Frozen Recipes With a Lickimat

A lickimat is a grooved mat designed to entertain and mentally stimulate pets, mostly dogs but they can be used with almost any pet that likes to lick. It’s crafted from pet safe, non-toxic materials and features a textured surface ideal for spreading treats or soft foods like yoghurt, peanut butter, or pureed vegetables. Some lickimats are flexible in design while others are more rigid. 

As your pooch licks the mat, they enjoy a prolonged treat experience that promotes calming behaviours and even helps reduce anxiety. The licking action has soothing benefits and can support oral health by scraping the tongue and promoting saliva production. Using a Lickimat is an effective and enjoyable way to keep pets engaged while providing a treat that isn’t gobbled down in just two bites. 

Utilising a lickimat offers a number of benefits for both you and your furry friend, extending beyond just entertainment. First and foremost, it encourages slower eating habits, which can reduce the risk of bloating and indigestion. When dogs eat too quickly, they can swallow excess air, leading to discomfort. By spreading food on a lickimat, the mat's textured surface requires more effort and time to lick clean, naturally slowing your dog's eating pace. 

Lickimats provide a form of mental stimulation. Licking releases endorphins, which are calming hormones, helping to reduce anxiety and stress in dogs. This can be particularly useful during stressful situations such as thunderstorms or fireworks or even when the weather is too hot to take your pooch on the long walks they’re used to.  

Feeding enrichment, like using a lickimat, also taps into your dog's innate foraging instincts. In the wild, dogs would spend a considerable amount of time searching and working for food. Domesticated dogs often miss out on this natural behaviour, leading to boredom and sometimes destructive activities. A lickimat taps into your pup’s need to keep busy working for their food is a great way to harness it.  

Incorporating a Lickimat into your four-legged friend’s routine can promote dental health. The repetitive licking action increases saliva production, which helps clean the tongue, teeth, and gums. This can reduce the buildup of bacteria and prevent bad breath. All in all, the benefits of using a lickimat and incorporating feeding enrichment are countless. 

Freezing a Lickimat enhances its benefits by making the treat last significantly longer, which is perfect when you want to extend your pup’s engagement with the activity. The cold temperature provides an excellent way to help cool them down, especially during sweltering summer days. This extended engagement also means that you can leave them home alone with a longer lasting treat, managing their time more effectively and reducing potential separation anxiety. The physical act of licking a cold surface can be both refreshing and mentally stimulating, keeping your pooch entertained and satisfied for a longer period. 

The beauty of using a lickimat lies in the variety of treats you can offer, allowing you to get creative and tailor the experience to your dog's preferences and nutritional needs. Freezing an assortment of ingredients not only keeps your pooch entertained but allows you to introduce new textures and flavours to their diet. This culinary flexibility ensures that your dog never gets bored while also promoting a balanced diet and improved mental stimulation. 

Peamutt Butter for dogs is a specially crafted spread designed to offer the delicious taste of peanut butter while ensuring the safety and health of dogs. Unlike regular peanut butter made for human consumption, Peamutt Butter is free from harmful additives such as xylitol, salts, and sugars that can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. This dog safe alternative is rich in proteins, healthy fats, and essential vitamins like vitamin E and B, which contribute to your pup’s overall health.  

A frozen peanut better lickimat is perfect on a warm day. At room temperature, peanut butter is easily spreadable and hardens into a delicious frozen treat in the freezer. You can make it even more luxurious by mixing in some greek yoghurt for a boost of calcium so it’s even more creamy and spreadable for your pooch to enjoy.  

Frozzy’s Strawberry Frozen Yogurt offers a delightful and healthy treat option for your dog that stands out for its numerous benefits. It’s low in fat and free from artificial additives to ensure a wholesome snacking experience. Packed with probiotics that support digestive health, it even helps to maintain a balanced gut flora for your furry companion. Rich in calcium and protein, it supports the growth of strong bones and muscles, contributing to overall well-being. 

The refreshing texture of frozen yoghurt on a lickimat can also help keep your dog cool during hot weather, making it an ideal summer treat. The benefit of using a frozen treat on a lickimat is that you don’t need to prepare their mat beforehand. You can simply grab the frozen tub and spread it on their lickimat to feed it directly to them. If it melts you can refreeze it but it’s easy enough to make in a few minutes that you can cut preparation time. It’s perfect for a last minute treat. As it melts, the creamy yoghurt will sink further into the lickimat’s crevices making it last longer.  

You can even add some tasty fresh or frozen fruit to top off their lickimat to make it even more nutritionally beneficial and cooling for your pooch.  

Using salmon pate as a healthy treat for your canine companion is an excellent way to provide them with a delicious and nutritious reward. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to support skin and coat health, reduce inflammation, and benefit overall heart health. It’s a great choice for a source of high-quality protein vital for muscle maintenance and energy. JR Pet Products Pure Salmon Pate is made from 100% natural ingredients, ensuring that your beloved pet receives a treat free from artificial additives, preservatives, and fillers.  

Its soft texture makes it easy to use to spread and the high meat content will even please picky eaters. The pate texture makes it a great option for packing onto a lickimat to cool your pooch down and keep them occupied. While you’re making it you can even add some extra sources of protein like some dried chicken treats to make it an enjoyable meaty treat. As the pate melts, they will be able to pick and lick off the bonus treats.  

Creating a lickimat for your pup by transforming their dry food into a mushy paste is an easy way to provide a stimulating and rewarding experience without upsetting their carefully balanced diet. Start by soaking their regular dry food in water until it softens into a paste-like consistency. This method allows you to repurpose your dog's daily diet into an engaging activity, which is particularly beneficial if your pet is on a strict diet.  

By using their usual food, you can ensure they enjoy a fun treat without any dietary disruptions. To prepare a frozen lickimat, spread the mushy paste evenly across the mat and place it in the freezer for a few hours. This frozen treat will not only keep your dog entertained but also help soothe their gums, especially during hot weather. Even pups who aren’t able to experiment with different treat foods and those trying to watch their figure and reduce extra calories can have a nice frozen activity feeder.  

There you have it, three delicious and nutritious frozen recipes perfect for your lickimat. These treats will keep your canine companion cool, happy, and mentally stimulated. They’re easy to make and packed with healthy ingredients. Ready to try these recipes? Visit us in store and online to find your own fun ways to make meals and treat time more engaging.