave me alone after that.
My dog used bravecto for 5 years along with Sentinel for heart worm.
I saw him decling as the years went on..he would stand and start pawing at invisible things. He just recently passed away.
Both of my golden retrievers recieved in the same dayโฆwith in 3 days both lethargic the bigger dog had vomiting and bloody diarrhea and developed a massive hot spot. The smaller younger one lost most of her hair and developed at minimum 50plus open sores on her underbelly, she was so sick and couldnt eatโฆvet never took responsibility and flat out didnโt believe me. I reported to Merck but got no where. My dogs recovered after hundreds of dollars in vet bills (a new vet) and I refuse to give them anything for fleas and tics nowโฆthis stuff is poison. The long term effect with my smaller dog is anxietyโฆ.bravecto is toxic and itโs about time a lawsuit was brought forth
We had a reaction with one of our dogs. She lost control of her back legs after taking it, and regained movement slowly over the next 3 months. (active period for Bravecto) She still has some ataxia,(uncoordinated walking).
I have purchased several times. In fact she is supposed to take a dose this week.
Please add me. My Berners havenโt been the same since Bravecto
YeaโฆIโve been giving this to my dogsโฆno more.::
I gave my dog Bravecto the first time at 9 months. She was ill following. My golden retriever was given it about noon and that night was vomiting and diarrhea. Next morning very lethargic. Took her to the vet. Was told it could be a reaction to the Bravecto or virus. She had to be admitted to the emergency vet hospital and I also had to take time off work after to help her recover.
The drug company paid a small amount of her vet bill. $90.00. Her fee were over $3000.00. We have never given it to her since.
She seems to have recovered fully.