Cryosurgery is the removal of tumors, growths, or infected tissues by freezing with liquid nitrogen. The tissue is frozen to -40℃. The tissue thaws and is frozen again. The tumor cells then rupture as they thaw, later die, and then are removed by the body. This is a more natural process of removing growths and tumors.
The benefit of the procedure is that animals are not anesthetized. Many older pets are not able to go under general anesthesia. Also, some tumors are in areas that surgery would be very destructive to. Light sedation is given and the cryosurgery just takes minutes. This procedure is also good for tumors that are too large to remove by regular surgery. The large tumor is frozen, hoping that the majority of the mass will die, leaving a small remnant that could be conducive to regular surgery. Cryosurgery is less expensive, not requiring blood tests or general anesthesia. The doctor will examine the pet to see if cryosurgery could be used instead of a more invasive procedure.
Some of the tumors dry up and fall off. Others fall off and leave a crater. Hair in the area may turn white.