Avaliação da toxicidade de Dieffenbachia spp. para cães e animais de laboratório.

Abstract

As part of the poisoning with ornamental plants should be stressed is due to Dieffenbachia spp., popularly known as comigo-ninguém-pode. The cases of poisoning by this plant species recorded in the Toxicological Information Center in Brazil and the world is high. Thus, this study aimed to identify and evaluate the toxicity of different varieties of the genus Dieffenbachia spp. found in the city of Patos-PB, in dogs and hamsters. To this end, we collected six samples of different plants. 6 dogs were used and 6 hamsters, being given a variety of plant for each animal, swab the mouth when eating the same did not occur naturally and analyzed the effects caused. Clinical evaluation of the animals was performed before administration of the plant and at 15 and 30 minutes after administration of the same, and the animals who had toxicosis were treated with 0.5 mg/kg of promethazine, in 15 minutes after administration of plant. Dogs showed salivation, swelling of the lips, tachycardia and tachypnea main signs of toxicosis. The hamsters showed no signs of intoxication, with only a slight increase of vital parameters, which may be associated with stress. Considering the results, we conclude that the plants used are varieties of Dieffenbachia amoena, that all varieties are toxic to dogs, hamsters are resistant to the toxic effects of this plant and that the dose of 0.5 mg/kg of promethazine was efficient.