How Does Cryosurgery Help Your Dog?

Cryosurgery, also called cryotherapy, is a technique where extreme cold is applied to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. This procedure is used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders, specifically skin conditions in dogs.

In dogs, this procedure is used to treat tumors in areas of the body where conventional surgery is either difficult or impossible to perform, such as a tumor in the mouth. Examples of removals performed using cryosurgery include removing skin tags, warts, infected or itchy lesions, and small tumors in areas of the skin.

Cryosurgery utilizes freezing temperatures to destroy cells in the targeted tissues. Since most of the body’s cells are made up of 70% water, when they are exposed to freezing temperatures, the cells form ice crystals which cause them to tear and rupture. The blood vessels in the diseased tissue also freeze, causing further cellular and tissue damage. This method halts further growth of the abnormal cells.

Liquid nitrogen is the most commonly used method for performing cryosurgery. This liquid is super-cooled and sprayed directly on the diseased tissue or can be applied through a cryoneedle for complete control over the application allowing your veterinarian to preserve the surrounding healthy tissue.

Immediately after the procedure, your dog’s frozen growth will begin to turn red and form blisters. Within 2-3 weeks, a scab will form in the treatment area and fall off. This will reveal healthy, lesion-free tissue.

One of the biggest benefits is that no anesthesia is required to complete the procedure, meaning older dogs or dogs who are at a higher risk when put under general anesthesia can avoid it. Other benefits include:

This technique allows us to effectively remove small warts and tumors with rare recurrence to keep your dog happy and healthy!

To learn if your pet is a candidate for cryosurgery, contact the Animal Medical Center of Streetsboro today!