Surgery vs. Cryotherapy

When your pet has a lump, wart, or skin growth, one of the first questions that comes up is: does this need surgery, or can it be treated another way? Thanks to advancements in veterinary care, not all lumps require stitches or anesthesia.

At Creature Comforts, we offer both traditional surgery and non-invasive cryotherapy (using FreezePen) for treating skin issues. Each option has its own advantages—and the best choice depends on your pet’s unique case.

Here’s how to decide what’s right for your pet.

Before choosing a treatment, your vet will:

• Examine the lump’s size, depth, and location
• Assess the texture and appearance
• Possibly perform a fine needle aspirate (FNA) to understand the cell type
• Consider your pet’s age, breed, and health status

💡 Not all lumps are created equal. A harmless skin tag and a suspicious mass may look similar but need very different approaches.

Cryotherapy uses targeted cold therapy to freeze and destroy surface-level skin lesions, such as:

• Warts and viral papillomas
• Benign skin tags
• Sebaceous adenomas
• Some cysts or localized growths

We use the FreezePen—a handheld cryotherapy device—for quick, no-sedation treatments in the clinic. It’s ideal for:

• Small, non-cancerous growths
• Lesions in sensitive areas (like the face or legs)

Senior pets or those who can't safely undergo anesthesia

Surgical excision is a traditional and effective method that involves removing the entire lump and surrounding tissue under anesthesia. It may be recommended for:

• Deeper or fast-growing lumps
• Masses in areas where cryotherapy isn’t effective
• Lumps that may be malignant (cancerous)
• Lesions needing histopathology (lab testing after removal)

Surgery ensures complete removal and allows for detailed lab analysis—especially if there's uncertainty about the lump’s nature.

Choose Cryotherapy if:

• The lump is small, superficial, and has been confirmed as benign
• Your pet is older or has health conditions that make anesthesia risky
• You’re looking for a fast, low-stress solution

Choose Surgery if:

• The lump is growing, bleeding, or deep under the skin
• Your vet recommends full removal and lab testing
• There’s a chance the lump is malignant or aggressive