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
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After taking Bravecto, my 95lb. Golden Retriever broke out in hives all over his body, was very lethargic, and then starting losing patches of hair.
That horrible stuff killed my Maximus. He was a beautiful boxer and was my baby. I miss him so much. If those people were in front of me right now I would stuff one of their pills right down their throats.
How do I join this suit? My Pom had liver failure a month after her first dose, with immediate loss of appetite.
Have not had issues as of yet, however, we just started to use bravecto. Please keep me in touch with findings and will also look at change. We spent a lot on a years supply with a manufacture rebate but am afraid to use now. Two furr babies involved.
My cat lost 50% of its hair and vomited for over a week
after giving this to my dog i woke to find in in vomit, stool and blood, he was almost dead had to rush him to the vet where he remained for 2 days very sick, thank god he didn’t die. vet cost nearly $1000 dollars. I will not ever give to my fur babies again
I stopped giving my dog Bravecto because he would refuse to eat it. I basically had to force him to take it. I stopped because if the dog knows he doesn’t want it and his behavior would change after ingesting, I trusted my dog more than the vet. He now gets frontline and so far, there have been no side effects.
I gave my beautiful and healthy 100lb American Pitbull Terrier a bravecto chewable on November 20, 2018 and she died November 27, 2018. The seizures were horrible to watch and even harder to explain to my very young son. This poison needs to never be allowed to hurt or kill any more beautiful creatures!!
I purchased Bravecto for my 3 month old puppy a couple of weeks ago. I followed up with the lady who I got the puppy from, who told me not to give the tablet to my puppy. I have not administered the drug. And I will not be giving it to my puppy. I’m now sitting with a very expensive tablet – not sure what to do with it!