Is Holistic Health Care for Pets Covered?

There are many benefits your pet can gain from visiting a veterinarian who incorporates holistic, or alternative, health practices into their care. But are alternative therapies and holistic pet medicine covered by pet insurance?

Let’s take a look at what kinds of holistic pet care services are available and which might be covered by a MetLife Pet policy. 

What Is Holistic Health?

Holistic health for pets focuses on treating and healing the whole animal. It encourages the use of a wider range of treatment options than conventional veterinary medicine offers on its own. Typically, treatments are minimally invasive and designed to be spread out over time for long-term wellness.¹

Holistic, or alternative, pet medicine also focuses on finding the root cause of what’s affecting your pet, not just treating or managing symptoms.¹ For example, if your dog’s arthritis flares up every so often, conventional veterinary medicine will likely prescribe medication to help relieve discomfort.

A holistic veterinarian will likely do the same, but they may also prescribe supplements, treatments like laser therapy, or testing to figure out what diet can help support your pet’s overall health. All of these could help your pet feel better than just symptom management alone.

MetLife Pet’s Holistic Health Coverage

Let’s look at some types of alternative treatments used in holistic veterinary medicine that our standard pet insurance policy or our optional Preventive Care plan can typically provide coverage for.

Chiropractic care

A chiropractor is trained to properly align the spine. Nerves that run through the spine can function optimally when the bones are aligned as they should be. A specially trained chiropractor may be able to help get your pet’s spine into alignment by hand or by using adjustment tools.¹

MetLife Pet can typically provide coverage for chiropractic care if it’s prescribed by a vet to treat a covered condition.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has a long history of helping to treat countless ailments. This practice uses special needles, which are inserted at particular points on the body. They stimulate the nervous system at these points to help relieve pain and improve organ functions. Vets might use lasers or pressure instead of needles at these points.¹

Many pet health conditions may be treated using acupuncture, including stress, side effects from medication, and numerous physical ailments. A MetLife Pet policy can typically provide coverage for various types of acupuncture, if prescribed by a vet to treat a covered condition.

Laser therapy and hydrotherapy

Laser therapy can target cells in your pet’s body and stimulate them to help repair damaged tissues quicker than without therapy. It’s painless and can help decrease inflammation, chronic pain, and wound healing time.¹

Hydrotherapy can be beneficial in helping pets heal from injuries and other health conditions due to the low-impact nature of this rehabilitation practice. Underwater treadmills or pools may be used, depending on your pet’s needs.²

With a MetLife Pet Insurance policy, you can typically get coverage for laser therapy or hydrotherapy if they’re prescribed by a veterinarian to treat a covered condition.

Diet and lifestyle changes

Many holistic vets incorporate diet and lifestyle changes into their treatment plans to help improve an animal’s overall well-being. Through diagnostic testing, a holistic vet can uncover what might work well for your pet.¹ By giving your pet exactly what they need and eliminating or moderating things that are making them sick, their body can start to heal.

Your pet may benefit from things like prescription food, vitamins/supplements, herbal medicine, homeopathic remedies, CBD oil, aromatherapy, and more.¹ You might be able to get coverage for all of these with a MetLife Pet insurance policy or our Preventive Care add-on plan if they’re prescribed by a vet to treat a covered condition.

Other lifestyle changes a holistic vet might suggest include stretching, socialization, specific types of mental or physical exercises, reducing stressors, and more.¹ Costs associated with these may not be covered by pet insurance.

Benefits of Holistic Pet Care

Depending on your pet’s condition and your vet’s care plan, treatments may be done by themselves or could be combined to address different aspects of care. Some of the potential benefits of utilizing holistic health treatments for pets include:^1,3

• Typically having less side effects than conventional medication or procedures
• Treating illnesses rather than just symptoms, leading to longer-term health
• Using a comprehensive approach to care that’s customized to your pet
• Strengthening of the immune system and organ functions
• Possibility of speeding up the healing process alongside conventional medicine
• Improving the overall well-being of your pet
• Potential to reduce future health care costs by helping keep your pet healthy

All pets are unique — some may do well with alternative therapies and treatments, others may not. It’s important to have your pet examined by a licensed holistic vet to see if it’s a safe option for them.

Get Coverage for Holistic Pet Care Treatments With MetLife Pet

Many people may consider bringing their pet to veterinarians that practice holistic health. With treatments that are typically designed to be spread out over time, it can be beneficial to have pet insurance that can help you cover certain costs.

MetLife Pet’s standard policy and our optional Preventive Care plan can help you cover some of the costs of vet-prescribed holistic and alternative pet treatments if the condition is covered under your policy.

For example, a 5-year-old Labrador, Kira, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia after her parents enrolled her in a MetLife Pet policy. To help support her joints, her vet prescribed a joint supplement to be taken regularly. It costs nearly $150 per refill, and Kira’s dog insurance policy reimburses her parents around $120 of that cost.⁴ To see what your personalized rates for a MetLife Pet policy are, get a free quote today.