Abstract
BACKGROUND: The predominance of agropastoral activities in the Brazilian semiarid region is an important factor for human populations to continue using medicinal plants in ethnoveterinary medicine. Thus, we sought to document the Caatinga plants known for treating diseases in ethnoveterinary medicine and to evaluate the useful redundancy of diseases indicated by local populations in the Cariris Velhos region, state of Paraíba, in the Brazilian semiarid region. METHODS: Questionnaires with semi-structured forms were applied in rural communities in the Brazilian Caatinga region. A total of 120 people were interviewed using the snowball technique. RESULTS: Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae were the families that obtained the highest number of citations. Heliotropium indicum was the species most cited by the local population. The stem bark and the leaves were the most cited parts used of the plants. Using the bark juice was the most prominent method in preparing the medicinal remedies. The disease which presented the greatest degree of utility redundancy was inflammation and the one with the least redundancy was fracture. CONCLUSION: A study on the use of medicinal plants by ethnoveterinary medicine in a region with a high incidence of agricultural and pastoral activities helps to preserve living knowledge.