Lick mat:
A Lick Mats for dog is a grooved mat that buoys up the performance of licking. Dog lick mats are silicone mats made with suction cups or a non-skid bottom that sticks to flat surfaces, comprising floors and walls. They have a number of patterns and depths that regulate the type of food or treat you put in them and how long they’ll last. The supplementary complex and deeper the pattern, the longer dog will apply licking them. Dog lick pads are best used with spreadable wet food or treats, such as peanut butter, wet dog food, puréed vegetables, or any soft treats.
What to Put On a Dog Licking Mat:
Most pet parents put wet food and peanut butter on a dog lick mat because they have them on hand. Peanut butter is an outstanding option because it’s stickier and will provide the dog with long-lasting fun. Unfortunately, not all dogs love peanut butter, and switching things up intermittently will ensure they never get bored with their lick mats. Other options consist of plain greek yogurt, canned pumpkin, and cottage cheese.
On the other hand, uniform if a dog loves all or one of these treats, they can get bored with their lick mats. Therefore, give them to some degree new once in a while, or freeze constituents to prolong them. Here are a few food items you can put on a dog licking mat:
Sweet Lick Mat Recipe: Choose healthy items when considering something sweet to put on a lick pad for dogs. Sugar-filled treats and sweets can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and associated health problems. A small number of healthy and sweet options to put on a dog licking mat consist of:
- Honey
- Applesauce
- Oatmeal
Of course, always check the constituents in any food product you share with a dog. For example, a number of sweat products possibly will contain the artificial sweetener xylitol, which is toxic to pets straight in small doses.
Savory lick mat recipe:
Savory food items possibly will be more nutritious than sweet treats you put on their lick mat. A few options include:
- Vegetable chunks
- Mashed potatoes
- Ground meat
- Regular dog treats
- Peanut butter
When feeding dog any human food, ensure they’re plain and unseasoned since many seasonings, such as garlic and salt, can harm pets. Therefore, if you choose to share mashed potatoes with them, set aside plain mashed potatoes for dog before seasoning.
Types of Lick Mats for dog:
One of the largest distributors of Lick Mats is by the LickiMat Company, who has created multiple types of lick mats for different occasions and needs. Recently, SodaPup also released a number of Lick Mat variations.
Here are a number of their diverse types:
SodaPup Honeycomb EMat:
In true SodaPup fashion, these mats are not only super cute, but they’re hard-wearing and made to last! The high-class part about the Honeycomb innovativeness is that it’s smaller than typical lick mat, which I in fact like. It makes it more “snack sized” and would be a great option for anyone with smaller dogs as well.
LickiMat Classics – Playdate, Buddy and Soothe:
These Classic dissimilarities are all TPR rubber founded, every one with a diverse grooved pattern. Every one pattern works to hang onto food locked in to buoy up licking.
LickiMat Tuff:
The LickiMat Tuff is a sturdier inconsistency of the Classic LickiMat. The LickiMat Tuff is meant for pups that possibly will have a chewing streak, or dogs that possibly will have a predisposition to disintegration their toys.
LickiMat Slomo:
The LickiMat Slomo is built like the LickiMat Tuff in terms of make, but has poles apart patterned options on the same mat manufacture, it is ideal for liquids and soft foods.
LickiMat Wobble:
The LickiMats Wobbles are great for communicating feeding. The little divots and curved bowl are great for wet components, and the shape is a great option for raw feeders in the intervening time the contents of the bowl is more contained.
LickiMat Splash:
The LickiMat Splash has one cool feature that has endless opportunities: A suction cup on the base! The suction cup is a great option for those looking for positive reinforcers for nail clipping, baths, vet trips, and so numerous other potentially demanding surroundings.
How To Clean Dog Lick Mats:
Dog licking doormats are fairly easy to clean for the reason that they’re complete from silicone. On the other hand, contingent on the depth and type of pattern, a number of are informal to clean than others. The best way to make sure a dog’s lick mat is clean is to use warm water and dish soap to loosen stuck-on food debris and deposit. All the time rinse the soap and dry the lick mat before using it again. If you have misfortune reaching all the corners of dogs lick mat, you can use a pipe cleaner or let the pad soak in warm water and dish soap.
A number of lick mats are dishwasher-safe, so you can wash with your dishes. Conversely, always read the producer’s instructions to make sure they won’t get devastated in the wash. As well, whether you hand or machine wash a dog’s lick mat, consider cleaning it as soon as the dog finishes it. Food debris can dry and harden onto the mat, manufacture it harder to clean.
Why use a Lick Mat?
Using a lick mat raise your spirits the act of licking, this discharges pleasure endorphins in dog’s brain. These endorphins can assistance calm dogs down in traumatic circumstances.
Lick mats can:
- Alleviate stress
- Provide mental stimulation
- Can be great calming/ positive reinforcing tool for activities like nail trimmings and baths
- Encourage slower eating habits
- Create mental stimulation for dogs on restricted exercise
ARE LICK MATS GOOD FOR ALL DOGS?
With the variety of benefits a dog lick mat has, it is a positive calculation to any dog’s life! However, keep in mind the stuffing you place on dog’s lick mat if they have any dietary necessities or health circumstances. The benefits of dog lick mats consist of:
Alleviate stress:
If dog gets overcome, the lick mat can be a positive interruption. Generally, slow feeders (which lick mats are) assistance soothe and decrease anxiety as dog is distracted; their focus is pass on onto to some degree more pleasant. As soon as a dog licks, it soothes and calms dog, let go endorphins, which generates a sense of safety.
Mental stimulation:
Steady and summarizing exercise is the key to a dog’s heart. As well as physical exercise, dogs every so often necessity mental stimulation, which can come in different forms, such as: agility, solving puzzles, playing, chasing, smelling, chewing and scavenging. The lick mat is a great way to gratify that mental stimulation, which in the end will decrease their boredom.
Oral health:
Protection dog’s teeth clean are significant. Dental disease is unbelievably communal in dogs and can be extremely painful for them. Where possible, oral hygiene had better be introduced. Lick mats are great for dogs’ mental health because the surface benefits to scrape off any commemorative writing on their teeth and gums.
Positive reinforcing tool:
Lick mats kind an enjoyable and entertaining training tool. They from time to time come with suction cups which mean they can make bath time fun. Furthermore, they can be secondhand as a distraction if dog doesn’t like being brushed or getting their nails clipped. The Pet Retreat suggestions a tailored grooming service in order to assistance supplementary when it comes to keeping dog well groomed.
Health benefits:
Overeating can be principal to conditions such as diabetes or pancreatitis. Lick mats can be predictable for being a positive slow feeder. They slow down the dog’s eating conducts, which ultimately decreases hazards of bloating and recovers their digestion.
WHAT CAN I PUT ON MY DOG’S LICK MAT?
The thoughts are endless when it comes from to what you can put on dog’s lick mat. Here are the things you can use for dog:
- Raw dog food
- Peanut butter (xylitol free)
- Natural Greek yogurt
- Fruit/Veg purées (you can make your own)
- Meat broth
- Egg
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed sweet potato
Can I leave my dog alone with a lick mat?
Dog lick mats are a good product to use if you are we going to leave a dog alone at home. They are intended to be chewed resilient and are virtually imperishable. If a dog suffers from departure nervousness, this is the faultless time for the dog to use the lick mat.
