1. Merrick Grain-Free Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3,740 kcal/kilogram or 460 kcal/cup
Min protein: 38%
Min fat: 17%
Max fiber: 3.50%
Max moisture: 11%
Omega 3 fatty acids (min) 0.4%; omega 6 fatty acids (min) 4.80%
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
With Glucosamine, Chondroitin and probiotics
First three ingredients: deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal
If you’re looking for a quality dog food that is very high in protein and moderately rich in healthy fats and that is grain-free, this is it. All Merrick grain free dog foods are very balanced and nutritious, but this particular recipe featuring chicken and sweet potatoes is one of the best kibbles out there. Ingredients such as deboned chicken, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, peas, chicken fat, salmon meal, flaxseed oil, apples, blueberries and many others make this dry dog food a delicious, nutritious and healthy feast.
With a whopping 38% of protein, this formula is best suited for highly active canines who thrive on high-protein diets. A bunch of healthy, fresh whole foods that are sourced from local farmers (Hereford, Texas) add all the necessary vitamins and minerals to the formula, while added probiotics help with digestion and better nutrient absorption. Of course, the kibble is also enriched with vitamins and minerals as well, so it offers a truly complete, balanced everyday nutrition. As a bonus, it contains plenty of Glucosamine and Chondroitin, highly beneficial supplements for canine health. And, like all Merrick dog foods, the kibble is free from artificial fillers of any kind.
2. Merrick Backcountry Raw Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3,618 kcal/kg or 362 kcal/cup
Min protein: 34%
Min fat: 16%
Max fiber: 3.5%
Max moisture: 11%
Omega 3 fatty acids (min) 0.3%; omega 6 fatty acids (min) 4%
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
With Glucosamine, Chondroitin and probiotics
First three ingredients: deboned salmon, salmon meal, whitefish meal
If you want the best of the best for your pet, you should check out the Merrick Backcountry dog foods, especially this recipe made with Salmon, Whitefish and Trout. This grain-free kibble contains three different fish as protein sources, thanks to which it’s rich in healthy fats, so necessary for healthy skin and shiny coat. Besides delicious fish, the formula also contains sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, apples, blueberries, salmon oil, alfalfa and other foods, making it highly nutritious and palatable.
This kibble contains raw fish pieces which not only pack excellent nutrients but delicious taste too – this will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. There is 34% of protein, which is very high and perfect for highly active pets or those who are still developing. The formula is also fortified with all important vitamins and minerals, and contains probiotics which are always a plus as they help with digestion. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are also present, which are good for bone and joint health. Of course, the kibble doesn’t contain any artificial colors, preservatives or flavors.
3. Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Dog Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3,210 kcal/kilogram or 360 kcal/cup
Min protein: 32%
Min fat: 8%
Max fiber: 5%
Max moisture: 11%
Omega 3 fatty acids (min) 0.30%; omega 6 fatty acids (min) 2.40%
Enriched with vitamins and minerals
With Glucosamine, Chondroitin and probiotics
First three ingredients: deboned beef, chicken meal, potatoes
Dogs who easily gain weight or are already on the heavier side should eat dog foods that support healthy weight and help them shed those excess pounds. The Healthy Weight recipe from Merrick is formulated to do just that – although it’s packed with protein and contains many healthy and delicious ingredients, this kibble somehow manages to be quite low in calories. This is mostly due to the fact it’s not high in fat – perfect for pets who are not particularly active.
With 32% of protein and only 8% of fat, this kibble is highly nutritious and provides plenty of energy without being high in calories. There are two main animal-based protein sources, beef and chicken meal, which are the first two ingredients (always a plus!). Turkey meal is also present, as well as sweet potatoes, peas, apples, blueberries, salmon oil and flaxseed oil. All of these ingredients make for a fantastic kibble which is not only very healthy but highly palatable too. There are added vitamins and minerals, as well as beneficial supplements, which ensure the formula has everything an adult canine needs in order to be healthy and fit. There are no artificial fillers of any kind.
4. Merrick Classic Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3,613 kcal/kg or 384 kcal/cup
Min protein: 30%
Min fat: 15%
Max fiber: 3.5%
Max moisture: 11%
Omega 3 fatty acids (min) 0.40%; omega 6 fatty acids (min) 4.0%
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
With Glucosamine, Chondroitin and added probiotics
First three ingredients: deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas
If your furry companion is generally healthy and doesn’t have any food sensitivities or digestion issues, dog foods that include whole grains are a much better choice than those that do not. This particular Merrick kibble is the perfect option as it features some of the best wholesome ingredients, including chicken, turkey, salmon, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, quinoa, apples, carrots, blueberries, chia seeds and many others. Basically, it’s a superfood kibble – ideal for most canines.
With a very well balanced ratio of protein to carbohydrates to fats, this dry dog food makes for a perfect everyday nutrition. There is 30% of protein and 15% of fat with quite a lot of omega-6 fatty acids. Whole grains and fresh produce ensure there are plenty of naturally present vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but the formula is also enriched with added supplements, including Glucosamine and Chondroitin. There are also added probiotics which help with gut health and proper nutrient absorption. As usual, the food is free from artificial preservatives, colors and flavors.
5. Merrick Grain Free All Breed Sizes Dog Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 930 kcal/kilogram or 348 kcal/can
Min protein: 9%
Min fat: 3%
Max fiber: 3%
Max moisture: 81%
Enriched with vitamins and minerals
First three ingredients: deboned beef, beef broth, peas
Puppies may be tiny but their nutritional needs are anything but. To develop properly and grow into healthy adult dogs, puppies need proper nutrition and plenty of essential vitamins and minerals in their everyday diet. This Merrick grain free puppy food is ideal as it contains everything a young pup needs and then some. Ingredients such as beef, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, flaxseed oil and salmon oil, make for a nutritious and highly palatable food that is also easily digestible – just what a growing puppy needs.
With 9% of protein per can and 3% of fat and fiber, this Merrick canned dog food can be used as a topper or as a stand-alone meal for puppies who prefer wet foods. All ingredients are packed into tasty home-style chunks which are easy on the small mouths. The formula is grain-free as many puppies have sensitive stomachs which can easily become irritated due to coarse grains. To provide a balanced everyday nutrition, the formula is fortified with all important vitamins and minerals, and equally important, it’s free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
6. Merrick Grain Free All Breeds Adult Dog Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 1309 kcal /kg or 471 kcal/can
Min protein: 9%
Min fat: 7%
Max fiber: 1.20%
Max moisture: 78%
Enriched with vitamins and minerals
First three ingredients: deboned beef, water sufficient for processing, deboned lamb
Looking for a super-delicious but also healthy wet recipe? All Merrick wet dog foods are worth checking out, but this particular formula tops them all. With three different animal-based protein sources, this canned food has everything a dog needs and wants. It’s highly nutritious, palatable, with an appealing texture – ideal as a food topper or even a stand-alone meal if your pooch is more into wet foods.
Ingredients such as beef, lamb, buffalo, salmon oil and flaxseed mean this recipe is packed with nutrients that support overall canine health and wellbeing. There is 9% of protein, which is pretty high for wet dog foods, and 7% of fat, which is again on the higher side when it comes to canned formulas. The food is fortified with all important minerals and vitamins, so it provides a balanced everyday nutrition. There are no grains present though, which means this recipe is best suited for dogs with super-sensitive stomachs. As usual, this is an artificial fillers-free dog food.
Best Merrick Dog Foods Review
If you’ve been thinking about purchasing Merrick’s dog foods, we hope our reviews were able to help you decide which formula is the best for your dog. However, if you’d like some more information about the brand, keep on reading. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about Merrick Pet Foods, including important information about the company itself, the ingredients they use in their products, as well as their food recalls. Finally, we also outline some of the most important pros and cons of the brand and their recipes. Without further ado, let’s get into the juicy stuff!
Merrick Dog Food Company Overview
Merrick Dog Food is a division of Merrick Pet Care, a company that makes pet foods for both cats and dogs. It started as a small family-owned business, founded by Garth Merrick in 1988. Garth, along with his wife Susie and their four children, founded the company at their ranch in Hereford, Texas, with the goal of making wholesome, healthy recipes for dogs and cats. But, as things usually go with small but successful family-owned businesses, the company was soon purchased by a much bigger and better-known brand – Nestlé Purine PetCare, which is a subsidiary of Nestlé.
Although there is nothing wrong with being under the wing of a big company, many pet parents don’t like when small business turn into giant consumer products companies, and Merrick was no exception. Today, a large number of dog and cat owners prefer buying from smaller brands as they believe companies owned by Nestle Purina PetCare have lower standards when it comes to formulating and producing pet foods. Do we agree? Not really – while reviewing different Merrick dog foods, we noticed that one thing was a constant across all formulas: quality protein mixed with wholesome, nutritious foods. All Merrick dog foods appear to have a very balanced ratio of protein to carbs to fats and none of the recipes contain questionable ingredients, including artificial fillers. All in all, we feel like this company has stayed true to their original goal – creating all-natural, healthy recipes that pets deserve.
Why Merrick Dog Food?
Merrick Pet Foods has a lot of positives, but its biggest plus is probably using whole meats that are fresh and locally sourced. This is something many pet parents greatly appreciate. The brand is also known for using low gluten grains, healthy fats and fresh produce. All these make for a high protein, low carb line of premium dog foods. So, it comes as no surprise that the company not only adheres to standards set by AAFCO, but pretty much exceeds them all: protein is always high and of excellent quality, fats are always healthy and present in plentiful amounts, and carbohydrates are always wholesome and slow-burning.
Merrick also offers a variety of dog foods. You can find anything from Merrick limited ingredient formulas, to grain-free recipes, to puppy foods. Basically, the company caters to a wide range of dog breeds, life stages and health issues. This makes it easy for the consumer to pick the right product – whether you have a puppy, or a senior dog with food sensitivities, or a picky eater who want nothing but super-delicious foods, you’re guaranteed to find it here. Take a look at our review of limited ingredient dog food for more options.
Merrick Dog Food Recalls
Like most highly popular pet food manufacturers, Merrick has had a few food recalls.
- July and August 2010: because of potentially containing salmonella, some Merrick pet foods were recalled. These were Merrick Beef Filet Squares and Merrick Texas Hold’ems pet treats.
- January and August 2011: next year, for the same reason (potential for salmonella), some pet foods were recalled. These were Merrick Jr. Texas Taffy pet treats and Merrick Doggie Wishbone pet treats.
- May 2018: finally, in May this year, Merrick had to recall several of it beef treats because of the potential for elevated beef thyroid present. These were: Backcountry Great Plains Real Beef Jerky, Backcountry Great Plains Real Beef Sausage Cuts and Backcountry Great Plains Real Steak Patties.
Merrick Dog Food Ingredient Analysis
Merrick dog foods are, in general, very well formulated. Pretty much all formulas (especially those on our Top Picks list) contain high amounts of protein, moderate to high amounts of healthy fats and just enough fiber. But when it comes to the Merrick dog food ingredients themselves, how does the company fare?
- Protein
All Merrick recipes use quality proteins – no exceptions. You’ll often see real, whole meats as the first ingredient, such as deboned chicken, beef, salmon, etc., as well as meat meals such as turkey meal, chicken meal, and so on. All in all, when it comes to protein, Merrick does it right. It’s also good to know that all their formulas are quite high in protein. This is great news for most canines, but may not be ideal if your furry friend suffers from kidney issues. Find out more about high protein dog food here.
- Carbohydrates
You’ll never see worthless fillers in Merrick formulas – in fact, the company uses some of the best carbohydrate sources out there, including sweet potatoes, peas, whole grains, and some fruits. They’re usually lower in carbs than most commercial dog food brands, but definitely not too low. Highly processed grains and fillers are never present and all recipes are free from soy, wheat and corn.
- Fats
Most of Merrick’s formulas are moderately rich in fats. As you probably already know, healthy fats are absolutely necessary for canine health, including healthy skin and coat. Many recipes contain chicken fat, salmon oil and flaxseed oil, which makes them high in omega-6 fatty acids, and relatively rich in omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, if there is one thing we’d change in Merrick recipes, it would be the content of omega-3 fatty acids – there could be more. For more options head over to our guide on fish oils for dogs.
- Micronutrients
Because Merrick dog foods contain such a variety of wholesome foods, including whole grains (the grain-containing recipes, of course), fresh vegetables and fruits, the formulas are already quite rich in naturally present vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. But each recipe is also fortified with all important supplements, including the always-beneficial Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which are important for bone and joint health. All dry formulas also contain probiotics which not only help with canine digestion but proper nutrient absorption as well.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Animal-based protein is always the first ingredient in all formulas. In fact, real whole meats are usually the first thing you see in Merrick pet foods
- Only natural, wholesome and nutritious ingredients are used, including meats, whole grains, vegetables and fruits
- All formulas adhere to the AAFCO standards
- Formulated with added supplements, including vitamins, minerals and probiotics
- No artificial fillers or additives
Cons
- On the expensive side (we counted the prices of Merrick dog foods as the negative, but we do feel it’s important to say that when it comes to pet foods you usually get what you pay for).
