The Benefits of Lick Mats for Dogs
By Caitlyn Gose
Lick mats are becoming a more popular thing to dog parents now. Keeping their dogs busy and entertained. This mat lays flat on the floor and has all kinds of different shapes and ridges on it, encouraging your dog to lick it clean!
Lick mats can be used for many different purposes, a main one being slowing down your dog’s eating. However, there are more benefits to lick mats than most dog parents are aware of. If you want to learn more about the benefits of lick mats for dogs, then keep reading!
Benefit #1: Slows Down Eating
We all know how fast our dogs can scarf down their food… Incredibly fast. They act like you haven’t fed them since the week before. Eating too quickly causes your dog to swallow excess air along with their food, which can lead to painful bloating or even the regurgitation of their food.
Lick mats cause your dog to eat slower because they aren’t able to grab or bite their food with their teeth, they have to lick it. By licking the mat clean, no excess air is getting into your dog’s belly and causing painful bloating.
Some different foods to try on a lickmat could be:
- Wet Food
- Yogurt (Plain)
- Peanut Butter
- Minced Meat
- Pureed Vegetables
Benefit #2: Calming & Soothing
The action of licking is something that dogs find rather pleasurable, it actually releases “happy” chemicals (endorphins) in your dog’s brain! This soothes your pet and helps to calm them.
When you notice your dog starting to feel anxious or stressed, like when having guests over, give them something to lick on the mat. This should help them to settle down and relax. Their brains are now stimulated on the licking, not whatever else is going on.
Benefit #3: Beats Boredom
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being bored. When I’m bored, I look for something to do right away. This is why most dogs get destructive or act out, they’re bored! If you have a dog who likes to act out or destroy things, a licking mat could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Depending on what you put on the licking mat, it can take some time to lick clean. Especially something thick like peanut butter. This will ensure 25 minutes of fun, stimulating play for them!
Benefit #4: Supports Oral Health
All of the different ridges and grooves on a licking mat scrape your dog’s tongue, cleaning off bacteria and other particles. Licking the mat also causes the production of saliva, which keeps the teeth and gums healthy.
Licking mats help improve your dogs oral health overall, which is important to the rest of their bodies. When oral health starts declining, so does everything else.
Conclusion
Lick mats are a great item to look into if you are a dog parent. Especially if you have a dog who tends to act out or destroy things around your home. Instead of being bored and tearing up your shoes, your dog can now stimulate its brain for a short period of time.
Not only do lick mats help fast eaters, but they also have the benefits of being soothing, fun, and good for your dog’s oral health.
