Cryotherapy
Extreme cold used to treat benign skin lesions such as skin tags, warts and cysts — usually while your pet is awake, with no stitches and no cone collar.
Targeted care for small skin lesions
A practical alternative to cold-steel surgery.
Cryotherapy is the use of extreme cold — liquid nitrogen or nitrous oxide — to treat benign skin lesions such as skin tags, warts and cysts, and other dermatologic conditions of the skin and ears. At VetDERM Clinic we use a pressurized instrument called a Cryoprobe, which uses nitrous oxide.
Dogs and cats may develop a range of skin lesions with variable side effects including itchiness, irritation, discharge, crusting and infection. These lesions can be annoying for the pet, so removal is regularly advised. Surgery using a scalpel has been the conventional treatment for many years, but it more often than not requires sedation or anesthesia. Depending on the age of the pet or concurrent health conditions, sedation may not be the preferred choice and can add significantly to the cost.
Cryotherapy causes minimal to mild discomfort and can usually be performed while your pet is awake, with freezing agents or mild sedation if necessary. There is typically no bleeding, and in most cases no stitches or cone collars are needed afterwards.
Why families choose it
- Usually performed awake
- Typically no bleeding
- No stitches or cone collar in most cases
- Minimal to mild discomfort
- Avoids anesthesia where that is a concern
What cryotherapy can treat
Further testing before treatment — a fine needle aspirate or biopsy — may be indicated and will be planned if necessary, depending on individual patient needs.
- Sebaceous adenomas
- Viral warts (papillomas)
- Histiocytomas
- Epidermal and follicular cysts
- Meibomian gland adenomas
- Eosinophilic granuloma complex (cats)
- Acral lick granulomas
The honest version.
Redness of the treated area occurs within a few days, after which the area will scab over and eventually fall off. Up to four treatments spaced two to four weeks apart may be needed to fully treat the affected area. Cryotherapy is not appropriate for all patients.
Some effects can be:
- Skin pigment changes
- Hair colour changes or hair loss at the treated area
- Sensory impairment
- Scarring
- Infection
Other services that may help
A practical alternative to cold surgery.
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold to treat benign skin lesions such as skin tags, warts and cysts.
Wondering if your pet is a candidate?
Talk to VetDERM Clinic and we will assess the lesion properly first.