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Licking mats are extremely popular, especially because they are a type of mental supplement that promises many benefits such as promoting oral health, reducing anxiety, and solving behavioral problems. We’ve had a lot of luck with them ourselves — but what does the science say? Can they really do all they ask? And what should you really put on your dog’s licking mat?
We have reviewed some popular lick carpet on the market and consult with Dr. Krista A. Sirois, DVM, to find out if licking mats are worth it — and what you should really use them for.
What is a dog licking mat?
Usually made of TPR rubber or silicone, licking mats come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Their textured surface locks spreadable food into place—making your dog work a little harder for their meal or dinner.
Most simple model look like Hyper Pet IQ licking mat. Each of these standard licking pads has four quadrants to accommodate peanut butter, or whatever treats are preferred. Style “Calm” has a stricter pattern, while “Reward” provides a deeper texture. Measuring 8 square inches, they’re made of food-grade rubber, clean quickly in the sink (or dishwasher) and can be frozen or microwaved. Flexible silicones tend to keep them in place, but for particularly enthusiastic lickers, there are carpet with suction cup.
The Hyper Pet IQ mat is a good example of a standard licking mat.
Bowl-style licking mat created for messy eaters and pet parents who want to feed tougher foods, like wet dog food. The LickiMat Wobblefor example, keep food in one place and offer a challenge: since it doesn’t lie flat, your dog will have to work a little harder to get all the tasty treats inside — combine the challenge of a licking mat and the joy of a jigsaw puzzle. (Pro tip: You can also flip them inside out, spread the food on the outside, and freeze them for the inverted dome challenge.)
Then there are carpet licking the walllike Aquapaw suction coasters, which is meant to stick on vertical surfaces like the shower or the side walls of the tub to make bathing and grooming time easier. They can also be used during car trips, vet visits, and other often stressful situations. While the Aquapaw pad is a bit smaller, it still provides a challenge — and One Rover test dog found it perfect for bath time.
Aquapaw wall licking mat to make bath time easier.
What Is Lick Carpet Good For?
Some pet parents use licking mats as an alternative to feeding bowls, because they Encourage slower eating habitshelps promote better digestion — and reduces the risk of fast eaters losing their dinner as quickly as they’ve finished it.
Carpet licking is also said to be great for oral health, as they can stimulate your pet’s tongue and increase salvia production, which then helps clean the tongue, teeth and gums. Sirois’s Dr Paz Veterinary Medicine in Austin, Texasrecommends that pet parents shouldn’t neglect brushing, noting that licking mats can help a little with oral health but aren’t the only thing that keeps your dog’s teeth clean. “If a dog gnaws on the rug, there will be some friction mainly in the front teeth and not the side and back teeth, which is where it is needed most,” she said.
Test puppy Rover Oscar cleans his front teeth in pursuit of peanut butter.
Carpet licking also received a lot of press like anxiety relief tool. Licking is thought to have a self-soothing effect that helps release dopamine in dogs’ brains – ultimately helping them calm down in stressful situations. Dr. Sirois doesn’t think licking is inherently gentle, but she believes patterned rugs have a lot of potential for distraction, which is useful in situations where a dog might be nervous.
Finally, licking mats are often suggested as solutions to boredom-based behavior problems, as they provide mental stimulation. “Any item that intrigues or interests dogs is a form of mental stimulation, and carpet licking requires them to think a little bit about how to get food out of those crevices,” says Dr. best”. She goes on to note that because licking mats can distract dogs from scary and stressful things, they can be a good tool in a complete behavioral treatment plan.
What the experts say about dog licking mats
Dr. Sirois recommends using licking mats as a distraction during anxiety-provoking events like vet visits, storms, bath time, grooming, or when visitors come in — basically, anything What could be stressing your dog?
While anything that is contagious and non-toxic to dogs can be placed on a licking mat — think Safe peanut butter for dogs, pressed cheese, baby food, canned dog food, yogurt, etc. — Dr. Sirois recommends pairing foods that are appropriate for the occasion. “If you’re using a licking mat to distract from a stressful situation, you’ll want to use something more fun for your dog,” she says. “By just keeping them interested and busy at home, less exciting options can work.”
Using a licking mat can also help determine your dog’s threshold in certain situations. “If your dog doesn’t want to eat from a licking rug covered with very high-value treats, that’s a sign that their stress levels are high,” says Dr.
Bowl-style licking mats are popular for slow eaters.
When choosing a mat, she also recommends using foods that are lower in fat and calories when possible. And most importantly, keep an eye on your pet so they don’t tear the pad and eat its pieces. “Always let your pet lick the carpet under supervision,” she says.
Do you need a dog pad?
While licking mats may not have the cleaning and soothing superpowers their biggest fans claim, they can still be extremely helpful in training and management plans. In particular, we think they are great for:
- Energetic dogs need calmer activity to help them return to a state of euphoria after a walk or hike.
- Anxious dogs may benefit from additional distraction around a trigger
- Typical stressful situations like thunderstorms, vet visits, bath time and grooming
- Fast goblins (goblins?) Need help slowing down during mealtime
However, dog licking mats may not be the best nutritious choice for some puppies, including:
- Super rodents and easily exterminated dogs
- Dogs are easily frustrated by food puzzles
- Puppies and their shark-like chompers
- Dogs that have no food motivation or don’t like to lick their meals/snack
And a word for the wise. As Dr. Sirois pointed out earlier, it’s important to keep an eye on the extra calories that licking mat filler can add to your puppy’s daily intake. While peanut butter for dogs and other high-value fillers are great because occasionally snacking, lower-calorie options like pumpkin and apple sauce are better for daily use, especially if your dog uses use their licking mats a lot.
How we choose licking mats for our dogs
The carpet licking featured here to be selected based above one combination of the ours private practice tested, comprehensively reviewed customer reviews across multiple retail platforms, and interviewed veterinary experts, including Rover’s Dog People Panel. We chose these licks carpets based on their durability, texture and flexibility. We are also guided by our own experience of living and playing with our own much-loved and steadfast pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
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