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In the world of pet care, innovation continues to play a significant role in ensuring our furry friends lead happy and enriched lives. One such innovation is the LickiMat, a versatile and ingenious product designed to enhance your pet's overall well-being. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of LickiMats, uncovering the benefits and the various ways you can use them to provide your pet with the enrichment they deserve.
LickiMats are no ordinary pet treat dispensers; they are sophisticated technical products meticulously designed to cater to the specific needs of both dogs and cats. These ingenious pet accessories are built around specialized licking surfaces that interact with various foods and treats, offering a wide range of benefits for your furry companion.
These innovative mats are not just a source of entertainment; they serve as anxiety relievers, treat makers, slow feeders, training aids, boredom busters, tongue cleaners, and all-round life enrichment products for pets. Such is the effectiveness of LickiMats that they come highly recommended by pet trainers worldwide.
What is the LickiMat?
LickiMats are not just products; they are a result of passion and expertise. Designed by veterinarians, these unique and versatile items are created for pet lovers and pet owners alike. Their primary objective is to enhance your pet's mental health, digestion, and oral hygiene.
The essence of the LickiMat range is rooted in a challenge/reward-based treat delivery system that engages pets over a more extended period while delivering small portions of their favorite treats or food. LickiMats are more than just fun; they are medical-free tools that promote calm behavior in your pet, particularly during those challenging times, like when they are home alone or facing stressful situations like thunderstorms.
Let's dive deeper into the key benefits that these remarkable pet accessories offer:
LickiMats work as effective anxiety relievers. They have a calming effect on your pet as they indulge in their favorite treat. By encouraging licking action and stimulating your pet's tongue, LickiMats promote the release of a calming hormone in both dogs and cats.
LickiMats contribute to your pet's oral health. By stimulating their tongue, these mats increase saliva production, which, in turn, helps clean the tongue, teeth, and gums. Additionally, the scraping action on the tongue freshens your pet's breath. Furthermore, the increased saliva production aids in digestion, as it contains essential enzymes such as Amylase.
It's not just pet owners who find LickiMats invaluable; pet groomers and veterinarians rely on these products to keep pets busy and distracted during grooming, bathing, and veterinary procedures. The entire range of LickiMat models can be effectively used for these purposes, with the Splash™ model even featuring a suction cup for convenient wall mounting.
LickiMats are also excellent tools for promoting slower feeding in your pet, whether they prefer wet or dry food. Dry food naturally fills the spaces in specific models like Buddy™ and Playdate™, while wet food can be pressed in using the back of a spoon or a spatula. However, larger dog breeds may require more than one LickiMat if you intend to use them as feeders.
The versatility of LickiMats extends to the timing of their use. Animal behaviorists, veterinarians, and dog trainers have confirmed that incorporating LickiMats into your pet's routine can provide them with a pleasurable experience. By doing so regularly, you reinforce the connection between this pleasurable experience and other events, such as you leaving home. This shift in association can transform what was once an anxious experience into a pleasant one.
The most common use of LickiMats for dogs is to support them when they are dealing with separation anxiety due to your absence. It's essential, however, that your dog is fully trained, and you use appropriate foods on the LickiMat model you possess. Through repetition, your dog will associate your departure with a pleasant experience, effectively changing the nature of the transition from negative and anxious to positive and soothing. This concept is at the core of positive reinforcement in dog training.
But that's not all; you can use LickiMats to distract your dog on various occasions when you need them to remain quiet and engaged, be it during your dinner or other activities where you require their cooperation.
Will My Dog Chew and Destroy the LickiMat?One common concern among pet owners is the possibility of their dog chewing and destroying the LickiMat. To ensure your pet's safety, it's essential to be confident that your dog will not chew the LickiMat. When introducing your dog to LickiMats, it's advisable to supervise them closely and observe their behavior and interaction with the mat and different treats. If your dog displays any tendency to chew the mat, it's best to remove it to avoid any potential harm.
LickiMats are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The product range includes various models tailored for different purposes:
The LickiMat Wobble: This model adds an element of fun and challenge by rolling around and requiring your dog to work to lick the treat spread on the inside.
The LickiMat Slomo: Designed to allow the serving of raw, wet, dry, and liquid foods (as well as treats) simultaneously, this model is an elegant feeder that minimizes mess.
For an enriching experience with your LickiMat, consider these tips and tricks:
Spread your dog’s favorite wet food on a LickiMat using the back of a spoon or a spatula.Get creative with your pet's LickiMat experiences, and you'll likely discover new ways to keep them engaged and content.
Can I Use the LickiMat as a Feeder?Absolutely! Small dogs especially enjoy feeding off a LickiMat. These mats are suitable for use as wet or dry food dog feeders, and the SloMo™ model is specially designed to be a combination wet and dry feeder.
Can I Freeze a LickiMat?Yes, you can! Freezing a LickiMat can add an exciting dimension to your pet's treat time. You can even stack multiple LickiMats in the freezer, making it easier to pull one out whenever you need it.
Should I Try More Than One Type of LickiMat?Variety is the spice of life, and that applies to LickiMats too. Different surfaces on various models are suited for different types of treats, whether they are solid, chunky, or liquid. Additionally, the surfaces respond differently to pressure from your pet's tongue. So, it's worth experimenting with different LickiMat models, including Buddy, Playdate, and Wobble, to discover which one your pet prefers.
In conclusion, LickiMats are a game-changer in the world of pet enrichment. These technical products, developed by veterinarians, offer a range of benefits that go beyond mere entertainment. They promote calm behavior, improve oral health, and provide numerous applications, from pet grooming to mealtime. Whether you're addressing separation anxiety or simply want to keep your pet engaged and happy, LickiMats are a fantastic choice.
We invite you to share your experiences with LickiMats in the comments below. How have they enriched your pet's life? Do you have any tips or tricks to share with fellow pet owners? We'd love to hear from you!
