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, a Yorkie, took Bravecta and I want to be added to this lawsuit.
I’ve had my Mini Goldendoodle on it from day 1 and no symptoms. But this makes me have concerns if I should keep him on them.
I have 6 dogs on me.this. I have not had any problems but this really concerns me!
Gave my dog Bravecto and two days later she was suddenly diagnosed with ITP. She battled a tough battle for six months before passing. Coincidently, weeks after her passing my other dog was diagnosed with MRSP. both dogs were given Bravecto in April of 2019 and since, we’ve had nonstop medical issues. I firmly believe that Bravecto led to the ITP, of not the MRSP as well. I’m disgusted by this drug and will NEVER give again. My vet submitted a claim about the possible link of Bravecto and ITP recently.
One of our dogs was given me guard and another older Bravecto. Haven’t seen adverse reactions but am worried about long term issues
I have been using Bravecto on my 5 Goldens for three years. I decided to use it after pulling an average of a dozen ticks a day off my dogs. I’ve never observed any ill effects in my dogs and we live free of ticks and fleas.
Personally, the risk to all of us for tick borne disease was high.
I don’t advise others on what to use. Just stating my own experiences.
I have contacted the makers as well o breed Pomeranians and since i gave this product my stud has not produced a single litter and neither has 2 females i even bread him to 2 other females nothing i breed the 2 females to another stud and nothing i have never had a issue before he previously fathered 6 litters to 2 females prior same ones that now cant get pregnant. This has ruined my program as he was last of his line he is a solid chocolate with merle genes they said they would look into it. Im a veterinary tech for 30 yrs the only change was this product. I am out a stud and at min 6 litters 25,000.00 i could have had from these litters im so unhappy.
I’ve been following the “Does Bravecto Kill Dogs Blog” since May 2018 after my 1 year old Boxer’s blood panel exposed off the charts Liver enzymes indicating Liver cell breakdown generally caused by injury or toxicity. Although his enzyme levels have dropped over the past 18 months his levels remain elevated.
Fortunately, he remains asymptomatic otherwise.
Needless to say I will NEVER use any of these products again.
I reported this occurrence to a site included by “Does Bravecto Kill Dogs”.
Will this include me in the class action lawsuit? Not so much for restitution but to report the side effect of Liver dysfunction
Yes and now she has seizures when she never had them before giving it to her
I’ve given both my dogs, Max and Maggie, Bravecto for years. They’re 8yo. Pit mixes. Now I’m worried about the long-term effects of this drug.