Lick mats are one of the most effective methods for calming your dog down. For this, you will spread a mix of your dog’s favorite treats onto a dog-licking mat for your pup to lick away.
Using a lick mat encourages licking for your dog, which in turn leads to the production of endorphins in your dog’s brain. These endorphins help alleviate stress, allowing your dog to calm down.
But what foods are safe to use for a lick mat? Read on as we share some of our best Simple dog lick mat ideas and recipes!
Lick Mat Recipes For Dogs
When looking for dog lick mat recipes, look at the type of food used. Consider the calories your dog will intake with each session.
You should add at least two base ingredients or toppings in different spots of the dog lick mat if you hope to help with enrichment.
When choosing ingredients, make sure they are puppy friendly. For example, they do not contain harmful additives, such as salt and flavorings, which can be toxic for your puppy.
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What Can I Put On My Dog’s Lick Mat?What Else Do Dogs Like To Lick Besides Peanut Butter?
Dog Lick Mat Food Ideas
What Else Can You Put On A Dog Licking Mat?
Dog Lick Mat Food Ideas & Creative Food Ideas
Want Another Interesting Recipe? Why not use raw, low-fat ground beef?
Want A Sweet Puppy Lick Mat Recipes?
What Food Do Dogs Love; Can They Go On The Lick Mat?
4 Best Lick Smacking Mat Recipes for Dogs
Can You Freeze Lick Mats For Dogs?
What Are Some Of The Best Recipes You Can Freeze For Dogs On A Dog Lick Mat?
What Are The More Popular Spreads For A Lick Mat?
Can I Microwave A Lick Mat?
Popular Lick Mat Recipes You Can Microwave
Clever Ideas On How To Use A Lick Mat
Find 3 Best Lick Smacking Mat Recipes for Cats
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What Can I Put On My Dog’s Lick Mat?
Some 4 essential ingredients you can add to your dog’s lick mat include the following:
1. Mashed bananas: You can also pop the lick mat into the freezer if you want your dog to stay entertained for longer.2. You can add peanut butter. However, always avoid peanut butter with xylitol, as this can be extremely toxic for dogs.
3. You can further add plain Greek yogurt. Make sure that it is unflavored and does not contain additives or sugar. You can pop this into the freezer like bananas for an icy treat.
4. You can also add pumpkin puree, which your dog will absolutely love! Make sure to use plain pumpkin puree that isn’t loaded with sugars or additives.
What Else Do Dogs Like To Lick Besides Peanut Butter?
You can also use yogurt if you don’t have xylitol-free peanut butter. Dogs love yogurt because it tastes so good. And yogurt is also proven to be a great dietary supplement for your dog, loaded with calcium and protein.
However, make sure that your yogurt is free of any added sweeteners (plain or artificial) and is plain. Plain Greek yogurt is the best way to go. Simply spread it onto the lick man and allow your dog to lick away!
Dog Lick Mat Food Ideas
Some foods you can add to your dog’s lick mat include:
- Mashed bananas
- Veggie puree
- Fruit purees
- Meat broth
- Mashed sweet potato
- Canned fish like tuna or salmon
When adding vegetable puree, use only dog-friendly veggies such as kale, spinach, carrots, green beans, broccoli, and celery. Similarly, for fruit, make sure you avoid avocados or grapes that are toxic for dogs.
What Else Can You Put On A Dog Licking Mat?
If you are looking for more interesting lick-pad 4 ingredient recipes, you can use a unique combination of peanut butter, fresh fruit, and yogurt.
1. To start, add a thin layer of peanut butter that will act as your base.
2. Top it with their favorite smashed fruit, such as blueberries, apples, bananas, or oranges.
3.You can add a few tablespoons of plain yogurt to finish.
4. If you want to top off your base ingredient with something sweet, you can further use applesauce (make sure it is free of xylitol and sugar-free), oatmeal (precooked and with no sugar), or honey (in smaller quantities).
You can also use some of your dog’s favorite mashed or pureed fruit.
1. Take your ingredients and spread them out onto the lick mat before you serve them to your dog.2.You can also add a combination of two, such as applesauce and oatmeal!
Dog Lick Mat Food Ideas & Creative Food Ideas
Want Another Interesting Recipe? Why not use raw, low-fat ground beef?
- Add some minced (and steamed) broccoli and carrots to the mix.
- Top it all off with a bit of parsley.
- You can also add other dog-friendly herbs, such as rosemary or oregano.
- With your mix ready, spread it onto the lick mat and let your dog enjoy it!
Want A Sweet Puppy Lick Mat Recipes?
You can also fix your dog up with a sweet potato delight.
- For this, mash some sweet cooked potato.
- Mix in some plain yogurt and add a spoonful of honey.
- Mix well and spread onto the lick mat.
- You can also freeze before you serve your dog.
A quick fix is to use softened dog food spread onto a lick mat. You can add enrichment by sticking some of their favorite hard treats in spots around it. Make sure you use healthy and safe dog treats that won’t be toxic to your dog.
What Food Do Dogs Love; Can They Go On The Lick Mat?
Here are some foods that your dog will love that you can use for your lick mat recipe:
- Mashed cooked sweet potato
- Pure pumpkin puree
- Peanut butter (xylitol free)
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Cream cheese
- Beef Broth
- Chicken Broth
The best part? These are all safe and healthy treats for your dog!
4 Best Lick Smacking Mat Recipes for Dogs
1.Delicious Chicken Broth
If you want to make a recipe with puppy-friendly chicken or bone broth, here is one your dog will love!
1. Start by choosing protein (ground chicken or turkey) and spread it over your lick mat.2. If you want it to stick better, add some mashed vegetables on the bottom first.
3. For your vegetable side, you can add some steamed butternut squash (mashed) or cooked green peas (mashed).
4. Mix in a tablespoon of your chicken or bone broth to the mashed vegetables before you spread it over the lick mat. That’s all!
2. Irresistible Beef and Vegetables
For this dog lick mat recipe, you will need some low-fat, cooked ground beef.
1. Mix your ground beef with a portion of minced steamed broccoli and carrots (or substitute with a dog-friendly vegetable of your choice).2. Make sure you don’t use raw vegetables for this recipe; it won’t be healthy for your dog.
3. If your cooked beef isn’t binding, you can also add a bit of wet dog food to the mix.
4. Once your beef and vegetable mix is ready, spread it over your lick mat and Serve!
3.Yummy Beef Broth Recipe
Here's another fun and quick recipe for your dog, but we’ll be using beef broth instead.
1. Take some low sodium, low seasoning beef or bone broth and pour it onto your lick mat. If you're in a hurry, this is a fun treat.(Do not add any garlic or onion just keep it plain)2. Add a portion of cooked vegetables on the side; carrots, pumpkin, or potato will do, as long as they are cooked and cut into smaller bite-size pieces. This broth and vegetable lick mat will be a healthy treat for your dog!
4. Fun Banana Smoothie
If you want something sweeter to your dog's lick mat, why not give him a puppy-friendly banana smoothie?
1.Blend one banana with a few dollops of natural plain yogurt.2. You can then take this blend and spread it all over the lick mat.
3. If you are busy, you can also spread mashed bananas on one side and yogurt on the other side.
4. For additional nutritional benefits, add on some puppy-approved fruits such as blueberries, oranges, or apples to top it off.
Can You Freeze Lick Mats For Dogs?
Absolutely! Freezing the lick mat allows your dog to take longer to finish up, which can keep them engaged for longer periods. You can either freeze overnight or pop them in for a few hours; both will do!
What Are Some Of The Best Recipes You Can Freeze For Dogs On A Dog Lick Mat?
1. Take a few spoonfuls of cream cheese, and add mashed bananas to make a paste.2. Spread this over a lick mat and pop it into the freezer for at least half an hour.
3. You can also add some blueberries, which are a great source of antioxidants. This will soon become one of your dog’s favorites!
4. You can also use a mix of sweet mashed potato and plain yogurt. Spread onto the lick mat and freeze before you serve.
What Are The More Popular Spreads For A Lick Mat?
The most popular spreads for a lick mat include plain old dog food mixed with some water, peanut butter, mashed bananas, plain yogurt, cream cheese, or minced meat.
Can I Microwave A Lick Mat?
Most lick mats you find in the market are made using silicone which is microwave friendly, so yes, you can serve microwave meals to your dog using them!
Popular Lick Mat Recipes You Can Microwave
You can press minced beef to a lick mat before you microwave. Be sure to cover it with a cling wrap or baking paper to avoid spilling over any juices.
Alternatively, you can add canned fish such as sardines, tuna, or salmon. Once microwaved, serve the lick mat to your dog warm!
Clever Ideas On How To Use A Lick Mat
Lick mats are excellent for having your dog keep up with their nutritional needs by also making it fun and engaging. In addition, they offer a way to keep your pet focused and promote stimulation.
Here are some clever ideas on how to use lick mats:
If your pet is fussy about taking their medication, you can mix it into the lick mat instead!They also help reduce stress and anxiety among dogs, especially during events such as fireworks or thunderstorms.
If you also have a pet who has a habit of eating too fast, licking mats can prove to be a lifesaver.
You can also use it to distract your pet during bath time, or grooming!
There you have it, some of the top lick-mat ideas. You can use these lick-mat recipes for dogs and have them enjoy their treats in a New exciting way. Be sure to see our new lick mat here
