Class action lawsuit against Bravecto: Medicines are not safe for pets

Merck Animal Health is facing a class action lawsuit from consumers who claim that its dog and cat medication Bravecto contains a pesticide that is harmful to pets.

Bravecto tablets and topical medications are used in both cats and dogs and are marketed as a means of preventing ticks and fleas for up to three months.

Plaintiff Valerie Palmieri says she paid just under $50 for a Bravecto chewable tablet to treat her 85-pound German Shepherd, Jake, for fleas and ticks.

After taking the pill, Jake began vomiting, not eating and showing symptoms of lethargy, according to the Bravecto class action lawsuit. The plaintiff reportedly took Jake to the veterinary hospital after the dog was unable to walk.

Palmieri claims she contacted Merck to discuss Jake’s potential side effects from taking the drug. The company allegedly denied that Jake’s illness was caused by Bravecto but offered to pay for the emergency room visit.

However, the company would only pay if she signed an agreement releasing her from any claims against the company, Bravecto’s class action lawsuit states.

The plaintiff states that she refused to waive her claims because she was unsure whether Jake’s symptoms would persist long-term and she is still unsure whether her dog’s symptoms were caused by the drug.

After further tests and a visit to a neurologist, the plaintiff’s veterinarian allegedly told her that he “believed” Jake’s meningitis diagnosis was due to “Bravecto toxicity,” which contradicted the defendant’s statements.

Since taking the drug, Jake has continued to have neurological seizures, 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 she spent “tens of thousands of dollars” treating Jake after he took Bravecto.

Palmieri says that when she purchased the pill, there was no indication on the packaging or accompanying materials that there could be any neurological side effects associated with taking the pill. In addition, the defendant allegedly failed to inform veterinarians about the potential safety risks the drug poses for pets.

“Because Defendant failed to educate consumers about the risks of Bravecto and misrepresented the safety of Bravecto, it would be reasonable for consumers to purchase Bravecto to safely treat their pets,” the class action lawsuit states.

The class action lawsuit against Bravecto also states that in September 2018 The FDA issued a warning about the possible neurological events associated with medicines such as Bravecto used to treat fleas and ticks.

The FDA then asked the manufacturers to change their labels to “highlight neurologic events, as these events have been consistently observed with all isoxazoline class products” and to “give veterinarians and pet owners the information they need to make treatment decisions for each individual animal,” the Bravecto class action lawsuit states.

The plaintiff states that the defendant has now disclosed that taking Bravecto can cause neurological reactions, including tremors, ataxia and seizures.

“Any consumer who purchased Bravecto without being informed of the true facts regarding the health and safety risks prior to purchase suffered harm at the point of sale when they received Defendant’s unreasonably dangerous and defective product instead of a safe flea and tick treatment,” the class action lawsuit against Bravecto states.

Have you purchased 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 Class action lawsuit against Bravecto Is Valerie Palmieri v. Intervet Inc. et al. Case No. 2:19-cv-22024, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.