LickiMat is currently trending on social media and we can absolutely understand why. If you've never heard of or tried a LickiMat then read on, come and purchase one and open up a whole new world to canine enrichment....
What is a LickiMat?
LickiMats are a technical product designed by vets. Based on a challenge/reward system they work with different foods and treats to achieve different outcomes ranging from anxiety reduction to entertainment to slow feeding to training aids and more.
Benefits
Reduced anxiety & boredom: LickiMats reduce anxiety and promote calm behaviour by encouraging licking action and stimulating your pet’s tongue. The extended licking action releases a calming hormone. Great for when you leave home, stressful times such vet visits, injections, bath time, nail clipping, injury recovery as well as thunderstorms and fireworks.
Training Aid: LickiMats are used for all types of dog training and are especially good at reducing crate training time.
Improved oral health: LickiMats stimulate your pet’s tongue and increase salvia production. This saliva cleans the tongue, teeth, gums and aids digestion as it contains Amylase. The natural rubber surface also scrapes food particles and odour causing bacteria off your pet’s tongue, promoting fresher breath.
Healthy treats: Experiment with different treats to find your pet’s favourite. From Peanut butter (xylitol free), yogurt, sardines, pumpkin purée, crushed biscuits and more - there are so many combinations to try! Less calories, healthier treats and longer duration.
Grooming, Bathing & Nail Clipping: LickMats are used by pet groomers to keep pets busy and distracted. The Splash™ and UFO™ have suction cups for wall/tile mounting, but all types can be used.
Slow Feeder: LickiMats can be used to promote slower feeding in your pet for both wet and dry food. This can help reduce bloating and improve digestion.
Medical-Free: The licking action enhances the sense of taste, allowing your pet to enjoy just a small amount of food. LickiMats are also perfect for adding supplements and medications to treats.
Freezer & Dishwasher Safe: Some of the LickiMats are designed to be freezer & dishwasher safe.
Destructive Behaviour: The TUFF™ range is recommended for pets that have inappropriate chewing tendencies.
Which LickiMat?
The surface patterns of the three models differ a little to better suit different types of foods, treats and liquids. All three surfaces are suitable for raw, wet, dry and liquid dog food, as well as any manner of treat.
Buddy™ has a more complex surface and still allows separation of foods and treats.
Playdate™ has discrete pockets that will contain food. Liquids are easier to manage and keep separate from other food or treats.
Soother™ is exactly what the name says. It allows soft and liquid foods to be licked out with extra tongue simulation.
Slomo™ has two different surfaces divided into four sections allows different food to be served at the same time.
Tuff Series™ if you have a teething puppy or a dog that likes to chew, please consider this range. They are virtually indestructible and dishwasher safe. Available as Buddy, Playdate or Soother.
Splash™ great for bath time, grooming, vet visits due to the large suction cap that allows it to stick to any hard surface like tiles, glass and bathtub.
Buddy™ & Soother™ XL have a larger surface, fantastic for those bigger dogs!
Wobble™ a unique bowl with the rubber dimples on the inside...and it wobbles!
UFO™ combination of the Soother™ and Splash™
OH Bowl™ is designed with comfortable raised tapered rubber tips to help clean bacteria off the tongue.
Indoor/Outdoor Keeper™ is designed to prevent pets from moving and chewing their LickiMats. Can be used as a feeding bowl. The Outdoor Keeper has a deep water moat to keep the crawling insects out.
SloDog Slow Feeder Plate is a unique approach to slow feeding or anti-gulping. Ideal for flat-nose breeds, e.g. French Bulldogs and all bully breeds.
Recipe Ideas
You can find so many recipe ideas on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), have fun experimenting with different treats (provided they are dog friendly). Here are a few ideas, from the LickiMat website, to start you off:
One ingredient ideas:
- Natural yogurt.
- Peanut butter. Use a runny peanut butter brand. Or water down a thick one with hot water. It will just help to make your mat easier to wash off. You can even blend with natural yogurt.
- Banana. Squash a ripe banana on a LickiMat with a fork.
- Parmesan cheese. Get one of those shaker packs and sprinkle on over the surface. Works really well on Soother™.
- Raw egg - just crack one one. Or if you feel like cooking, scramble an egg.
- Canned fish. Smash the fish on with a fork draining the oil or spring water on too.
- Wet food/ raw food. For a snack or treat, use a smaller portion.
- Coconut oil. Just brush a teaspoon of melted oil on.
- Baby food. Ready made baby food from the supermarket or your baby's leftover food is perfect.
- Broth (low sodium), leftover gravy, pan juices, casserole - yum!
- Hummous. Yep! One friend their dogs love it.
- Coconut milk. Try freezing on to make it last longer. It would be like coconut ice cream.
Two ingredient ideas:
Chicken and Peas
- Chopped roasted chicken
- Pet mince
- Baby peas
- Chopped parsley
Press pet mince into LickiMat surface. Scatter on top cooked chicken and baby peas. Add a bit of parsley to freshen breath and soothe the tummy.
Raw Beef and Vegetables
- 2 cups ground beef
- 1 teaspoon hemp powder (optional)
- 1 heap tablespoon cooked or raw baby peas
- 1 cooked or raw carrot chopped
- ½ teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
In a bowl, mix beef with hemp powder or other optional supplement powders like turmeric. Blend well and spread on LickiMat®. Press some into the surface for extra Lickable fun at the end of the meal. Scatter the vegetables over the surface. Add a bit of parsley to freshen breath.
Canned Fish and Vegetables
- 1 can fish – tuna, salmon sardines
- 1 tablespoon grated carrot
- ½ teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
Drain most of the oil from canned fish, or if the fish is in spring water use all or some of it on the LickiMat®. Using a fork, crush and spread the fish over the surface. Sprinkle on grated carrot and parsley. Optional use a tablespoon of cooked sweet potato or pumpkin chopped into small pieces. Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later.
Very Berry Delight
- Handful of fresh or frozen blueberries
- 2 tablesspoons natural yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon frozen raspberries
- 1 teaspoon peanut butter (xylitol-free)
Pop a fresh or frozen blueberry into all or some of the Slomo holes. On the bumpy sections spread about a tablespoon of yoghurt over each surface and sprinkle a few raspberries on top. Over the whole Slomo™, drizzle over xylitol-free peanut butter. Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later.
Pumpkin, Chicken and Coconut Mash
- ½ cooked pumpkin or sweet potato
- ½ teaspoon desiccated coconut
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped cooked chicken
Smash cooked pumpkin or sweet potato in a bowl. Add coconut oil and stir in well. Tip out blend onto LickiMat. Sprinkle with pieces of cooked chicken and desiccated coconut. Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later.
Chicken and Gravy
- Chopped cooked chicken
- Low sodium gravy
- Dill
Scatter chicken pieces over surface, drizzle with gravy and garnish with chopped fresh dill.
Coconut Chia Pudding
- 1 heap teaspoon chia seeds
- ½ cup low fat coconut milk
- Chopped strawberries
- Fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 teaspoon peanut butter (xylitol-free)
Soak chia seeds overnight in coconut milk. If the mixture looks too thick stir in extra coconut milk or water. Scrap into the Wobble™. Spread some over the bowl surface for more lickable fun. Add some fruit and a drizzle of peanut butter. Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later.
Raw Food and Vegetables
- ½ cup pet mince
- 1 heap tablespoon cooked or raw baby peas
- 1 cooked or raw carrot chopped
- ½ teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
Press the raw meat lightly onto the LickiMat®. Scatter the vegetables over the surface and add a bit of parsley to freshen breath. Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later. Adjust portion size to suit your pet.
Fruity Cream Cheese
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- ½ banana sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 teaspoon peanut butter (xylitol-free)
With a spatula or back of a spoon, spread cream cheese over Splash™ surface. Press banana slices onto the cheese and add a few blueberries. Drizzle over the peanut butter. Remember to keep center of Splash™ clear. Serve treat by pressing Splash onto tiled floor. If using on wall as a distractor, then use with just cream cheese and peanut butter. Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later.
Salmon Medley
- Cooked Salmon
- Smoked salmon
- 1 teaspoon cream
- ½ teaspoon dill
Break up cooked salmon into small chunks and place over Casper™ or Felix™. Optionally blend or chop finely to press into the surface. Lay over top pieces of smoked salmon and drizzle over a teaspoon of cream. Garnish with a little bit of chopped dill. Adjust portion size to suit your pet.
Mixed Fish and Kibble
- Fresh cooked fish e.g. salmon or a white fish
- Canned fish e.g. tuna, sardines
- Dry kibble
Chop up your choice of fish into small pieces and put into the pockets in the Slomo™. Add dry kibble to the bumpy section.
Beef and Vegetables
- Cooked beef or wet food
- Cooked carrot
- Cooked peas
- Fresh parsley or dill
Spread the meat over the LickiMat® and scatter the vegetables over the top. Sprinkle on chopped fresh herbs. Adjust portion size to suit your pet.
Thanks for reading 😊
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