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
Our Springer had just completed blood work, and the vet said she was a healthy dog. I gave her a Bravecto chew, and just an hour later she had bloody diarrhea. She was extremely thirsty. After a day of the bloody diarrhea, she became incontinent. All her lymph glands became enlarged and inflamed. Her belly swelled up, and 10 days later she was in so much pain, would not eat or drink, and she was euthanized. She showed all the signs of having been poisoned. Our vet said it was the Bravecto as far as he could ascertain.
At 10 years old my dog Harley was very happy, healthy and active 65 lb/ dog. October 2015 I gave him his first ever Bravecto Treatment. He was sick for 3 days and got better. January 2016 He received his second treatment of Bravecto and became sick again, this time he did not get better. Back and forth to the veterinarian, no useful results, we went till April 2016. He almost died. Emergency visit determined that he was diabetic with ketoacidosis and weighed 40lbs. I immediately started research (after the fact) found out about the poison in Bravecto. The following 3 years was daily diabetic treatments, homemade foods, vitamins. Useless Vet visits. He bacame blind, neurological symptoms. By November 2018 he developed a cough/choking when he ate. Another useless Vet visit “He is fine”. March 12, 2019 Emergency run to a different Vet only to discover he had a large tumor in his chest cavity that was pushing into his heart and esophogus. He was humanly euthanized. All because I trusted the salesman Vet who talked me into the Bravecto.
My dog was on Bravecto, started to lose hair in clumps and tremors (weird shaking for long periods of time). Switched vet, who prescribed Nexgard. MORE hair loss, tremors, drunk like walking, stumbling, running into the wall, excessive drooling, constant itching, etc. Was tested for Cushing disease (came back negative), was then tested for Addison’s (came back negative), was told he had “rat tail”. What the heck is rat tail? Stopped giving my boy either one, Bravecto or nexgard. Vet insisted he needed that garbage and more expensive tests were needed even tho I read on the blood results that bloodwork was supposed to be free, was charged anyway. Switched vet again, bloodwork came back, thyroid damage. Was prescribed a thyroid med. Also prescribed fish oil tabs and melotonin for hair loss and skin. I will never give an oral flea/tick ever again! I still have the original boxes. My boy still gets small tremors, very short tremors but overall very healthy, full coat of red hair, the way an Irish setter really looks. He’s happy, healthy, loving and I am a lucky one! I can’t believe that stuff is still on the market. Shame
Our dog was prescribed Bravecto and takes it every month (chewable tablet). She has also been prescribed Omeprazole that she takes every day to prevent chronic vomiting. I never tied her vomiting to taking Bravecto, but we will now stop giving it to her to try to prevent a recurrence. Please add me.
I had been giving my dog Bravecto, then found out about the dangers
Both of my dogs have been taking Bravecto
My dog acted like he was spaced out shortly after taking Bravecto. Then a few weeks later his hind legs collapsed, his head was tilted and his eyes were twitching back and forth. We thought he was having a stroke. The vet diagnosed it as vestibular disease. I really believe this was due to the Bravecto even though the vet said it was not. He recovered but still has a little bit of head tilt.
I used Bravecto and nexguard. My dogs got sick for a few days each time after giving a pill. I will not give it again in the future and will tell my friends not to either.
A few years ago I started using this Product with my Chihuahua mix. Within weeks he started having seizures and was eventually had to put down. We had no idea why this was happening but now I realize the timeline. I have to assume this product killed my pet.
Please add me, I have used for the past 3 years :(
I have had problems with my little guy who is only 4 years old having problems with stairs since using this product. I thought it was the groomers however it was not. He sometimes trips and falls.