Over the previous 5 years, I’ve watched lick mats change into one of many customary instruments for treating anxiousness 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 inform you 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, often with suction cups to connect it to the ground. The sample on the highest is designed to entice meals and make it exhausting to eat shortly. The goal is to get canines 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 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 tension & stress
- Boredom buster
- Sluggish feeding
- Uncooked feeding
- Environmental enrichment
- Bettering oral well being
A few of these makes use of make a whole lot 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 very food-motivated.
You may additionally use it as an assist to crate coaching and getting your canine accustomed to automobile journeys. It’s additionally a good way to alleviate stress in short-term 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 will probably clear the tongue, enamel and gums. Properly, as somebody who’s well-acquainted with the literature on what truly retains pets’ mouths clear, this assertion lacks any foundation in actual fact.
The truth is, the types 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 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 unhealthy breath attributable to tongues!
Are Lick Mats Calming?
One among my main issues not simply with lick mats however extra typically is the distinction between being busy and being completely happy. Whereas I feel these merchandise are nice for stopping anxiousness in annoying 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 treatments that really assist them.
Beware the producer declare that “the prolonged licking motion promoted by LickiMat releases a relaxing hormone”. Up to now there’s no proof for anxiousness discount with lick mats or any ‘hormone’ being launched. Sure, a mat would possibly 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 issues about security. Listed below are two methods.
Intestinal Obstruction & Hygiene
Prior to now month we have now seen two animals want veterinary consideration because 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 the beginning.
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 a whole lot 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
“It’s essential 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 dwelling alone, which in my opinion is insanity. Within the normal enthusiasm for something new, we’ve forgotten some fundamental guidelines.
It’s my robust 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 is likely to be at a decrease danger, however Tex exhibits us it will probably nonetheless occur, particularly with the softer silicone merchandise.
One other factor: be careful that these mats are correctly cleaned after every use. That is notably vital for those who’re utilizing them with uncooked meals. It might be sensible to purchase ones which are dishwasher protected.
What Can I Use As an alternative Of A Lick Mat?
I’m not against utilizing meals as a distraction after they should be left. When you do, I like to recommend gradual feeder bowls, Kong Wobblers, Bobalots and Nina Ottoson merchandise with lengthy monitor information of confirmed security. Or you’ll be able to disguise meals round the home or backyard.
To be honest, LickiMat make a ‘Tuff’ model, and even a keeper tray to make chewing tougher. However I’ve seen each the purple and black rubber Kongs destroyed and know solely too effectively how damaging a decided canine could be.
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By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his group right here.
