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
I have purchased Bravecto for my German Shepherd Dog.
I’ve been using this for both of my dogs ?. This is so unfortunate.
Our 14 year old dachshund showed many of the same type of systems listed here. Lethargic, not wanting to eat inability to walk and finally, kidney failure. This cost us thousands of dollars in vet bills. Our beloved dog died within a month of taking this medication. It should be removed from the market.
I had four cats and I put this flea crap on them and within the hr they all started having seizures there was no way to stop them either it was so painful and heartbreaking cause I couldn’t help them it made them suffer until after about 7 hrs of seizures they died all four of them so I hope the ppl selling this trash and making money from it all rot in hell
Three months ago I gave this to both my dogs. Both threw up. The vets office told me it probably was not the Bravecto. I just gave it to my German Shepherd today before I saw this article. Now I am freaking out. I looked the box and insert up and down and don’t see anything about warnings for neurological problems. I will no longer be giving my dogs Bravecto.
I am convinced that my healthy 13 year old Cairn Terrier started to have seizures as a direct result of taking Bravecto. His vet was in contact with the company and they admitted it was possible. He died one month later.
My dogs have always taken Nexgard without issue. Our vet switched to Bravecto and we gave one dose to our 50# Brittany Spaniel. Within a day he had loose stools, by the next he started vomiting and drinking incessantly. The vomiting has continued off and on (about 70%) for the past two weeks. His regular veterinarian claims that it’s safe. I beg to differ. The 3 month dose has to be that much stronger than the one-month Nexgard dose we used to give. Now it is in his system and there is no turning back. His vet told me to try Pepcid 20mg twice daily for a few days to see how he responds. There has been no change, so we went for a second opinion at a new vet yesterday where we did a full specialty blood panel to rule out anything else. Waiting on results and so very worried. Our boy is 5 years old and very fit, active, and in great health… or so he was… until we administered Bravecto.
I’ve been dealing with Bravecto side effects in my Yorkie (looking back since she first started Bravecto) she had a few doses, but each time a HUGE downslide in health until I found class action info from Canada and began following it. Merck paid for her doctor visit and a full blood panel and claimed it wasn’t their medication causing her issues, yet I’ve seen so many others with the same exact issues occuring and losing their pets alltogether. As of now she’s on 4 different medication that she has to stay on for LIFE now due to the complications this drug caused. At least $150/month just for her meds. She has to have heart medication to force her heart to pump correctly now, has partial esophagus collapsing as well, plus a multitude of other issues/surgeries and random incidents that seemed to be a ‘one off’ situation. Come to find out, I believe firmly this was the issue all along.
I lost my dog to cancer 6 months after giving him brovecto. He had no health problems before that.
My healthy dog was given 1 dose of Simpatica, same isa type drug, different pharmaceutical company, got very ill, couldn’t walk and developed life ending seizures. Thousands of dollars spent in vet bills and medications.
I gave this product to my 10lb yorkiepoo she was fine within 3 month she was in liver failure.80.$+ a month in medication now