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
Is this suit in the US where perhaps standards aren’t as high?
Here in Canada, it clearly states the known possible side effects. As with every product, there are known possible side effects for every product on the market and it is also an owners responsibility to read them. Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common and it clearly states that neurological side effects (especially in cats) are possible and even states to NOT give it to any pet that is predisposed to this. I work in veterinary care and have never once seen a pet have an adverse reaction. That’s not to say that they don’t but the majority do not, as opposed to the few that do. Myself, I prefer the products Advantage and Revolutuon and recommend them over Bravecto. They’ve been on the market for so much longer and have proven to be safe and effective, even at triple the dose. If your pet had a reaction to a product, why on earth would you continue to give it to them? Common sense ;)
My vet prescribed Bravecto when I first got my pup at 3 months old. Luckily I read the leaflet & looked online so never gave it to her.. dread to think how it could have reacted..
My beloved pet was given brevecto in July of 2017 . He had seizures the next day and died. I called my vet they said so sorry. Sent me a card but I threw it away . Called Merck they said they would give me 600$ but I had to sign a release. I didn’t do it.
In 2018 I administered Bravecto (topical) to 3 of my cats-within days of each other all became ill. All 3 couldn’t jump, had hard time walking, wouldn’t eat, had fevers. All went to the vet and 2 recovered quickly but 1 spent a week in the hospital and came very close to not pulling through. Since that I have never given bravecto again!
I would like to be included in this suit. My dog received his first dose of bravecto in early December 2019. A few weeks later he started with seizures and now takes 2 meds daily for epilepsy
In Sept 2018, my chi-pom chewed a bravecto tablet and later the same day experienced disorientation and seizures. He had never had disorientation and/or seizures prior to this instance. He never recovered, and due to his age I had him humanely euthanized.
Yes, my 2 year old poodle has been given Bravecto every 3 months, since she was 6 months old.
She acts a little strange after the dose. Have a hard time getting her to take this pill.
My vet had put a tube and a half on my 22# cat and now he does exactly what is shown on the video, I cant touch him, without him going into spasms. I hate to see him go through this. I used to think it was an itch he couldn’t scratch, now I know what it is. I need more info on this class action lawsuit.
I gave my dog (baby) this every 6 months he ended up having throat cancer I had it removed and within 4 months it came back and he couldn’t eat, drink or move much. I loved my baby deeply the pain still there. He passed three months after surgery. Oh I fixed his food at the end
I am from canada and I had a dog last spring, she was 11 years old and was taking a similar flea and tick drug applied topically from another brand. She started having similar symptoms but like 2 months after the final one in november. She lost mobility in her back legs, she was often staring into space, very bad diarrhea. The neurologist couldn’t figure it out. We had to put her down after 2 months because she just got worst. Very sad time in our family.