Over the previous 5 years, I’ve watched lick mats grow to be one of many commonplace instruments for treating anxiousness and tedium in canine and cats. That’s very true for the branded model LickiMat®.
They’re a fantastic assist, and I’m not going to let you know to not use them. However I would like you to watch out.
What Is A Lick Mat?
A lick mat is a textured flat floor made out of rubber, normally with suction cups to connect it to the ground. The sample on the highest is designed to entice meals and make it onerous to eat shortly. The intention is to get canine and cats to spend their time in licking as an alternative of different undesirable behaviours, or to alleviate boredom and anxiousness. Not like different gradual feeders, licky mats promote licking behaviour, as an alternative of meals looking 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
- Gradual feeding
- Uncooked feeding
- Environmental enrichment
- Bettering oral well being
A few of these makes use of make loads 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 would additionally use it as an support to crate coaching and getting your canine accustomed to automotive journeys. It’s additionally a good way to alleviate stress in non permanent conditions, like fireworks and thunderstorms, or homeowners 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 could actually clear the tongue, enamel and gums. Properly, as somebody who’s well-acquainted with the literature on what really retains pets’ mouths clear, this assertion lacks any foundation in truth.
In truth, the kinds of treats getting used on these mats ought to logically make periodontal illness worse, not higher. At all times keep in mind that periodontal illness in canine and cats follows the identical course because it does in people: you wouldn’t anticipate your enamel to be higher by licking peanut butter off a rubber tray both.
What in regards to 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 brought on by tongues!
Are Lick Mats Calming?
Certainly one of my main considerations not simply with lick mats however extra usually is the distinction between being busy and being glad. Whereas I feel these merchandise are nice for stopping anxiousness in irritating conditions, it’s a giant declare to say that such merchandise enhance anxiousness that’s already current. As with my complaints about Adaptil and Feliway, such claims would possibly cease canine and cat homeowners selecting cures that truly assist them.
Beware the producer declare that “the prolonged licking motion promoted by LickiMat releases a chilled hormone”. Thus far there’s no proof for anxiousness discount with lick mats or any ‘hormone’ being launched. Sure, a mat would possibly maintain 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 homeowners 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 bit of his lick mat with out anybody noticing. When he began vomiting, his proprietor realised what was fallacious. That’s his x-ray under; 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 loads of hassle. The identical may 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 need to absolutely practice your canine earlier than leaving her/him alone with a LickiMat.” So say LickiMat.
These merchandise are being promoted for pets left house alone, which in my opinion is insanity. Within the normal enthusiasm for something new, we’ve forgotten some fundamental guidelines.
It’s my sturdy view that no canine ought to be left alone with a lick mat. Even after ‘coaching’, no matter that’s. There’s no telling when a canine will get pissed off and simply chew it up. Cats could be at a decrease danger, however Tex exhibits us it could actually 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 vital should you’re utilizing them with uncooked meals. It will be sensible to purchase ones which can be dishwasher secure.
What Can I Use As an alternative Of A Lick Mat?
I’m not against utilizing meals as a distraction once they must be left. If you happen to do, I like to recommend gradual feeder bowls, Kong Wobblers, Bobalots and Nina Ottoson merchandise with lengthy monitor data of confirmed security. Or you’ll be able to cover meals round the home or backyard.
To be truthful, LickiMat make a ‘Tuff’ model, and even a keeper tray to make chewing more durable. However I’ve seen each the purple and black rubber Kongs destroyed and know solely too nicely how harmful a decided canine could be.
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By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his workforce right here.
