Tail-wagging good taste. Top nutrition and quality.Our Grain Free dog food recipes are specially crafted to deliver all the great taste and premium nutrition the best dog ever deserves. Merrick Grain Free Recipes feature up to 84% of protein from animal sources. They all start with real deboned meat and real whole foods like sweet potatoes, blueberries and more to provide grain free nutrition that’s complete and balanced—with leading levels of quality protein, plus Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids to ensure great looking, healthy skin and coat. Top marks in taste, quality, and nutrition? That’s a formula for grain free greatness. Show
Grain Free dog food offers recipes for adult maintenance, all life stages, and all breed sizes. At Merrick, we promise your pet will not only love the taste of our food, they’ll be happier and healthier, too. That’s why if you (or your pet) are not 100%, absolutely, totally, completely satisfied with Merrick, return it for your money back. We don’t just make the best food ever. We stand behind it. A Simplified DietTOTAL NUTRITION MADE WITH TEN INGREDIENTS OR LESS FOR EASIER DIGESTIONFor dogs with food sensitivities, less is a whole lot more. That’s why these recipes contain just ten key ingredients or less (fewer than leading natural Limited Ingredient Diet brands) plus vitamins and minerals—and deliver the complete, balanced nutrition dogs need, all in a mixture that’s delicious and easily digestible. Limited Ingredient Diet is best for adult dogs. Grain FreeCrafted with fiber-rich sweet potatoes, which are a high-quality source of carbohydrates for energy. Healthy GrainsCrafted with healthy grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley to help support healthy digestion.
At Merrick, we promise your pet will not only love the taste of our food, they’ll be happier and healthier, too. That’s why if you (or your pet) are not 100%, absolutely, totally, completely satisfied with Merrick, return it for your money back. We don’t just make the best food ever. We stand behind it. This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. © Depositphotos.com / ManushotIf I gave you five seconds to guess, could you name which dog food brands that stand out among the rest because of their quality, variety, and consistency? Come on, time’s almost up! As a responsible dog owner, you want the best for your four-legged friend, and that means you should learn more about the food they are eating! If you’re going to be giving your dog a particular food twice a day for years on end, you want to make sure it’s of good quality and will offer appropriate nutrition. But, it can be overwhelming to check out multiple sources and determine if a food is right for your dog. The good news is, we’ve done the legwork for you: This Merrick dog food review will tell you everything you need to know about the company, ingredients list, recall history and more. Then, you simply have to decide whether it’s the best option for your canine companion or not. At a Glance: 3 Formulas Featuring Heavily in our Merrick Dog Food Review
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Our OverviewIf you’re looking for a good quality dog food, you’re barking up the right tree with Merrick. This trusted brand has been going since 1988 and has developed a good name for itself as a premium pet food company. Although Merrick’s food is certainly premium in quality, it’s relatively affordable compared to some high-end brands. Human Grade Food Merrick uses human-grade ingredients in its food, which we appreciate. If it’s unsafe for human consumption, then why should we be feeding it to our pets? Variety Available There are plenty of grain-free options, but the company hasn’t gone totally grain-free. There’s nothing inherently wrong with feeding grains to dogs, and some thrive on grain-based foods, so we think this shows good common sense and that they’re not totally jumping on the grain-free bandwagon. The brand prides itself on providing good nutrition, so we think this is a healthy food for most dogs. Of course, there are a range of foods available and not all will be suitable for every dog. Looking at customer reviews and other internet commentaries, Merrick seems to be a trusted brand that provides good quality foods. We at LTHQ would recommend Merrick foods for most dogs. Who Makes Merrick Dog Food and Where is it Made?Garth Merrick founded Merrick Pet Care, Inc. back in 1988, in Amarillo, Texas. Up until recently, it was still a family owned and run business. However, in 2015, Merrick was bought out by Nestle-Purina.Despite this, Merrick has promised to keep production the same as before, and continue making their foods in Hereford, Texas. At the time of writing, there seem to be some reports that the formulas have changed slightly since the takeover. Either way, some people who were looking for an alternative to buying from pet food giants are disappointed and have switched to a different brand. Video SummaryThis video from Merrick introduces you to the company’s founder and tells you a little bit about the philosophy behind its dog foods. Merrick Dog Food IngredientsQuoted from the manufacturer’s website: MerrickPetCare.com
Discussion of Most Important Ingredients – Good and BadHere we’re going to take a closer look at the first ten ingredients in Merrick Grain Free Chicken and Sweet Potato recipe.
It’s also worth noting this dog food contains chelated vitamins and minerals which are more easily absorbed from the food. This will help your dog have a balanced diet and get all the nutrients they need. It also contains various probiotics — including Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product and Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product — which aid digestion and promote a healthy digestive system. Merrick Dog Food Guaranteed AnalysisQuoted from the manufacturer’s website: MerrickPetCare.com
* If an item has an *, this nutrient is not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Nutrient Profiles. Merrick Dog Food Recall HistoryUnfortunately, Merrick has had a few recalls with its pet foods and treats.We’ve listed all known recalls below: August 2011The most recent occurrence was back in August 2011, when the FDA announced a recall of Merrick Doggie Wishbone pet treats, Lot #11031, Best by Jan. 30, 2013. The reason for this was due to potential contamination with salmonella. January 2011In January 2011, the FDA announced a recall of Merrick Jr. Texas Taffy pet treats with all lot numbers up to and including 10364 (no “best before” date given). The reason for this was due to potential contamination with salmonella. July/August 2010In July/August, the FDA recalled two Merrick products: Merrick Beef Filet Squares, 10 oz., Lot #10084TL7, Best by March 24, 2012 and Merrick Texas Hold’ems pet treats, 10 oz., Lot #10127, Best by May 6, 2012. Again, this was due to a potential for salmonella.The good news is Merrick hasn’t had any recalls since 2011, so they must done something to rectify the problem, such as changing suppliers or procedures.The vast majority of manufacturers have the odd problem like this, so we don’t think it’s a valid reason not to trust the brand on the whole. You might also be interested in:
Formulas Merrick OffersIf you’re looking for choice, you’ll find a lot of different formulas offered by Merrick:
Flavors Merrick OffersHere we have a list of all the dried food flavors available from Merrick:
Sizes AvailableMerrick Grain Free and Classic varieties come in bags of 4lbs, 12lbs and 25lbs, whereas the Limited Ingredient Diet and Backcountry varieties come in bags of 4lbs, 12lbs and 22lbs. Some flavors of Merrick Classic also come in 15lb and 30lb bags. What Dogs Is Merrick For or Suited to?Merrick has a wide range of foods available, to suit a variety of dogs. Some formulas are going to be suited to particular dogs, however.
What Dogs Might do Better with A Different Brand?Not every dog food brand is right for every dog. These are some dogs that Merrick might not suit.
Merrick Dog Food ReviewsHere are just three of our favorite foods from Merrick’s extensive range. Merrick Grain Free Real Chicken and Sweet Potato RecipeThis grain-free formula contains 70 percent meat ingredients and 30 percent plant-based ingredients and vitamins. The main bulk of the carbohydrates come from sweet potatoes, which are both healthy and flavorful, whereas the meat is a mixture of chicken meal and fresh chicken. It contains plenty of the healthy fats a dog needs to stay in tip-top condition and is rich in omega fatty acids like Omega 6 and Omega 3 as well as Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Pros:thumbs-up
Cons:thumbs-down
Merrick Classic Real Chicken, Brown Rice and Green Pea RecipeMerrick Classic Real Chicken, Brown Rice and Green Pea Recipe is composed of 60 percent meat products, 20 percent fruits and vegetables and 20 percent whole grains. We like the addition of brown rice as the main source of carbohydrate. Rice is a good high fiber ingredient and is less likely to cause any kinds of reaction in sensitive dogs, compared to wheat and other gluten-containing ingredients. Pros:thumbs-up
Cons:thumbs-down
Merrick Backcountry Great Plains RecipeThis food is marketed as a “raw infused” formula, which basically means it’s a mixture of dry kibbles and freeze dried raw chunks. This is beneficial for someone who likes the idea of feeding raw, but doesn’t necessarily want to go the “whole hog,” literally or figuratively .At 38 percent protein, this might not be the ideal food for all dogs. Unless your dog is very active, it may be overkill. Pros:thumbs-up
Cons:thumbs-down
What Others are SayingUltimately, it’s not just our opinion that matters. Here’s what customers and other experts in the field have been saying. Dog Food Advisor:Dog Food Advisor generally considers Merrick to be a good quality brand with healthy ingredients that will suit the majority of dogs. They’ve rated the Classic range 4.5 stars out of 5, the Grain Free range 5 stars, the Backcountry range 5 stars and the Limited Ingredient Diet range 4 stars. Dog Food Guru:Dog Food Guru highly recommends Merrick’s “simplistic, yet innovative selection of all-natural dog food recipes.” They like that the foods contain quality ingredients and are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. The total rating given to Merrick is 8.8/10. However, it’s worth noting, the main place they lost points was on price, not quality. Amazon:We think it’s always worth checking out Amazon for its real customer reviews from previous buyers and current users. Using the grain free recipe as an example, you can read customer ratings and comments by clicking here. Now that you’ve read this article, we think you’ll agree that Merrick foods are a good choice for the majority of dogs. There is a wide range of options to suit all kinds of dietary requirements and needs, so we think it’s only the slim minority of dogs that won’t get on well with this brand. That said, it doesn’t cater specifically for seniors or large breeds (although most large breed adults will be fine on a regular adult food), which we think is an oversight. It’s also not the cheapest of choices, so it will be out of budget for some folks. We give it a total rating of 4.5 out of 5.Dog food image credits: © Chewy.com Please be aware this page contains affiliate links and LabradorTrainingHQ receives a small commission if you make any purchases through any such links. This has absolutely no effect on the eventual price that you pay and we are very grateful for your support. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. LabradorTrainingHQ.com assumes no responsibility or liability for the use or misuse of what’s written on this site. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Top Picks For Our Dogs
For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog. Merrick Dog Food Reviews Ingredients, Recall History and Our Rating was last modified: November 23rd, 2021 by Lauren Corona Does Merrick get ingredients from China?Merrick's foods are made in the USA. Most ingredients are grown by local farmers. And none are sourced from China. Nestle Purina is one of the nation's largest manufacturers of pet food and pet treat products.
Is Merrick limited ingredient dog food good?Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food receives the Advisor's mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.
Is Merrick dog food good for dogs with allergies?Merrick's limited ingredient diet is a good option for those dogs. This dry dog food is created using nine key ingredients including salmon, brown rice, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes—and most importantly no chicken or chicken by-product. It's also free of soy, corn, wheat, and eggs.
Has Merrick dog food been recalled?Merrick Pet Care has announced a voluntary recall of certain Castor & Pollux and Merrick Backcountry dog treats after one of the products was found to contain elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone. The problem was discovered as a result of a consumer complaint lodged with the US Food and Drug Administration.
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