Veterinary acupuncture is one therapeutic branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a healing, holistic form of medicine which deals with the whole animal as a living being, rather than simply as a collection of signs and symptoms. Acupuncture is a medical treatment performed by the insertion of sterile (single-use) acupuncture needles through the skin at specific points on the body. In the state of Texas, acupuncture is considered alternative therapy, and only a licensed veterinarian may treat an animal with acupuncture. Acupuncture is an effective and useful therapy for a wide variety of veterinary medical conditions, including the following: pain (back, neck, joint, soft tissue, post-operative pain management), musculoskeletal problems (arthritis, muscle/ tendon/ligamentous injuries), neurologic disorders (seizures, intervertebral disc disease), gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, IBD), and other chronic diseases (cancer, bronchitis, eye problems, endocrine disorders, skin disorders, renal disease). At Memorial-610 Hospital for Animals, acupuncture treatment is tailored to each individual pet's needs and imbalances. Western medical and other TCM therapies (herbs, diet) may be used together to achieve the optimum result. Although every animal is different in his or her response, approximately 90% of patients will have improvement in their condition as a result of acupuncture therapy.