Pets and Ice: How The Cold Can Literally Freeze Trauma

Cryotherapy is known to be the go-to treatment for various injuries and pain. There are a lot of generalizations about how ice therapy can help you, from pain management to even aging. But have you ever thought of using this therapy on your pet? Of course, some should be approached with caution. But overall, cryotherapy has gained popularity for a reason. Cryotherapy kills the cells by freezing the abnormal tissue. Just FYI: water makes up the majority of the body’s cells. Ice crystals form when the water inside the cell freezes, causing the treated cell to rupture and die. The supplying blood vessels and sensory nerves are also damaged and this basically stops it from being nourished if you may say.

Cryotherapy for Skin Conditions

It is a method of destroying unwanted skin lesions by rapidly freezing tissue. A precise application tube sprays nitrous oxide gas at a rate of 40 meters per second onto the diseased tissue. Normal healthy tissue is unaffected. Cryotherapy has been used in veterinary practices for over 80 years with great success. What is essentially done is a very precise application of nitrous oxide to the pet’s problem area. Within a few days, the tissue will scab (or ‘crust’) over and fall off, and within 14 days, it will fall off completely.

Cryotherapy for Injuries

Cold therapy can significantly reduce swelling and inflammation (also known as irritation) in your pet. It relieves pain by reducing muscle damage following an injury, surgery, or strenuous exercise. Cold therapy also reduces muscle spasms and speeds up the healing process.