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
On 9/8/15, I gave my very healthy Australian Labradoodle, Bravecto. I remember asking three times if it was safe, and I was assured that it was. But it wasn’t safe. Callie reacted badly within 15 minutes of ingesting the chew. Within the hour she collapsed and was unresponsive. She came out of that and what followed was a 7 wk battle for her life. I spoke to the Merck vet the next day (I still have his name) and was told that given the timing it most likely was a reaction to Bravecto, but that was very rare. I later found out that part was not true. Every day brought new symptoms. I documented everything, from her daily symptoms/status, to the people I spoke with. Callie experienced seizures, tremors, hallucinations, sores on her body, bloody diarrhea and bloody vomit. She lost interest in eating but drank excessively. Her immune system and organs began shutting down. She went through many tests but nothing was conclusive. About a month in, my once vibrant, young girl had to wear diapers due to bladder incontinence. She became very weak. I have video of her experiencing the tremors and hallucinations. I have many very sad pictures. Her weakness worsened and she began showing overt signs of pain. She wouldn’t lay down for long but paced and panted. I knew it was time. So after 7 wks and 2 days, I had my girl euthanized. She was only 11 months old. Shortly after she died, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. I have always wondered if there was a correlation between her sickness and mine. Since Bravecto works systemically, her skin, fur, and her organs were all effected. I slept with her, comforted and cuddled her. I cleaned up too many messes to count. Maybe it was just an awful coincidence. I will gladly join this if it will help even one dog and owner from going through what we did. No one should should have to experience this type of trauma. I still have terrible guilt for giving her the chew that ended her life. She was smart, healthy, happy, and my best friend.
My pups have had no adverse reactions, but now I’m afraid to give it to them.
My cat is an extremely loving boy. I always took him to the vet using a harness & leash only, no carrier. He no longer allows petting passed his shoulder area. As the vet examined him at our last visit he went into nothing short of a rage; scratching my arms terribly including puncturing a vein in my hand that immediately swelled to the size of a golf ball. He has never been aggressive like that before using the Bravecto topical treatment.
My dog just 2 years old at the time he took just 1 dose of Bravecto and suffers terrible seizures since. He is on Phenobarbitol twice daily and CBD oil and still has seizures….
Never would have used this for my dogs had we had any indication that it could harm them.
Seizures.
Siezures
Please add me to the list. My dog got sick from bravecto. No energy, never wanted to go outside or move, never ate or drank, and stomach issues. He had two doses of this before finding out this was the problem. He has been off of it and a completely different dog.
I used Bravecto on 2 of mine for 2 years. They both passed away 2 years apart but from same symptoms..stroke like. After taking the pill no immediate effects and I only did 1 every 6months. Loved them so much. Very odd they died the same way. Wasn’t aware of issue with Bravecto at the time I gave it to them.
I have given my beagle and my Maltese two doses in 6 months. They have had tremors and I did not know why….. can I be reimbursed for they used boxes? They are about eight years old and otherwise in great healthy til this.