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
All 3 of my dogs had 1 tablet each. As soon as I heard about problems others were having with Bravecto, I quit giving it to mine. My oldest has since passed, she had CHF. The other 2 seem to have no issues. I hate seeing the boxes of it for sale in the Vets office. I did tell them I heard there were issues. But they of course knew more than I did.
My dog was on Bravecto and passed away Sept 2019
My Giant Schnauzer would get really lethargic, diarrhea and not eat for two days after I gave her a whole Bravecto. I told my vet but he said he didn’t think the pill had anything to do with her being off her feed…so the next time I gave her 1/2 the pill one day and 1/2 the next. She ate but was not herself, she was lethargic and had diarrhea. She was 5 when I got her – she lived to be 9 – I kept asking if the Bravecto could have something to do with her being so tired and having accidents in the house but I was told she was anxious (accidents) most mellow dog I have ever had. She died in July – I really miss her.
I have two dogs that has been on it for 6 years and didn’t have any problems until months ago after I gave Sassy her pill she started coughing and hacking a lot . Brought her to the vet and she said my dog’s heart was enlarged .I wonder if that could have been from taking the pills for so long . My other dog has only been on it for two years .
My pit bull Maui died three weeks after given Bravecto. The autopsy showed a tiny tumor pushing against his aorta. He never woke up after a dental cleaning. Just over a month before his death, he had major surgery where the vet removed an 8 pound benign tumor on his spleen. He was fine after that, running and playing. He was given the Bravecto a month later and had episodes consistently where he would start whining for no apparent reason. We took him to the vet twice and ER once, they did a complete exam and labs, they found nothing. He died on January 3rd, 2019. In my devastation and grief, it came to me. It had to be the Bravecto. I did some research and read that other dogs had developed tumors after taking Bravecto. But the company wouldn’t take any responsibility.
I used it on our rescue border collie mix last year as advised by our vet. What is a safe alternative?
Bravecto killed our Benji July 25, 2019. He was given the pill on June 22, 2019 by our vet and a few days later he started having seizures. He could not walk- he would start walking and then flip over and he had trouble getting back up. He started breathing heavy and gasping for air. He did not have these problems before he took this pill. We had never given it to him before. He tried to hold on but he literally had no strength to keep fighting it. It has broke our hearts witnessing what he went through and passing away in front of us. He was my daughter’s best friend-
Bravecto killed our Benji July 25, 2019. He was given the pill on June 22, 2019 by our vet and a few days later he started having seizures. He could not walk- he would start walking and then flip over and he had trouble getting back up. He started breathing heavy and gasping for air. He did not have these problems before he took this pill. We had never given it to him before. He tried to hold on but he literally had no strength to keep fighting it. It has broke our hearts witnessing what he went through and passing away in front of us. He was my daughter’s best friend-
Bravecto killed my bichon. No matter what anyone says that is what killed her. She was doing great and then one day has a seizure or c onvulsion and dies. Bravecto did it
I’ve used this on my almost 12 year old Westie. No problems so far but will never use it again.