As a pet owner, you may have noticed your furry friends engaging in repetitive behaviors that are often signs of anxiety or boredom. Whether it's excessive licking, pacing, or chewing, these symptoms can lead to long-term health concerns, both physically and mentally. Fortunately, there's a simple solution to help calm your pets and provide them with a soothing and enjoyable experience that they'll love: lick mats. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of lick mats for dogs and cats, including the nutritional value of different things to put on a lick mat, and how these simple devices can lessen anxiety and benefit your furry friend's overall health.
Relieve Anxiety and Boredom
Did you know that 40% of pets suffer from anxiety-related behavioral problems? Licking activates the pleasure center of a pet's brain and can be a calming, soothing activity for them. By using their paws and tongues to lick at the mat, dogs or cats will be less likely to engage in destructive behavior or other negative symptoms that result from anxiety. Lick mats for dogs and cats can be used as part of routine ‘me time’ for your furry friend, helping them to stay relaxed, content, and in good mental health.
Improve Physical Health
Not only does licking provide a mental boost for pets, but it can also promote salivation and healthy teeth and gums. Lick mats often have different textured surfaces, which can help scrub away plaque and bacteria from your pet's teeth. In some cases, lick mats and licking are used as a physical therapy tool, to help rebuild strength in the jaw and neck muscles after an injury or illness. This doesn't happen overnight but with time and consistency, you will begin to notice the improvements in your pet's health and mood.
Nutritional Value
Lick mats provide an excellent opportunity to incorporate a range of healthy foods and healthy supplements into your pet's diet that they may not usually consume or be happy taking. You can use things like yoghurt, peanut butter, pureed chicken, and fish on the mat. It's essential to always research and make sure that the ingredients you use are safe for your pets. Some food options with a high nutritional value that you can put on lick mats include frozen broth cubes, diced fruits, and veggies, or a spoonful of turmeric.
Fun and Interactive Activity
Pets can get bored and restless, especially if they’re left alone for extended periods. Lick mats provide a stimulating and interactive activity that keeps them entertained while also improving their overall health. Depending on your pet's size and appetite, you can increase the difficulty level of the puzzle by using larger cubes or larger lick mats that have many different areas to explore. Smaller lick mats have more limited space, limiting the number of licks per session.
Simple to Use and Easy to Clean
One of the best things about lick mats is that they are super easy to use and maintain. You only need to fill the mat with a healthy snack, and your pet will do the rest. It's also easy to clean, and some models even come with a dishwasher-friendly feature that makes maintenance a breeze.
Braxton's Carries:
LickiMat® Classics
Playdate™ has discrete pockets that will contain food. Liquids are easier to manage and keep separate from other food or treats.
Buddy™ has a more complex surface and still allows separation of foods and treats.
Soother™ is exactly what the name says. It allows soft and liquid foods to be licked out with extra tongue simulation.
LickiMat Tuff™
LickiMat Tuff mats are suitable for raw, wet, dry and liquid dog food, as well as any manner of dog treats and spreads. Made with the extra durability for the determined tongues and teeth!
LickiMat Slomo™
Designed to combine dry, wet, raw and especially soft or liquid dog foods and treats on the same time without creating a mess.
LickiMat Wobble™
Wobbles are designed to combine wet, raw and especially soft or liquid dog foods and treats. Wobbles are extremely well suited to freezing liquid treats and spreads - even freezing different liquids in layers, with or without solid treats added into the mix so that your dog can spend hours working through the treat and finding more surprises.
Note: With the 4th of July right around the corner, test out a lick mat if your pet gets anxiety from the loud noises and see if it can help make the holiday better for your pet!
In conclusion, lick mats are an amazing tool that any pet owner should consider investing in. They’re an inexpensive and effective way to reduce anxiety and help improve the physical and mental health of your furry friend. By incorporating a range of healthy food options and engaging your pet with an interactive puzzle, they'll be happier and healthier in no time. Whether you have a dog or a cat, lick mats are an excellent investment that you and your pet are sure to love.