Lick mats are a simple way to make your dog’s food last a little longer. Instead of eating straight from a bowl, food is spread across a textured surface, encouraging your dog to use their tongue to work their way around it.
They can be used as part of a meal, for enrichment or simply to give your dog something enjoyable to do. And you don’t need to fill them with lots of treats. Your dog’s normal food can make a great starting point.
As a nutritionist, I like to start with foods that are already part of your dog’s normal diet.
Using some of their usual meals means you can provide enrichment without accidentally adding lots of extra calories. Wet foods work particularly well because they can be pushed into the grooves of the mat and spread thinly across the surface.
You can also use dog-friendly foods to add some variety too!
Sometimes simple is best.
Spread some of your dog’s usual Forthglade wet food across the mat, making sure you push it into the different grooves and textures.
Using part of their normal meal is an easy way to introduce a lick mat without adding anything extra to their diet. It can also be useful for enthusiastic eaters because your dog has to work across the mat rather than taking large mouthfuls from a bowl.
Add a few blueberries to your dog’s usual Forthglade recipe for a little variety.
Blueberries contain fibre and naturally occurring plant compounds including anthocyanins. You don’t need many, so try gently squashing a few into the mat as you’re preparing it.
Bone broth works particularly well if you want to make a frozen lick mat.
Simply pour a little Forthglade Bone Broth Topper over the lick mat and place it flat in the freezer until frozen. Your dog then has to gradually lick the frozen broth from the different grooves.
It’s also a simple way to add some extra moisture to your dog’s day.
A small spoonful of plain natural yoghurt can add a different taste and texture to your dog’s lick mat. Try swirling some across your dog’s lick mat. You can even freeze it too! Choose plain, unsweetened yoghurt and check the ingredients carefully. Avoid products containing added sweeteners, particularly xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
Mash a small amount of banana and spread across the lick mat.
Banana provides fibre and potassium, but it also contains naturally occurring sugars, so a small amount is plenty.
Simply spread your dog’s usual Forthglade wet food across the mat and freeze it. It can be really handy for preparing lick mats ahead of time.
A lick mat doesn’t have to mean extra food.
One of the easiest approaches is to take a portion from your dog’s normal daily food allowance and use that on the mat. This is particularly useful if you use lick mats regularly.
If you add extras such as fruit or yoghurt, keep the portions small. Treats and extras should complement a complete and balanced diet rather than replacing it.
Always use a lick mat designed for dogs and supervise your dog while they use it. Some dogs may try to chew the mat once the food has gone, so remove it when they’ve finished.
Check that any additional ingredients are dog-friendly, and avoid foods that are toxic to dogs, including chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions and products containing xylitol.
You don’t need a long list of ingredients to make a lick mat interesting. Your dog’s usual Forthglade meal can be used on its own, frozen or combined with small amounts of dog-friendly foods. Forthglade Bone Broth Toppers can also be frozen directly onto the mat for another simple option.
The important thing is to think about the lick mat as part of your dog’s overall diet. Use some of their normal food where possible, keep extras small, and choose combinations that suit your individual dog.
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