Lickimats are a great tool to provide enrichment to pets. Lickimat is designed to reduce anxiety and promote calm behavior in your pet by encouraging licking action and stimulating your pet's tongue. The extended licking action promoted by lickimat releases a calming hormone in both dogs and cats.
What is it and how does it work?
A lickimat is a rubber mat that dogs, cats or other animals lick off. The design on the mat traps the food making it take much longer than it normally would take a dog to eat their food or a treat. The slowing down of eating reduces risk of gastrointestinal upset.The licking action and production of saliva keeps gums and teeth healthy. Repetitive licking releases pleasurable and calming endorphins in dogs and other pets and is equivalent to how a person feels that natural high after running or exercising. Dogs feel relaxed after licking. Lickimats can be used to calm dogs during storms,when you have people visiting,grooming, bathing, nail trimming, vet visits. It is also a great way of keeping your pet busy while you are busy with a meeting.
Other pets like cats, racoons, mini pigs, big domestic pigs, horses, birds, pet rats all love lickimats just as much as dogs do.
What to put on lickimat?
Mashed bananas, xylitol-free peanut butter, baby food, pureed food, minced meat, cream cheese, crushed dog food, canned tuna are all wonderful foods to put on the lickimat. Essentially, any food that your pet is allowed to have can be spread on the mat.
How to clean your lickimat?
While most lickimats are dishwasher friendly, you can clean it by simply using a sponge and dishwater detergent. If you have used sticky foods like peanut butter, simply soak it for some time in warm soapy water and then clean it with brush or sponge