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 am one of the original admins of the facebook group Does Bravecto Kill Dogs? and am still an admin for it. My account of both my dogs dying after taking Bravecto and Merck’s subsequent very public posts for almost a year after our first dog died stating they had “never been in contact with me and were still trying to reach out to owners”, along with letters of the same nature sent to vets and owners due to the death of our first dog going very viral (copies/screenshots of all are available) even though I have emails from Merck with case numbers and vet paperwork that shows where Merck paid for testing on the one dog who initially survived but then later died, this and more can be found on page 47 of the comments here (can’t access comments past this page any longer). I have continued to be admin even in the face of legal threats levied against the group, the founder and admins. Please make sure that that my name and information does not go to the bottom of the pile as the attorneys will likely want to talk with me due to my longevity as an admin within the Does Bravecto Kill Dogs? group, knowledge from verifiable information that shows contrary to the statements made that this preventative is “safe”, the fact that I lost 2 dogs and Merck’s very public denials about my dog’s cases, not only on FB, but in letters to vets and owners, on a tv news story and also in a magazine article that was done in a very large and well followed dog magazine.
Including a copy of my original comment from Jan 11 that was on page 47 of comments (not sure why comments can no longer be accessed over and beyond the last page of comments shown),
“Patti Mastric January 11, 2020
Both our dogs passed away after taking Bravecto for the first time. Our 4 year old dog died less than 24 hours after his only dose and our then 3 year old dog became violently ill and almost died less than 30 hours after his only dose, developed seizures and neurological issues, he died in May 2019 after suffering for almost 4 years. 2 different dogs, 2 different breeds, only change was Bravecto. Merck denied any correlation and tried to blame anything they could down to if we burned candles in the house which we don’t use. The stories of what happened with our dogs went very viral in June 2015 on FB and the manufacturer posted very public information stating they had NEVER been in contact with us and were still trying to find us, along with sending letters to veterinarians and concerned pet owners stating the same (we have copies of the letters and screen shots of the posts). The manufacturer also provided inaccurate information on a tv news story that included our dog’s story and 2 other owner’s stories of dogs that died that was later changed in a follow up news story. We have copies of emails from Merck with assigned case numbers and documentation where they paid for some of the testing for our one dog. Even with documentation, for almost a year they vehemently denied on social media not only in the US but other countries as well that they had not had contact with us! I definitely wish to be added as a claimant. “
My Maltese died from Bravecto ?
I have given Bravecto to my 4 dogs and my spaniel mix who is 10 years old has started to have neurological issues similar to a stroke, which my veterinarian has told me she did not suffer.
No issues with my Papillon. He’s 7 years old, only takes the drug when I actually SEE a flea on him.
Please add me
i purchased for both o my pit bulls
I purchased this for my dog which is a Maltese/Shitzu weighs 13 lbs. in the summer of 2018. He became lethargic, vomited within 30 minutes of digesting the flea med. His vomiting lasted throughout the night. It was yellow at first, then became white and frothy numerous times. Eventually he went and hid under my bed which he has never done before . I’m concerned now about what to give him. The last one i tried was Nexguard. He seemed to handle that alright. Tried Advecta and many others. Going by new Vets advice now. Respectfully, THERESA YINGLING-FRIEDMAN
In 2014 I moved to Calif. I had a 12# mix breed approx. 10 yrs old.. She was playful, and acted like a puppy. I was prescribed Bravecto when the home I moved into had a flea infestation. Within 6 months (2 treatments) she changed. She was lethargic, she couldn’t make the walk around the block any more. Then I started noticing little things like urine spots in her bed. I didn’t realize she was having seizures until the morning I heard her scream. I ran in and she was in a full blown seizure, urinating and screaming, then trying to run. She hit the wall hard. I called my husband and he came home so we could rush her to the vet. It was 45 min and she was still screaming, stiff legs and totally confused. She calmed down when we got to the vet, but I realized this was not the first time this had happened. I couldn’t put her through any more and had her euthanized. I questioned my vet in Vegas about the Bravecto but she denied it could have been that. I have always believed it was.
My moms 10 yr old dog Coco just died after a week of being unable to walk, vomiting, loss of appetite and kidney failure. She was a strong dog; being active all the time. She’d go off in the mornings around the block and come back. She was not hit by a car. We took her to the vet yesterday and they performed X-rays and blood work. Her platelets were low, kidneys enlarged and splits on her vertabra. She had just taken Bravecto about 2 weeks ago. She’d been on it for about a year and a half after having tick fever.
I Purchased it for both my beagles an they because sick started shaking an had a lost of appetite my dog’s are my way I deal with POST TERMADIC STRESS DISORDER IAM VIETNAM VETERAN IF I WAS TO LOSE MY DOGS I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO Scencerly STEVEN W DEAN 401 996 0002
Bravecto was recommended by my vet for my cats. I purchased 3 boxes for $99. After reading reports of this product , I won’t use it. I’d rather lose the money. I won’t even donate it.