Over the previous 5 years, I’ve watched lick mats develop into one of many commonplace instruments for treating nervousness and tedium in canines and cats. That’s very true for the branded model LickiMat®.
They’re an ideal assist, and I’m not going to let you know to not use them. However I need you to watch out.
What Is A Lick Mat?
A lick mat is a textured flat floor made out of rubber, often with suction cups to connect it to the ground. The sample on the highest is designed to lure meals and make it onerous to eat shortly. The intention is to get canines and cats to spend their time in licking as an alternative of different undesirable behaviours, or to alleviate boredom and nervousness. In contrast to different sluggish feeders, licky mats promote licking behaviour, as an alternative of meals searching for or foraging.
Makes use of For A LickiMat
The makes use of being promoted for the LickiMat® on their web site embody:
- Leisure & distraction
- Discount of hysteria & stress
- Boredom buster
- Sluggish feeding
- Uncooked feeding
- Environmental enrichment
- Enhancing oral well being
A few of these makes use of make lots of sense. A lick mat is a good way to get a canine to tolerate disagreeable conditions like bathing, grooming, nail clipping and vet visits. That’s solely as long as your canine is extremely food-motivated.
You may additionally use it as an assist to crate coaching and getting your canine accustomed to automotive journeys. It’s additionally a good way to alleviate stress in momentary conditions, like fireworks and thunderstorms, or house owners leaving the home.
So what’s the issue? Firstly, a number of the claims make little or no sense.
Do Lick Mats Enhance Oral Well being?
LickiMat’s producers declare that by stimulating saliva manufacturing it may clear the tongue, enamel and gums. Nicely, as somebody who’s well-acquainted with the literature on what really retains pets’ mouths clear, this assertion lacks any foundation in reality.
In reality, the kinds of treats getting used on these mats ought to logically make periodontal illness worse, not higher. At all times do not forget that periodontal illness in canines and cats follows the identical course because it does in people: you wouldn’t count on your enamel to be higher by licking peanut butter off a rubber tray both.
What concerning the declare that scraping the tongue freshens your pet’s breath? Ludicrous. I’ve been a vet for near 30 years, and I’ve by no means but seen dangerous breath attributable to tongues!
Are Lick Mats Calming?
One in all my main considerations not simply with lick mats however extra usually is the distinction between being busy and being completely satisfied. Whereas I feel these merchandise are nice for stopping nervousness in traumatic conditions, it’s an enormous declare to say that such merchandise enhance nervousness that’s already current. As with my complaints about Adaptil and Feliway, such claims may cease canine and cat house owners selecting treatments that truly assist them.
Beware the producer declare that “the prolonged licking motion promoted by LickiMat releases a relaxing hormone”. To date there’s no proof for nervousness discount with lick mats or any ‘hormone’ being launched. Sure, a mat may preserve them busy and fewer vulnerable to expressing anxious behaviours, however that’s not the identical factor.
These two complaints are minor quibbles in contrast with my considerations about security. Listed below are two methods.
Intestinal Obstruction & Hygiene
Previously month now we have seen two animals want veterinary consideration on account of lick mats.
The primary is a canine known as Murphy. He was left alone with a lick mat for only a second, and promptly chewed it up and swallowed it. Fortunately his house owners instantly noticed what occurred and introduced him down. That’s his vomit within the image at first.
The second is Tex the cat. He ate a chunk of his lick mat with out anybody noticing. When he began vomiting, his proprietor realised what was mistaken. That’s his x-ray beneath; the white rectangle in his stomach is the piece, now blocking his intestines.
There’s additionally an image above of that piece matched with the remainder of the mat, after we took it out. With out main surgical procedure, he would have been in lots of hassle. The identical might have been true for Murphy after all.
This could come as no shock. Vets have all the time stated that something flavoured like meals, however not digestible is extraordinarily harmful. So right here’s the newly up to date record:
- corn cobs
- satay sticks
- icecream sticks
- meat wrapping
- cooked bones
- lick mats
How To Use Lick Mats Extra Safely
“You will need to totally prepare your canine earlier than leaving her/him alone with a LickiMat.” So say LickiMat.
These merchandise are being promoted for pets left residence alone, which for my part is insanity. Within the basic enthusiasm for something new, we’ve forgotten some fundamental guidelines.
It’s my sturdy view that no canine must be left alone with a lick mat. Even after ‘coaching’, no matter that’s. There’s no telling when a canine will get annoyed and simply chew it up. Cats could be at a decrease threat, however Tex reveals us it may nonetheless occur, particularly with the softer silicone merchandise.
One other factor: be careful that these mats are correctly cleaned after every use. That is significantly necessary if you happen to’re utilizing them with uncooked meals. It could be sensible to purchase ones which might be dishwasher secure.
What Can I Use As an alternative Of A Lick Mat?
I’m not against utilizing meals as a distraction after they must be left. Should you do, I like to recommend sluggish feeder bowls, Kong Wobblers, Bobalots and Nina Ottoson merchandise with lengthy monitor information of confirmed security. Or you possibly can cover meals round the home or backyard.
To be honest, LickiMat make a ‘Tuff’ model, and even a keeper tray to make chewing more durable. However I’ve seen each the pink and black rubber Kongs destroyed and know solely too effectively how damaging a decided canine might be.
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By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his group right here.
