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 was given Bravecto to use on our Yorkie, he passed away last July 2019
I treated my 12-year-old female corgi, Duchess, with Bravecto in Nov 2016. We only switched from topicals because my rescue Corgi, Gizmo, had skin issues and topicals bothered him. She started having balance issues and would trip when she walked. She lost 1/3 her body weight and had to be put to sleep one month later on 12/9/16.
Gizmo started coughing and having breathing issues and went from healthy to heart disease diagnosis in Jan 2017. I felt Bravecto was the culprit and my vet switched him to Nexguard… Unbeknownst to me, they have similar harmful ingredients. We gave Gizmo IV fluids and he was in and out of the hospital’s oxygen cage. We lost him 9/17/19…less than a year after taking Bravecto.
My 8 month old Bullldog Bruce was prescribed Bravecto for skin mites last year. Within 48 hours we were forced to put him to sleep due to seizures and aspirating. I would like information on filing a lawsuit against Merck as we spent thousands of dollars on him.
Ours too! Our 8 month old French bulldog was given it and within a month had u controllable seizures. He’s since been diagnosed with epilepsy… We strongly believe it’s from bravecto and we’re never made aware of any risks associated. Our vet just this month stated he can’t give bravecto bc our dog has juvenile epilepsy but never mentioned he could have become sick from the medicine. We have spent so many nights at emergency vet watching our puppy suffer for the last 5 months that with seizures that could have been avoided.
Our healthy 7 year old Shetland Sheepdog
Was given Bravecto, 2 weeks later he was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease itp. He was treated with prednisone.. He passed away 2 months later.
My dog was given bravecto once when she was about 5 months old, for an off label reason- she had demodex mites. For the next three years I’ve spent so much money on hospital visits for a list of symptoms that just kept happening. As recently as last august I spent 1200 on a e.r. visit to be told there isnt anything wrong with her. I took her yesterday and she was diagnosed with seizures. These episodes have all been seizures this whole time. She is an otherwise healthy dog. But sue isnt even 4 years old and since she was almost 1 she has been dealing with these seizures that we didnt know were seizures. The vet said they’re partial seizures. I cannot believe the FDA didnt warn consumers that there was an issue. Sadly my dog was given it in 2017 so before the FDA was involved, but I know my dog wasnt the first to fall victim to these awful side effect.
Didi, 13 year old American Bulldog who has not history of seizures had a seizure the other night. Just five hours after her dose of Bravecto. We live in the middle of a high Lyme disease area so tick control is a big concern. I guess we’ll be switching to Seresto collars as our vet says she can no longer take this.
I used bravecto chewable for my 3 1/2 year old sharpei 4hrs later he was able to eat and monitored.as an hour run he experienced weakness in his limb and un able to eat and drink. after 24hrs of ingested it he passed away ..bravecto is killer!!never give it to your dogs!always read a reviews on products before giving anti tick and pleas to your pet.
My dog was given bravecto once when she was about 5 months old, for an off label reason- she had demodex mites. For the next three years I’ve spent so much money on hospital visits for a list of symptoms that just kept happening. As recently as last august I spent 1200 on a e.r. visit to be told there isnt anything wrong with her. I took her yesterday and she was diagnosed with seizures. These episodes have all been seizures this whole time. She is an otherwise healthy dog. But sue isnt even 4 years old and since she was almost 1 she has been dealing with these seizures that we didnt know were seizures. The vet said they’re partial seizures. I cannot believe the FDA didnt warn consumers that there was an issue. Sadly my dog was given it in 2017 so before the FDA was involved, but I know my dog wasnt the first to fall victim to these awful side effect.
Yes, I bought Bravecto for my dog in April 2019. My vet told me my dog needed it and I wasn’t sure what is was. He assured me it is safe, he gives it to his dogs.
My dog almost died. Spent 4 nights at the emergency vet costing me $5000.00. I cant afford that.
Yes, and my dog had a seizure and lost mobility in his rear legs. He was put on phenobarbital and then slowly weened off. He still has lameness in his rear legs and sometimes can’t walk. He had another seizure recently where he couldn’t walk again. The first seizure actually had him peeing blood because it was such a bad seizure. He has been on milk thistle and SAM-e since the first seizure and it seems to help a bit.
My vet prescribed Bravecto for my golden retriever, within a few days he went from eating and drinking normal and playing to lethargic, not eating, barely drinking, liquid poop with blood. Took him to the vets..ended up having to put him down. Previous to the Bravecto his only issue was some arthritis in his back legs but was still very playful and happy. The vets never told me any of the risks to giving him this flea and tick medicine or the serious side affects that could happen. Had I known I never would of given it to him and he’d still be here laying next to me