Pima North Animal Hospital
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold to surgically freeze unwanted tissue and consequently destroy it.
Overview
Veterinary cryosurgery is a surgical technique for dogs and cats that causes the tissue that is frozen to fall off or dissolve. This process can take up to four weeks, but fortunately there is very little discomfort for the pet during the procedure.
Why would my pet need cryosurgery?
Cryosurgery is a safe alternative to standard surgery, where it does involve any actual cutting or incisions. This is a good option for any tissue that is on the outer layer of the skin such as tumors, cysts, skin tags, and even some forms of cancer.
When is cryosurgery appropriate?
Cryosurgery is appropriate for many pets that are not good candidates for traditional surgery. It requires less recovery time and is less invasive for even young, healthy cats and dogs. This proves to be a great alternative for pets that do not do well with surgery and do not recover well due to pain, as there is usually no noticeable discomfort due to the instant freezing of the liquid nitrogen.
What else should I know about cryosurgery?
In most cases, cryosurgery is cheaper than traditional surgery. Depending on the size and the location of what needs to be frozen, anesthesia or sedation may be required.