What is Veterinary Cryosurgery?
Veterinary cryosurgery is a medical procedure in which extremely low temperatures are used to freeze and destroy abnormal or diseased tissues in animals.
It is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of liquid nitrogen or other cryogenic gases to freeze the targeted tissue, causing it to die and eventually slough off.
What is Veterinary Cryosurgery Used for?
Cryosurgery is commonly used in veterinary medicine for a variety of purposes, including the removal of skin tumors, warts, and other growths.
It can also be used to treat certain eye conditions, such as corneal ulcers, and to remove small masses or polyps from the reproductive tract of female animals.
Why Not Just Use Regular Surgery?
One of the main advantages of cryosurgery is that it is a relatively simple and low-risk procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis, with minimal anesthesia and pain.
Additionally, because the procedure is minimally invasive, it typically results in less scarring and faster healing times compared to traditional surgical methods.
Cryosurgery for Cancer at Natchez Trace Veterinary Services
Dr. Smith often uses veterinary cryosurgery in his pet cancer treatment plans.
In the video below, you’ll get a glimpse of what happens during a cryotherapy treatment.
Watch the Video
Transcription
Dr. Smith: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Doctor Marc Smith, a 20-year practicing veterinarian and co-creator of PET | TAO Holistic Pet Products, and I’m gonna work on this fine kitty. Look at this great kitty. This is a 17-year-old kitty – Snowbell. This is a good little geriatric kitty that gets really nervous in here. And what I’m gonna do today, we can see this mass on the ear. I don’t know what kind of mass it is. It really doesn’t matter. There are really two options on this thing. You cut it off right there and that would require anesthesia and we don’t wanna do that because Snowbell is 17 years old and above all, we don’t want to do anything that’s going to harm Snowbell.
So what we’re gonna do and what I’m gonna demonstrate is this product right here, it’s called Cool Renewal. It’s a simple, easy way to get cryosurgery in your clinic. It comes in a spray can and I’m gonna show you how it’s gonna work. We don’t even have to use any anesthesia or any sedation or anything of Snowbell and we’ll get that thing off. And it’ll take about a week and it’ll dry up and go off. I did about two years ago. Was it two years ago or …
Leah: November 16th, 2016.
Dr. Smith: You can see it took part of the ear off and that’ll happen, but then that mass has grown back. And unfortunately, that happens. But any kind of little lumps or bumps on an old dog or an old cat, you can do it. And you may have to restrain them a little bit, but they do fine and that thing comes off and it’s good to go. So I’m gonna show you how I’m gonna do it right now.
So, Leah, Snowbell may not like this, okay?
Leah: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Smith: So you’re going to have to hold Snowbell. You feel comfortable holding Snowbell, right? Because kitty cars can get tricky and these old kitties, they’re very skilled and very adept at doing what? Getting out of your hold. Where is my towel?
Leah: The towel that-
Dr. Smith: Let’s take that towel.
Leah: Wrap her up.
Dr. Smith: Wrap that kitty up in it a little bit, okay? Another thing you gotta be careful about is some of these kitties will run to California when you’re doing this on, so it helps if you kind of get them all cuddled in and … Look at how cute little Snowbell is. Hey sugar, you’re a good kitty. Right there, okay? Now you probably need something protecting your hands, okay? Because I’m gonna be squirting-
Leah: Gloves on?
Dr. Smith: Nope. I’m gonna be squirting right there. So what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna take this little looks like a Q-tip and I’m gonna get it really cold. I’m gonna show you how, just like this, right there. And then I’m gonna hold it on that ear for just a minute, okay? I’m gonna hold it right there and I’m gonna get it good and cold, just like that. You gotta be careful, this thing’s cold. And so I’m kind of priming up Snowbell. And then I’m gonna freeze this thing, I mean, I’m gonna freeze it ice cold here in just a minute. And I’m getting her primed up just a little bit. You’ll learn. There are different ways people tell you how to use this, but the thing I like about it, it’s simple, fast, and easy to use, and it’s really … It’s just easy, quick, fast. If you run out of one, you order another one, it’ll be here the next day. See how that ear’s getting white right through there? We’re freezing the stew out of it, okay? And then what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna really freeze it here in a minute and Snowbell is not even noticing, okay?
Leah: Dr. Smith, would it be like if you were to go to the doctor yourself and have a-
Dr. Smith: Wart removed?
Leah: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Smith: Absolutely. But see this little kitty, it doesn’t bother this kitty. It’s fine and she’s gonna go home. The bill’s not gonna be a lot. And we’re gonna get this thing done. Right there.
Leah: Okay. I’m good.
Dr. Smith: That thing won’t.
Leah: I’m-
Dr. Smith: This will rot your skin off in about two seconds. So I know you’re good. Alright, let’s see that thing. Is it good and cold? Yep, it looks like a snowball, doesn’t it?
Leah: It’s frozen.
Dr. Smith: Huh?
Leah: Yeah, it’s like frozen.
Dr. Smith: Believe that will come off in about a week or two. That’ll work. Do you all see that? See it was red, now it’s frozen through and through, and you can feel that thing’s like a big ice cube.
Leah: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Smith: So it will die and it will fall off and kitty will run around with that little tumor gone and it’ll heal up. And there may be a small crinkle in it, but I think the take-home message is if you have a 17-year-old kitty with a mass here that was bleeding and causing that ear to hang over and all that. And we just got it off, kitty’s fine, relaxed in the vet clinic, happy. And you’re a good little kitty, aren’t you? See? Right there, 17 years old. It’s a good cat. Alright, ready to go home.
Thank you very much. Again, this is called Cool Renewal. It’s a great product. I use it all the time in practice. Quick, easy, fast, straight to the point. Cryosurgery allows a lot of things that you probably disregard, you can freeze them off and be done with it. The owners will be happy and it doesn’t take long and it’s no big deal. So look them up. Thank you.
