Cryotherapy is the use of extreme cold temperatures like liquid nitrogen or nitrous oxide, to treat benign skin lesions such as skin tags, warts, cysts, or treatment of other dermatologic conditions of the skin and ears. At VETDERM Clinic we use a pressurized instrument called a Cryoprobe, which uses nitrous oxide to treat such skin lesions.

Dogs and cats may develop a range of skin lesions which can have variable side effects including itchiness, irritation, discharge, crusting, and/or infection. These lesions can be annoying for the pet and unsightly for those around them so removal is regularly advised. Cold surgery using a scalpel has been the conventional treatment for removal of these lesions for many years. This procedure more often than not requires sedation and/or anesthesia to ensure the pet’s comfort during removal. However sometimes depending on the age of the pet or concurrent health conditions, sedation or anesthesia is not always the safest choice and can be cost prohibitive, so cryotherapy is a practical alternative. Cryotherapy causes the patient minimal to mild discomfort and can usually be performed on pets while they’re awake, with the use of freezing agents or mild sedation, if necessary. There is no bleeding, stitches or cone collars post procedure, making this very attractive for pets and pet parents.