What are alternative therapies?
Also known as complementary therapies, alternative therapies are procedures used alongside conventional veterinary medicine to ease a pet’s symptoms, manage pain, or support recovery. Common examples include physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropathy, and hydrotherapy.
Sometimes, alternative therapies will be recommended alongside traditional medical procedures, but there may be occasions when they take the place of conventional medicine.
What’s so ‘alternative’ about them then? Well, they usually don’t have the same scientific support as traditional veterinary treatments, such as medication and surgery.
That being said, many alternative therapies have been around for a long time and can lead to impressive improvements in a pet’s quality of life. They’re also usually performed by licensed veterinary professionals.
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Does pet insurance include alternative therapies within the coverage?
Alternative therapies have gained in popularity over recent years, as more and more pet parents are open to the possibility of different ways to improve their pet’s quality of life.
That’s why many pet insurance providers will include alternative therapies within the coverage — this includes companies like Embrace, Figo, and Pumpkin.
However, some insurers only include alternative therapies within certain plans or if an add-on is purchased. With Pets Best, pet parents need to sign up to the Elite accident-and-illness plan if they wish to be reimbursed for alternative therapy costs. Sometimes, alternative therapies are only included in coverage in certain states, as with AKC Pet Insurance.
Pet parents should also be aware that the same eligibility conditions apply for alternative therapies as with traditional veterinary procedures — for instance, complementary procedures to treat an incurable pre-existing condition would usually still be ineligible.
It’s also important to read through a pet insurance policy to see what is and isn’t considered an alternative therapy. For example, some insurers might view stem cell therapy as an alternative therapy and eligible for reimbursements, but others will define it as an experimental treatment and thus ineligible.
Choose an insurer to see their alternative therapies coverage
How much can alternative therapies cost?
Given that alternative therapies tend to be non-invasive and less risky to perform, they can often be a lot cheaper than conventional procedures.
For example, a single session of acupuncture can range from $20 to $300. 1 However, some alternative therapies are considerably more expensive than this. Stem cell therapy typically costs between $2,500 and $3,500. 2
Types of alternative therapy treatment
An alternative therapy is a veterinary procedure performed by a licensed veterinary professional that falls outside the scope of traditional medicine. Here are a few examples of the most common alternative therapies.
Acupuncture
A treatment with roots in ancient Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into the body for pain relief and inflammation reduction.
Chiropathy
A chiropractor uses their hands to move bones, muscles and joints to aid in the treatment of conditions such as hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease.
Hydrotherapy
A type of physical therapy in which pets are exercised in water — the buoyancy of water reduces the stress on joints, which can help with skeletal disorders or post-surgery rehabilitation.
Laser Therapy
Often known as cold laser therapy, this treatment involves shining lasers on parts of a pet’s body to relieve pain, reduce inflammation or encourage healing.
Physical Therapy
Similar to physiotherapy for humans, practitioners employ a range of techniques to improve a dog’s rehabilitation, such as massage, exercise or using heat packs.
Stem Cell Therapy
A relatively new field of treatment in which stem cells are injected into a pet’s body to repair damaged bones, muscles and joints.
Aromatherapy
Rarely included within pet insurance coverage, aromatherapy is the inhalation of essential oils for pain relief and relaxation. It’s important a licensed veterinarian administers the treatment as the consumption of some essential oils can be toxic to pets.
What conditions can alternative therapies help to treat?
Alternative therapies are generally used to treat a pet’s symptoms, rather than actively cure them of ailments. The fact that they’re often successful is why veterinarians recommend complementary therapies, even when they don’t have the same amount of scientific evidence to support them as traditional treatments.
As such, vets might turn to alternative therapies to help with pain relief and inflammation reduction, both of which are common with musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease.
Alternative therapy is often used by vets to help with a pet’s recovery after surgery, as well as to encourage changes in behavior.
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How to find pet insurance with great alternative therapy coverage
It’s always good practice to look through a pet insurance policy thoroughly before enrollment, but it’s especially important when it comes to alternative therapies. This is because eligibility for different types of alternative therapies varies from insurer to insurer.
Pet parents looking to be reimbursed for their pet’s alternative therapy should look for a policy that includes alternative, complementary or holistic therapies in the policy document. Some insurance providers include these within the base coverage, although others require a supplementary policy.
When it comes to the eligibility of specific alternative therapies, pet parents should contact the insurer before enrollment to check whether it’s included in the coverage.
Pet Alternative Therapies Coverage FAQs
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An alternative therapy — sometimes referred to as a complementary therapy — is a veterinary treatment not considered part of traditional medicine. Common examples include acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropathy, and physical therapy. These usually don’t have the same wealth of scientific evidence behind them as conventional medicine, but they are often successful in relieving a pet’s symptoms and enhancing their quality of life.
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Although many alternative therapies don’t have the scientific backing of traditional veterinary treatments, they often have the desired effect of reducing a pet’s symptoms without leading to extra harm. This is why many vets feel comfortable recommending alternative therapies in addition to conventional medicine.
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Providing the procedure is carried out by a licensed veterinary professional, alternative therapies shouldn’t pose a risk to pets. Occasionally, they might not be successful in having the desired effect, but this won’t be harmful.
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Some pet insurance providers include alternative therapies within the base coverage, while others only offer reimbursements for alternative therapies if pet parents purchase an add-on or supplementary coverage.
Be aware that some providers can be particular when it comes to the exact definition of alternative therapies and some procedures might instead be deemed ‘experimental treatments’, which are usually ineligible for reimbursement.
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Check the policy document thoroughly before enrolling a pet, as this will normally define which alternative therapies are included within coverage. If possible, contact the provider to check if certain treatments are eligible for reimbursement.