Does Pet Insurance Cover Behavioral Or Physical Therapy?

Our furry friends experience many of the same health issues as us owners, and pet insurance is a fantastic way to provide your pup access to healthcare that goes beyond standard diagnostics and treatments. Behavioral and physical therapy are two examples of the extra benefits of pet insurance — needs that you may not be able to pay for out-of-pocket to help your beloved pet live their best life. I’ll explain when pet insurance covers behavioral and physical therapy and help you identify which companies you should consider.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Behavioral Therapy?

Yes, many pet insurance companies offer behavioral therapy coverage as long as the condition is eligible for coverage under the policy, diagnosed and treatment is administered by a licensed veterinarian, it is not pre-existing, and it doesn’t show signs during the waiting periods. Some insurers exclude behavioral therapies from their pet insurance policies or charge an extra fee for coverage.

What are the uses of behavioral therapy with dogs? Many behavioral issues in dogs arise from underlying anxiety, fear, or aggression. Specifically, this type of therapy can effectively address problems such as self-harm due to anxiety, separation anxiety, fear-driven behaviors, anxiety triggered by certain stimuli (like loud noises), excessive barking, resource guarding, destructive chewing habits, inappropriate elimination, compulsive behaviors, and hyperactivity.

Some examples of what could be covered include vet consultation and diagnostic fees, anxiety medication, and behavior modification techniques such as counterconditioning, desensitization, and response substitution. However, behavioral therapy coverage typically does not include obedience or general training.

It’s also important to note that some insurance providers require behavioral treatment be conducted by a licensed veterinarian. Others allow the use of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs) or Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (ACAABs) who do not have a DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine) degree — as long as a licensed veterinarian makes a diagnosis and referral.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Physical Therapy?

Yes, many pet insurance providers cover some types of physical therapy as long as the condition is eligible for coverage under the policy, diagnosed and treated by a licensed veterinarian, not pre-existing, and doesn’t show signs during the waiting periods.

But let’s back up a bit. What exactly encompasses physical therapy for dogs? How do pet insurers define physical therapy? Unfortunately, this is a confusing subject you’ll encounter when shopping for pet insurance. Ultimately, it depends on each insurance provider.

Some companies use the term “physical therapy” to include therapeutic exercise and manual therapy to help rehabilitate injured, ill, or post-surgical pups and manage symptoms of chronic degenerative diseases like arthritis. Others use “physical therapy” as a blanket term for a wider variety of treatments to address these health issues. Other common blanket terms insurers use are “alternative therapy,” “complementary care,” or “rehabilitative therapy.”

These blanket terms involve treatments, such as exercises, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, laser treatment, hydrotherapy, and physiotherapy, among other modalities. To make it more confounding, pet insurers don’t always cover every type of physical, rehabilitative, alternative, or complementary therapy — whatever term they use. Additionally, many don’t cover herbal, holistic, and experimental therapies.

All of this can get super confusing for pup owners. That’s why it’s so important to read the fine print of any policy to determine what therapies are and aren’t covered. With this said, some policies aren’t very detailed, so, when in doubt, contact the insurance company to get clarity.

Comparison Table: Pet Insurance That Covers Behavioral Therapy & Physical Therapy

The table below shows the companies in our pet insurance comparison that offer coverage for behavioral therapy and the most common types of physical and complementary therapies. For other types of therapy, such as therapeutic ultrasound, electrotherapy, and more, it’s crucial to read your policy or contact your provider to determine what exactly is and isn’t covered. Also, see my terminology section below for definitions of common therapies.

Coverage Details For Behavioral & Physical Therapy By Provider

I dove into all the specific details I could find with each sample policy and on each provider’s website for our top seven pet insurance providers to help clarify (as much as possible) the details about all of these types of coverage. Unfortunately, many policies don’t outline every type of complementary therapy they cover or exclude. Additionally, behavioral therapy isn’t usually defined in policies for each behavioral condition or problem that’s covered.

As always, I recommend you check with the pet insurance company before enrollment to fully understand what is and isn’t covered. The sample policies I read may be different from what’s active in your state.

Pets Best Coverage Details

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitative Services

Coverage for rehabilitation, acupuncture, and chiropractic care coverage (also called physical therapy or rehabilitative services) requires an upgrade to the Pets Best Elite Plan. This involves the treatment of physical impairments and disabilities to promote mobility and functional ability through examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and physical intervention performed by a veterinarian. This coverage is restricted to the treatment of an otherwise eligible condition. Pets Best’s policy is the most detailed of those I thoroughly examined. Covered therapies are limited to:

• Acupuncture
• Electroacupuncture
• Chiropractic
• E-stim therapy
• Treadmill therapy
• Laser therapy
• Therapeutic exercises
• Range of motion exercise
• Stretching
• Joint mobilization
• Gait training
• Therapeutic ultrasound therapy
• Cryotherapy
• Heat therapy

Exclusions: Alternative or Holistic Treatments defined as experimental therapies and medications, including any therapy for which there are no published articles in peer-reviewed journals for the indicated condition.

Behavioral Therapy

All of Pets Best’s accident and illness policies cover behavioral consults with and/or medication prescribed by a licensed veterinarian. Its sample policy states in its exclusions, “Training and Treatment of Behavioral Conditions, with the exception of consultations and prescription medications.” Many other insurance providers do cover behavioral training therapy for qualifying conditions.

Behavioral Condition Definition: “Those maladies of a pet’s behavior that require Treatment due to self-injury, property damage, or other negative outcomes. This includes but is not limited to pica, anxiety, aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, fear, coprophagia, psychogenic water consumption, phobias, inappropriate urination, and hyperesthesia.”

Fetch Coverage Details

Physical & Complementary Therapy

All of Fetch’s policies include coverage for physical and complementary therapy (although not when it applies to weight loss). The sample policy defines complementary therapy as “Treatment and therapies, often used in combination with conventional or standard veterinary practices, that are related to a covered surgical procedure or illness and administered by a veterinarian or a veterinary staff member under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.” According to the policy and Fetch’s website, these therapies include, but are not limited to:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic treatment
• Laser treatment
• Hydrotherapy
• Physiotherapy
• Massage
• Movement therapy (kinesiotherapy)
• Electrical stimulation

Exclusions: Experimental treatment defined as drugs, therapies, or treatments that are unproven, have been confined largely to laboratory use or have progressed to limited pet application and trials, and lack wide recognition from the scientific community as a proven and effective measure of treatment.

Behavioral Therapy

All of Fetch’s policies include up to $1,000 annually for 1) in-person consultations by a veterinarian to diagnose behavioral disorders and 2) any medically necessary treatment(s) prescribed or recommended by a veterinarian for behavioral disorder(s).

Behavioral Condition Definition: Any change in your pet’s temperament, activity, or inactivity that is abnormal, dysfunctional, or unusual for which there is no underlying medical condition(s). Behavioral disorders include but are not limited to aggression, separation anxiety, or phobias.

Healthy Paws Coverage Details

Physical Therapy & Alternative Care

Healthy Paws’ sample policy doesn’t address any type of physical, complementary, or alternative therapy, but its website does. Healthy Paws uses the term alternative care and states on its website that it covers the following. (It’s not clear on its site if other types of therapy qualify.)

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Physical therapy
• Range of motion exercises
• Massage therapy
• Cold laser therapy

Exclusions: Herbal therapies and homeopathy

Behavioral Therapy

Healthy Paws’ policies exclude training, therapy, medications, or other methods or forms of behavioral modification.

Figo Coverage Details

Physical, Alternative & Holistic Therapy

Figo’s policies cover holistic, alternative, and behavioral therapy (see below) in its accident and illness policy. Holistic and alternative medications and treatments must be prescribed and provided by or under the direct supervision of a veterinary provider. Covered treatment methods include, but are not limited to:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Magnet therapy

Figo also covers rehabilitation and mobility devices. It defines rehabilitation/physical therapy as “the process of restoring Your Pet, after a covered Illness or Injury, to a normal or as close as normal condition as possible, that the Pet experienced prior to the covered Illness or Injury, by using various Treatments to improve the quality of life or to manage/reduce pain.” Treatments include, but are not limited to:

• Physical therapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Thermotherapy
• Therapeutic massage

Behavioral Therapy

Figo’s plans include coverage for behavioral problems; however, its sample policy states that the most it will pay for consultations by a veterinarian to diagnose and treat behavioral problems is $500 annually.

Behavioral Condition Definition: A pet exhibiting an abnormal response to stimuli not caused by an underlying medical condition, including but not limited to aggression, anxiety, and destructive and/or compulsive behavior.

Exclusions: The treatment of coprophagia or other eating disorders.

Embrace Coverage Details

Physical & Complementary Therapy

Embrace includes complementary therapy coverage without the need for upgrades or additional fees. Its sample policy states that the following therapies are covered when performed by a veterinarian or a veterinary staff member under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Hydrotherapy
• Physiotherapy
• Therapeutic laser treatment

Exclusions

• Excluded therapies include reiki, magnet therapy, prolotherapy, ozone, hyperbaric oxygen, electroacupuncture, veterinary orthopedic manipulation, massage, bicom, TENS, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
• Complementary therapies performed as maintenance, prevention, or not as the initial course of treatment.
• Alternative treatment is defined as “a group of practices that may diverge from veterinary medicine routinely taught in North American veterinary medical schools and/or differ from current scientific knowledge. If a Treatment is not a generally accepted practice for the condition and type of Pet insured, it is also considered Alternative Treatment.”

Behavioral Therapy

All of Embrace’s policies cover behavioral therapy and training when administered by a veterinarian for a covered condition. This includes diagnosis by a veterinarian, laboratory testing, FDA approved medications and specialized training sessions by a veterinarian. Its policy does not define behavioral conditions.

Lemonade Coverage Details

Physical Therapy

You must purchase the Physical Therapy add-on to Lemonade’s base policy for physical therapy coverage related to functionality issues due to an unexpected illness or an accident. Per Lemonade’s sample policy, physical therapy treatments include:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Cryotherapy
• Electro-acupuncture
• E-stim therapy
• Gait training
• Heat therapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Joint mobilization
• Laser therapy
• Range of motion exercises
• Treadmill therapy
• Stretching
• Therapeutic exercises
• Therapeutic ultrasound therapy

Exclusions

• Alternative and Experimental Treatments or medicine, such as aromatherapy, massage, herbal remedies, CBD oil, etc.
• Treatment that doesn’t fall within generally accepted and conventional medicine, including treatments for which there are no peer-reviewed journals on the condition.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy coverage requires the Behavioral Conditions add-on from Lemonade pet insurance. This add-on* can help cover the costs of diagnostics and vet-recommended treatments and therapies related to eligible behavioral conditions. This could include therapy sessions, prescription medications, and specialized training. Therapies must be administered by either a veterinarian or a licensed behaviorist.

*Lemonade’s behavioral conditions add-on is subject to its base policy’s co-insurance and annual deductible and has a separate $1,000 annual limit.

Behavioral Condition Definition: A condition that is abnormal, dysfunctional, or unusual and requires treatment. This includes but is not limited to separation anxiety, excessive chewing or licking, aggression, pica, self-injury, and property damage.

Trupanion Coverage Details

Physical Therapy

Herbal therapy is included in Trupanion’s base policy for the treatment of covered illnesses and injuries but not for routine or preventive care. For physical therapy and alternative treatment coverage, you must purchase Trupanion’s Recovery and Complementary Care Rider separately. Its sample policy lists the following benefits with the rider:

• Rehabilitative therapy
• Naturopathy
• Acupuncture
• Hydrotherapy
• Chiropractic
• Behavioral modification and therapy
• Homeopathy

Behavioral Therapy

As stated above, behavioral therapy is included in Trupanion’s Recovery and Complementary Care Rider. Its website defines behavior modification as, “Behavioral modification is a systematic approach to changing behavior, which includes a pet’s reaction to a situation, person, object, animal, etc.” The policy doesn’t specify behavioral conditions, though Trupanion’s website names aggression and compulsive behavior as examples.

Waiting Periods Comparison Table

Below are the applicable waiting periods* that each company requires before the policy goes into effect. For physical/complementary therapy coverage, it’s important to be aware of whether these apply to accidents vs. illnesses — and that certain orthopedic conditions have longer waiting periods. Behavioral therapy typically falls under a policy’s illness waiting period.

Physical Therapy & Complementary Care Terminology

If you’re not familiar with some therapies, here are brief definitions of common alternative/complementary treatments for dogs:

• Physical Therapy (Physiotherapy): Tailored exercises and rehabilitation programs to strengthen muscles, improve mobility, and recover from injuries.
• Acupuncture: Involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to help with pain relief, inflammation, and improving mobility.
• Electro-Acupuncture: A form of acupuncture where small electrical currents are applied to acupuncture needles.
• Chiropractic Care: Focuses on spinal alignment to alleviate pain, improve movement, and enhance nervous system function.
• Massage Therapy: Helps with relaxation, reducing stress, and improving circulation and muscle recovery.
• Hydrotherapy: Aquatic exercises in a controlled environment, often used for rehabilitation after surgery or to manage joint problems like arthritis.
• Laser Therapy: Utilizes low-level lasers to reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate healing of tissues.
• Heat and Cold Therapy (Thermotherapy): Application of heat packs or cold compresses (cryotherapy) to relieve pain, swelling, or muscle tightness.
• E-Stim Therapy (Electrotherapy): Uses electrical stimulation (via devices like TENS or EMS) to reduce pain and promote muscle recovery or strengthening.
• Therapeutic Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to promote tissue healing, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain.
• Magnetic Therapy: Employs magnets in collars, beds, or wraps to improve blood circulation and reduce pain.
• Assisi Loop: A non-invasive device that uses targeted pulsed electromagnetic field (tPEMF) therapy to reduce pain and inflammation, promote healing, and improve circulation.

Holistic Treatments

• Herbal Medicine: Uses plant-based remedies tailored to address specific health concerns like anxiety, arthritis, or digestive issues.
• Aromatherapy: Employs essential oils for calming effects or to address minor skin conditions, though caution is required due to dog sensitivity.
• Homeopathy: Uses highly diluted substances believed to stimulate the body’s natural healing process.
• Reiki: A form of energy healing that aims to reduce stress and promote relaxation in dogs.

Should I Consider Pet Insurance Now?

If you’re worried that your dog could one day require behavioral therapy, develop a serious illness, or have a costly injury in the future, you may want to consider getting pet insurance. As long as your dog isn’t showing any behavioral or physical symptoms now or during a policy’s waiting period, you can get coverage for a variety of expensive treatment needs. But before you sign up, be sure to read all about pet insurance, including how it works, what it covers, possible costs, which companies are best, and more.

Methodology: How We Rank The Best Pet Insurance Companies

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance for 12+ years, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Sally Jones and Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to expert for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Sally and Kimberly read every line of every company’s pet insurance policy to help them answer the breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately.

To guarantee accuracy and provide Canine Journal with the authority to write about and help readers purchase policies that are accurately represented, all insurance content is carefully reviewed by Michelle Schenker, our in-house licensed insurance agent.