Homeopathic Horse Vets

Dr. Donna Ragona

For many, medicine and art reside at opposite ends of the disciplinary spectrum. For Donna Ragona, the two share more natural similarities than dictated differences.

As a veterinarian, Dr. Ragona practices integrative medicine at her newly opened Animal Wellness Center in Cocoa Village. By blending conventional Western techniques with holistic Eastern alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, Reiki, and nutritional-based treatment, she’s set a new standard for local vets.

As an accomplished artist, Donna is just as inclusive, combining classical composition with Native American symbology and a decidedly spiritual frame of reference. With animals as her principal subjects, Donna further melds her professional and artistic lives into an integral whole, one that compliments aspects of both to dissolve their limiting distinctions.

Born in Elmwood Park, Illinois, Donna always dabbled in the arts, but was especially drawn to animals and science from an early age. “The thought of becoming a veterinarian was always a dream I had,” she tells me, “however, I never pursued it until I tried other professions.”

After financing her undergraduate education by working as a sheet metal worker for the Air Force, Donna went on to become a successful kitchen and interior designer. “I enjoyed those jobs,” she says, “but they didn’t stir my spirit. I needed to to be fulfilled, and I realized that working with animals was my only true professional goal.”

Her early interest in art served her well. Financing her veterinary studies at the University of Madison by painting commissioned pieces and limited edition prints, Donna was at last able to see her dream come to fruition.

“I always turned to art as a child to fill my time,” she says. But it wasn’t until the eighth grade, under the tutelage of her abiding inspiration, art teacher Barb Wheeler. that her talents fully blossomed. “No longer did my artwork mirror the work of my fellow students. I lost myself in my work and it truly made me happy to draw. It brought me to a place where I could feel totally at ease.”

Then, as now, inspiration for Donna’s art usually begins during the wee hours of the morning. Though she admits that she has more experience with pencils and pastels, she began painting with acrylics just four years ago. “At first,” she recalls, “switching mediums terrified me. But the words of my art teacher and my children were encouraging. I try to set an example for my children. If I expect them to try new things, then I had better do it too!

Experiences from My Veterinary Homeopathy Practice | HPATHY.COM

Sixteen years after graduation I opened a practice as a veterinary doctor. My attitude toward homeopathy had already changed, and the first two patients I received had no hope with allopathic treatments. I had a Golden Retriever with open pyoderma which tends to relapse, and another pseudo epileptic dog. For the first one I called Dr. Fernando Francois and told him the Golden Retriever’s problem. His advice was of great help. The pyoderma only relapsed after a year and a half and the dog suffered much less than the first time. The ailment never reappeared after the next treatment. The pseudo epileptic dog was treated with Strychnine 30C and the seizures disappeared completely. I then concluded: “ . People don’t really want to lie to the doctor, but they often keep information back which they do not consider to be relevant or important enough. This could be due to their habits with allopathic case taking, which is quite limited and on isolated items. In homeopathic case taking, it is of utmost importance to ensure that every symptom and everything that has changed since onset of the disease, has been recorded. This is because we have to consider the patient as a whole, for a successful treatment. Also, patients may intentionally hold information back, because they are ashamed to say certain things, or because it makes them feel sick. For an untrained person to speak of the characteristics of vomiting, diarrhea, feces or genital secretions, might be difficult or embarrassing. This also holds true if people talk about their pets. We have to create the necessary environment of confidence to make people feel comfortable and encourage them to talk freely. Even more important is to learn how to conduct an interview and to ask the correct, necessary and important questions. The physical examination of the patient should be made very carefully. All systems should be examined and all findings must be registered. Do not skip any part of the body, as it might render valuable information. Examine, palpate, auscultate, percuss, move, and if necessary, do lab tests or imaging studies. I often hear the argument that these are not necessary for homeopathic treatment, but I disagree. For instance, I received a dog whose regular veterinarian had declared it to be very ill. His urine was orange coloured, the liver was augmented in size and the hepatic enzymes were very high. I repertorized the symptoms and chose Arsenicum album for treatment.

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