Lick mats are made of rubber or silicon with a grooved or bumpy surface, this keeps your dog engaged and preoccupied. These mats can help keep your pet busy mentally, reduce stress, slow down eating, and improve oral hygiene. Some have suction cups to stick to surfaces making them perfect for use during bath time or grooming.
What Should I Put on a Lick Mat?
Lick mats can be filled with various substances thus making it easy to make healthy and interactive treats for your animal. Some popular choices include:
Natural Yoghurt: Plain unsweetened Greek yoghurt which is a great natural probiotic.
Peanut Butter: Make sure it does not contain any xylitol and consider using runny peanut butter for ease of spreading.
Banana: Just squash a ripe banana into the mat.
Parmesan Cheese: Sprinkle grated parmesan over the top.
Raw Egg: You can either crack one onto the mat or scramble it.
Canned Fish: Drain most of the oil out and mash up the fish onto the mat.
Vegetable Puree: Sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots all provide vitamins and minerals that are good for your fur baby.
Recipes for Lick Mats
Here are some basic recipe tips to get you started:
Chicken & Peas
Chopped Wank roast chook
Pet mince
Baby peas
Minced parsley
Push pet mince into the surface of LickiMat. Scatter cooked chicken pieces and baby peas on top; add some parsley breath freshener to calm those tummy troubles also!
Raw Beef & Veg
2 cups ground beef
1 teaspoon hemp powder
1 tablespoon cooked or raw baby peas 1 cooked or raw carrot chopped ½ teaspoon fresh chopped parsley Mix beef with hemp powder until well blended. Spread over LickiMat, press some into the surface and scatter vegetables on top. Add parsley for fresh breath.
Very Berry Delight
Handful of fresh or frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons natural yoghurt
1 teaspoon frozen raspberries
1 teaspoon peanut butter (xylitol free)
Put blueberries in holes of Slomo mat. Cover with yogurt, sprinkle raspberries, drizzle peanut butter over the top and serve immediately or freeze for later.
Why Should You Use a Lick Mat?
Lick mats have numerous benefits including:
Stimulation: Keeps dogs engaged and prevents them from getting bored.
Calming: Licking has a soothing effect which makes it useful during stressful situations such as grooming or vet visits.
Improves Digestion: Reduces eating speed hence decreasing the risk of bloat and improving digestion.
Dental Health: Helps to scrape bacteria off your dog’s mouth resulting in better oral hygiene.
Tips For Using Lick Mats
Freeze for Longer Enjoyment – Preload and freeze lick mats to make treats last longer. Supervise Usage – Never leave your dog alone when using a lick mat to prevent any chewing or breaking it. Easy Cleaning – Soak in warm soapy water immediately after using for easy cleaning.
Lick mats are an all-round tool that takes care of your dog’s mental and physical state. Whether you use them for snacks, slow feeding or calming purposes they come with many advantages which can help improve your pet’s overall health and happiness.