Alternative Treatments

There are many reasons to consider taking out pet insurance for our beloved animal companions, covering the cost of vet fees being a primary consideration. Petcover’s insurance policies don’t just provide protection from these potentially expensive outlays, they also look after the expenses around alternative therapies that your vet may recommend during the course of treatment for your pet. Our Superior plans have cover ranging from between $2,000 and $4,000 which includes a wide range of alternative treatments with no limit caps – something that no other pet insurer in the market even comes close to offering.

Just as when humans become ill or are injured, complete treatment to aid recovery can often involve a combination of traditional medicine as well as alternative approaches. With our pets, additional, complementary methods may be deemed necessary by their vets as an extremely effective solution too.

As pet parents we want to do everything we can to keep our animals healthy and well for as long as we can. At Petcover, we have designed our Superior Plans for dog and cat insurance to allow for these types of treatments.
So, what sort of alternative or complementary treatments can you claim for when your vet prescribes them for your pet, and what do they entail?

Acupuncture
Involving the use of very fine, dry needles, acupuncture is one of the fastest growing trends in animal medicine. Originating from Chinese medicine, it has been practiced on both humans and animals for hundreds of years. Closer to home, more and more vets are offering it as a treatment in conjunction with other therapies. It can be helpful as both a preventative strategy as well as for common concerns such as musculoskeletal issues and post-operative care.

Herbal medicine
Often used alongside other holistic practices such as acupuncture, the use of herbs to treat medical complaints also has its origins in Chinese medicine. Vets prescribe certain, tailored herbal combinations for pets, to assist with a wide range of issues such as digestion, bladder and kidney problems, arthritis and bad breath. Herbal treatment often goes hand in hand with food therapy.

Homeopathy
The process of using remedies derived from various substances that are sometimes deemed toxic in larger amounts, vets have been using homeopathy as medicines for animals since the nineteenth century. Given the skills required to formulate the correct dosage, it is really important to ensure that your vet has a sound working knowledge of the practice if you are considering homeopathy as an effective and recommended treatment for your pet.

Chiropractic manipulation and Osteopathy
Already highly successful forms of therapy for people, pets suffering from musculoskeletal issues arising post-surgery. Arthritis, posture and joint pain can greatly benefit from a combination of treatments that also involves physiotherapy. Gentle movement and manipulation of the muscles and skeleton can prove to be an extremely effective strategy for healing and wellbeing.

Hydrotherapy
Using water to improve pets’ mobility, strength and fitness has been proven to be one of the most efficient remedies in a vet’s alternative/complementary treatment arsenal. Involving the use of a pool, your vet may prescribe hydrotherapy and refer your pet to a specialist clinic that has the right facilities for your pet’s hydrotherapy regimen.

Petcover’s resident vet, says, “Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are common therapies that are used after major orthopaedic surgeries such as cruciate disease and spinal disc disease to help rebuild and maintain muscle mass. Some owners want to avoid putting drugs into their pet when possible, and in these situations some herbal/natural medicines may be beneficial. Always seek approval from your vet first, but this can be a low-risk option that may benefit your pet.”

As with any veterinary treatment, it’s important to carefully check your pet insurance policy wording before committing to prescribed alternative and complimentary treatments – as while we do provide cover for all the above treatments there may be exclusions around pre-existing conditions, as well as excesses payable and other costs. Petcover cannot provide pre-approval for any treatment.

So, in the case of your insurance cover, do check the small print – and you’ll be confident you can give your pet all the full breadth of care and treatment they deserve to get better and keep living their best life.