What you'll find in Essential Foods' accessories
Accessories at Essential Foods are the practical items that make feeding easier in everyday life: bowls, storage boxes, bags for dry food, a pump for oil, as well as the two liquid supplements you pour on top of the meal. In other words, it's not the food itself, but everything that goes alongside the food bowl.
In short, the selection covers four needs. You can serve the food from a bowl or spread pâté and toppings on a licking mat. You can store the dry food dry and airtight in a food box or portion it into small bags for the walk. You can add liquid supplements such as fish oil or a joint supplement blend with the right pump. And you'll find a few extra items such as a cap and a lid solution for the pâté trays.
Below we go through the individual categories so you can quickly see what's relevant for your particular dog.
The Licking Mat for slower eating and calm
THE LICKING MAT is a licking mat with a patterned relief onto which you spread soft food: pâté, oil or a wet food blend. The dog has to lick the food out of the grooves instead of swallowing it, and this significantly extends the eating time compared to an ordinary bowl.
It's useful in two situations. For dogs that eat very fast, it provides slower intake and more chewing work. And the act of licking itself is a calming activity for many dogs, so a licking mat can be used as a distraction in situations where the dog is restless, for example during bathing, nail clipping or being home alone.
You can use it with dog pâté spread thinly, or with a dash of one of the oils below. If you'd like to read more about how a licking mat fits into everyday life, we've gathered some ideas in the article an everyday stroke of genius.
Omega 3 oil and Mobility blend as supplements on top of the meal
Two liquid supplements are poured on top of the daily meal. THE OMEGA 3 OIL is a fish oil that provides the long-chain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Omega 3 fatty acids are associated, among other things, with skin, coat and the maintenance of normal heart and circulatory function. The oil is available in 500 ml, in 1 litre, and in a pack with THE OMEGA 3 OIL, x 3 if you feed several dogs or want a supply at home. If you'd like to know more about what the oil does, you can read what is fish oil good for and what is omega 3.
ESSENTIAL the MOBILITY BLEND is a blend aimed at the musculoskeletal system, that is, joints and mobility. It is likewise available in 500 ml, 1 litre and a combined pack with THE MOBILITY BLEND, x 3. It is especially relevant for dogs that are getting on in years, large breeds, or dogs with a lot of activity that puts strain on the joints.
Both supplements are also sold as separate collections if you'd like to see the full range: The omega 3 oil and the mobility blend.
The Pump for precise dosing of the oil
THE PUMP is a dosing pump that attaches directly to the bottle of oil or mobility blend. It makes it easy to add a measured amount every day without pouring and without spilling over the edge of the bowl.
The advantage is consistency: when the amount is the same from day to day, it's easier to hit the right dose relative to the dog's size. The pump fits the bottles of the liquid supplements and is a small but practical addition if you use oil or blend regularly.
Food boxes and lids for dry food and pâté
Dry food keeps best when stored airtight and in the dark, so the fats in the food don't go rancid and the aroma is preserved. For this, the collection has two sizes: ESSENTIAL THE SMALL FOOD BOX for smaller bags and ESSENTIAL THE FOOD BOX for the large bags, for example if you buy dry food from highland Living - kibble or one of the other meal ranges.
If you use pâté, 1x Lid for PATÉ can be placed on an opened tray so the rest can be stored in the fridge without foil. It's practical if you split a tray across several meals.
The Essential Cup for measuring and The Little Bags for the walk
THE ESSENTIAL CUP is a measuring tool that makes it easy to serve the same amount of dry food every time instead of estimating by eye. The right portion size is one of the most overlooked parts of feeding, and if you need help getting it right, you can read how much should a dog eat.
THE LITTLE BAGS are small bags you fill with dry food and take along on the walk or to training. They come in a pack of 40 bags and in a bulk pack with THE LITTLE BAGS, 40 BAGS x 4. If you want to use the food itself as a reward during training, it makes good sense to keep an eye on the total amount, so that treats and training food don't tip the balance in the daily ration. We take a closer look at this in how many treats can a dog have.
Cap and Christmas gift for the dog owner
In addition to the functional accessories, you'll find a few items that aren't about feeding. ESSENTIAL the CAP is a cap for yourself, and CHRISTMAS DOG PRESENT is a Christmas gift idea for the dog. If you'd like to see more Christmas options, we've gathered them under CHRISTMAS.
