Lickimats are small textured rubbery mats designed to be smeared with meals, with the goal of encouraging canines to lick them clear. And, they’ve change into highly regarded with canine house owners lately.
I purchased some Lickimats and put them by means of their paces with my younger Lab Bonnie. And I’ve obtained the outcomes for you under. I’ll additionally share some attention-grabbing feedback about Lickimats from our Labrador Fb group.
In case you aren’t aware of the idea, I’ll simply clarify what Lickimats are used for first, and have a look at the claims which are made for his or her advantages.
Lickimat didn’t sponsor this text and the opinions are my very own. I’ve included some Amazon hyperlinks in case you need to purchase one, please notice that these are affiliate hyperlinks and should you make a purchase order after clicking on one, the Labrador web site will earn a small fee that doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.
What are Lickimats for?
The principle goal for Lickimat is to supply the canine with pleasure and leisure. And I ordered some for my canines as a result of I assumed that they could take pleasure in them, even when I used to be somewhat skeptical in regards to the advertising claims made by the producers!
I began by placing one teaspoon of moist pet food in a bowl for Bonnie and timed her consuming this. I then unfold the identical quantity over every Lickimat and timed her once more. The outcomes have been very totally different!
Earlier than I began, I assumed that if I give my canine a teaspoon of moist pet food, it might solely take her a second or two to swallow it. But when I smear the identical teaspoon throughout a Lickimat, then the pleasure of consuming it’s going to be prolonged considerably!
Simply how considerably, we’ll see in a second.
The producer makes fairly a number of different claims for Lickimats. They are saying that the mats:
- Calm and soothe pets
- Scale back crate coaching time
- Promote good dental well being
So I will likely be trying a bit extra carefully at these claims in a second
(paid hyperlink)Several types of Lickimat
There are a number of several types of Lickimat. Traditional Lickimats are available three totally different surfaces
- Playdate(paid hyperlink) (squares) for kibble, uncooked meat, or fish
- Soother(paid hyperlink) (dots) for runny meals
- Buddy(paid hyperlink) (crosses) for chunky, spreadable treats
Every mat sort is available in a number of totally different vibrant colours. There are additionally now totally different variations on the mat model. You purchase a Lickimat Tuff(paid hyperlink) for canines which are tough with their mats, and you may as well purchase the Lickimat Slomo(paid hyperlink) aimed toward speedy eaters (what Lab isn’t) and the Wobble(paid hyperlink) which is extra of a bowl.
(paid hyperlink)On the time of writing there’s additionally a Yoggie Pot(paid hyperlink) which appears enjoyable, and little question extra designs are within the pipeline
First impressions
For this overview I centered on the mat types. I ordered three totally different mats, the basic Soother, Buddy and Playdate.
My first impressions have been that the mats are fairly small, and thinner, than I used to be anticipating. I respect that they don’t seem to be chew toys, and never one thing you’d need to go away the canine alone with. However I used to be involved that Bonnie would simply need to decide the mat up and eat it! Or that it might slide round in all places.
(paid hyperlink)The moist meals take a look at
I used a pouch of Pedigree moist pet food for my moist meals take a look at. Bonnie is uncooked fed for essentially the most half. However I’m not a purist about uncooked feeding and I’m fairly glad for her to have kibble or industrial pet food often.
The outcomes
Bonnie took simply eleven seconds to eat the teaspoon of meals that I put right into a canine bowl. I really thought it might be a bit faster. However no large surprises there.
A few of the outcomes of this take a look at actually did shock me. Specifically, the huge distinction between the soother and the opposite two mats.
We examined the Playdate Lickimat(paid hyperlink) first. It took Bonnie over 5 minutes to wash it up. And he or she did handle to get nearly all of the meals off it.
The following mat we examined was the inexperienced Buddy(paid hyperlink) and she or he was somewhat faster with that one at round 4 minutes. Once more, she managed to lick this mat nearly clear.
Lastly, I gave her the blue Soother Lickimat(paid hyperlink). And this was the true shock. At 5 minutes Bonnie nonetheless had a lot to do, then ten minutes got here and went. And he or she lastly misplaced curiosity after over 16 minutes of licking.
This explicit mat is designed to be for extra liquid meals nevertheless it was fairly straightforward to unfold the moist pet food into it and a lot more practical than the opposite designs.
Observations
Bonnie put her all into the take a look at after all, and the blue mat sustained her curiosity for a reallly very long time. I began off with the primary mat on the desk nevertheless it was a lot simpler for her once I moved the mat to the ground.
I used to be happy to see that the mats didn’t slide round in any respect regardless of being on pretty slippery ceramic tiles. And I used to be stunned that Bonnie made no try to select them up.
In case you are considering of shopping for a Lickimat, I believe that the Soother model(paid hyperlink) is a very sensible choice. And if I may solely have one, that’s the one I might decide.
And should you scroll on down, you’ll have the ability to see what our Fb followers consider Lickimats too. However first let’s briefly have a look at these claims within the advertising blurb.
What about these claims?
So, does licking cut back stress and nervousness. Is it soothing and calming? And the way can a Lickimat assist hold your canine’s tooth clear?
Then there’s crate coaching. Can a Lickimat actually assist with that? Let’s check out the calming and soothing claims first.
Do Lickimats cut back stress?
Properly, it appears logical that canines may discover licking soothing, nevertheless it’s really fairly exhausting to pin down the proof.
The Kennel Membership state that “Licking performs an vital a part of how they bond with others, inflicting them to launch dopamine and endorphins that assist make them really feel relaxed, calm and glad.” An article by veterinarian Kasey Cease DVM makes the identical declare.
If licking does trigger a launch in dopamine and endorphins that may certainly counsel that licking could be a stress reliever. Sadly, neither the KC or Dr Cease state their sources. And I can’t discover a scientific examine that helps this declare.
Do Lickimats enhance dental well being?
Then there’s dental well being. Can Lickimats assist with that? Properly, canines do produce saliva whereas they’re licking. And with meals unfold on a Lickimat they’re taking longer to eat an identical quantity of meals than in the event that they swallowed it down in a single, so presumably which means extra saliva.
And canine saliva is barely alkaline which can supply safety in opposition to dental caries.
Whether or not a Lickimat session makes a lot distinction by way of affecting the general alkalinity of the canine’s mouth, I’m unsure that it does. And it might be attention-grabbing to see the proof that helps the motion of Lickimats in defending dental well being. Once more, I couldn’t discover any.
Do Lickimats assist with crate coaching
The reply to this one I believe, is “it relies upon”. I personally wouldn’t use them for this goal and I’ll clarify why.
Inserting an merchandise {that a} canine will take pleasure in licking or chewing on for a number of minutes may be useful in establishing a really feel good issue across the act of leaving your canine in a crate.
I often use frozen stuffed kongs for this goal, though generally, I discover that should you construct up your canine’s crate confidence appropriately in a structured method, you really don’t often want to do that.
Nevertheless, it will be significant that what you do go away in your canines crate can’t be chewed up and swallowed. Lickimat state fairly rightly that these mats should not chew toys, and it’s clear to me that they don’t seem to be constructed to face up to persistent chewing.
So I personally would solely use one beneath supervision
So what do I consider Lickimats?
Regardless of my reservations about their claims, I really actually liked these Lickimats and so did Bonnie. And I’ll undoubtedly be utilizing them usually for my canines, to not remedy issues, however merely as a completely fulfilling deal with.
I believe that Lickimats fall into the class of environmental enrichment.
Trendy feeding strategies are pretty unnatural. Our pets not need to forage or hunt for his or her meals, it’s typically simply served up in a bowl and swallowed in seconds.
Environmental enrichment goals to make the surroundings round an animal extra stimulating and attention-grabbing. And I believe Lickimats can contribute to that.
I do suppose that canines take pleasure in their Lickimat classes, and it feels instinctively proper to me, {that a} canine would profit from a extra prolonged time consuming than only one fast swallow.
What the Labrador group suppose?
Once I talked to our fb group about Lickimats there was an overwhelmingly favorable response. With a lot of nice options for what to unfold in your Lickimat, and when to make use of it.
(paid hyperlink)
Did anybody not like Lickimats?
One particular person stated that their canine ate the mat, and a pair stated that they have been having hassle cleansing theirs. Others made some useful options for fixing that, similar to placing it on the highest shelf of the dishwasher. Or utilizing an outdated toothbrush to loosen dried on residue.
I held mine beneath the tap after every take a look at and all of the residue rinsed off with none drawback. However I assume this may fluctuate a bit relying on what you unfold on them. For hygiene’s sake I later laid my mats on the highest rack of the dishwasher and ran them by means of on a fast wash. .
Utilizing your Lickimats
I’ll be loading my three mats up with one thing tasty, and freezing them, prepared for a second once I need to give the canines a reward or simply occupy them for a couple of minutes. Once I’m loading the dishwasher for instance.
That’s it for as we speak, however I’ll replace this once I’ve had a bit extra use out of those mats. I’m undoubtedly recommending the Soother Lickimat(paid hyperlink), and I’d like to understand how you utilize your Lickimats. You’ll be able to go away a remark under.
References
