Dermatological complaints by owners about their animals are among the most common clinical presentations that a practitioner of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) will be asked to treat. The legion of skin disorders seen, ranging from skin allergies to immune mediated skin diseases, can be confidently addressed using the tools of TCVM. This article will review the pathogenesis of skin issues, the TCVM significance of various skin lesions, common patterns or Bian Zheng of dermatological diseases and how to make a TCVM diagnosis. The use of appropriate acupuncture points, Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions and selected case examples will also be presented to illustrate a TCVM approach to skin disease.