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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Licky mats

34 replies

Juniper68 · 07/01/2022 22:22

Has anyone had one? I just got one for my elderly dog as licking apparently settles dogs and stops them being so bored.

He's used it twice and just got it today. Am hoping he's not as restless tonight?

OP posts:
OverByYer · 07/01/2022 22:23

Oh interesting. My dog has taken to licking excessively ( her self) this might be something to help her too.

PermanentlyDizzy · 07/01/2022 22:49

Yes, my old boy absolutely loves his. His favourite ‘topping’ is a bit of natural yoghurt with smushed banana. Well, honestly, his favourite is peanut butter, but the end result of that in his case is horrendous wind!

Other things we put in/on it:

Cottage cheese and blueberries
Some of the tinned dog food he usually has with his kibble
Sardines
Liver paste
Kibble soaked in bone broth and smushed (this works better frozen)

All devoured with gusto. You can freeze them in the summer so they last longer and cool the dog down as well.

If he was more stable on his legs these days I would buy him one of the wobbly bowl shaped ones as well, because he’s always loved chasing treat dispensing balls and kong wobblers. As it is, he has to have his licky mat on a raised box, against a cupboard these days, as he’s not able to reach down to it anymore. I’m thinking about getting one of the ones with suckers on the back (designed for use in the bath) and seeing if it will stick to the wall or kitchen units.

He loves his snuffle mat as well. He has it at that same time every afternoon and it’s the highlight of his day - outside his sniffy walks. He starts nagging for it a good half-an-hour before it’s due and gets so excited when we set it up. Smile

Original poster
Juniper68 · 07/01/2022 22:49

@OverByYer

Oh interesting. My dog has taken to licking excessively ( her self) this might be something to help her too.
Yes it may help? They aren't expensive. I put some creme fraiche on his. He doesn't like peanut butter. You can put wet dog food on it. I might try cream cheese as he loves cheese
OP posts:
Parkmama · 07/01/2022 23:17

Oh yes, we love a lick mat here! We raw feed and spread at least 1 meal a day of her food into the mat. When she was on kibble we soaked it in some water and mashed that in. Also peanut butter mixed with low fat yoghurt and some banana is nice. Slows down eating and stimulates them mentally 👍🏻

Original poster
Juniper68 · 07/01/2022 23:51

I'll try mashed banana with peanut butter but he doesn't seen to like peanut butter? He prefers meaty things.

OP posts:
QueenOfToast · 08/01/2022 07:47

My dog likes squeezy cheese on his. If I'm being organised I freeze them beforehand so it's like a cheese ice lolly 🍦

SunshineOnKeith · 08/01/2022 08:06

The cheap sandwich meat pastes/potted meats are great for this

Mine particularly likes salmon paste
They're usually near the tuna in the supermarket
Licking is definitely good for elderly or anxious dogs as it reduces anxiety

Original poster
Juniper68 · 08/01/2022 08:10

@SunshineOnKeith

The cheap sandwich meat pastes/potted meats are great for this

Mine particularly likes salmon paste
They're usually near the tuna in the supermarket
Licking is definitely good for elderly or anxious dogs as it reduces anxiety

I did use some pate but I was worried about the salt? But I suppose there's salt in cheese and he has that.
OP posts:
SunshineOnKeith · 08/01/2022 08:15

I did use some pate but I was worried about the salt? But I suppose there's salt in cheese and he has that.

Don't use pate - the levels of vitamin A can cause problems as it's high in liver.

The cheap potted meats are just generic 'meat' so pretty safe and have a very low salt content

Original poster
Juniper68 · 08/01/2022 08:26

@SunshineOnKeith

I did use some pate but I was worried about the salt? But I suppose there's salt in cheese and he has that.

Don't use pate - the levels of vitamin A can cause problems as it's high in liver.

The cheap potted meats are just generic 'meat' so pretty safe and have a very low salt content

Thanks. Luckily it was a tiny amount.
OP posts:
Bebeschitt · 08/01/2022 08:45

Baby food is good because it's low salt and sugar.
We use a bit of peanut butter, mushed kibble, natural yogurt, mashed up left over veggies, fruit and then some dried sprats pushed into the mush. Yum.
I quarter the mat, it isn't all mushed together but I don't think she would mind if it was!
Tinned sardines are good too but she has these as a meal topper.

OverByYer · 08/01/2022 08:45

Oh I’ll get some meat paste. I’ve ordered a mat

MandyMotherOfBrian · 08/01/2022 08:50

I’m using one now for the dog I’m looking after. So far every time I’ve put it down, he’s picked it up and started chewing the side. He seems to think that’s an easier way to get the peanut butter off 🤦‍♀️ . He’s not the brightest. Bless him. 😂

HappyThursdays · 08/01/2022 09:05

Yes ours tried to eat it too so we had to give up on it!

Elmrosie · 08/01/2022 10:54

Ours destroyed one of the flexible mars and has chewed the corners of the tougher one. Peanut butter and yoghurt works well, as does baby food or the special dog pate made by JR pet products. Also, microwave a bit of cheese on it and let it go hard - that'll keep ours busy for a good 15 minutes.

Dizzywizz · 08/01/2022 11:13

Oh @SunshineOnKeith we put salmon pate on ours as it’s cheap, oops I best check the salt level

OverByYer · 08/01/2022 11:17

Baby food is a good shout too

MorningInspiration · 08/01/2022 11:21

If your dog is a chewer like ours get a slow bowl and put the mixture between the prongs. Our pup used to enjoy tearing the Mat apart. Same effect but tougher and safer for chewers!

Also with slow bowls we freeze with low salt chicken stock or natural yoghurt with chunks of apple in etc.

Lolalasagna · 08/01/2022 11:29

Mine likes peanut butter, yoghurt, primula or tinned pumpkin on hers. Or mash potato / veg on Sundays! We have a few and imo the best ones are the ones with the little nubbles on them - the ones with sort of square sections take a lot more to fill and the food gets stuck in the corners and is difficult to clean.

Fashionesta · 08/01/2022 12:01

We got one for ours when we were practicing leaving her home alone as a pup. It seemed to work. We used to fill it with squirty cream or peanut butter. We don't need it anymore but I think they are really useful when training younger dogs and Keeping them calm

PermanentlyDizzy · 08/01/2022 13:49

This is a good alternative to pate.

TurquoiseBaubles · 08/01/2022 13:55

Mine loved the licky mat I got him so much that he ate the entire thing Hmm. Has anyone got a link to a lab-proof mat?

He has a slow feeder and I think that makes a difference - it certainly slows his mealtimes and I also occasionally put a small amount of leftovers mushed between the prongs as a treat if I'm going out - potatoes and gravy, rice and chicken stock, that type of thing.

PermanentlyDizzy · 08/01/2022 14:39

@TurquoiseBaubles, what sort of slow feeder do you have? The Green Feeder was the best at slowing down my Lurcher. It would take him about 10 minutes to eat a whole meal from one of those.

Also, Lickimat do a range called Lickimat Tuff, that might work.

Yourownpersonaljesus · 09/01/2022 19:33

My dog loves salmon or trout mousse on hers:
www.fish4dogs.com/shop/dog/mousse-oil

BimbleBimble · 09/01/2022 20:47

Anything dog friendly and spreadable is what we use.

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