Unleashing the Truth: Merrick Dog Food Reviews You Can Trust

The Merrick Pet Care Company was founded by Garth Merrick in 1988.

The company began with the release of a line of dog treats that promoted oral hygiene, but it has since expanded into a line of handcrafted, all-natural pet foods (dry and wet) made using the highest quality ingredients available.

For many years, Merrick produced and manufactured their own products. In 2015, however, Merrick was sold to Purina PetCare company, a subsidiary of Nestle and the largest manufacturer of pet food products in the United States.

For more information about this company, kindly read over our Merrick Dog Food Reviews below.

Manufacturer Information

Merrick products are currently made by the Nestle Purina PetCare company. This company is the second-largest manufacturer in the world and the largest in the United States.

Though Nestle Purina PetCare sells their products all over the word, most of the products sold in the U.S. are also produced in the U.S.

According to the their website, all of their products are safely cooked in the USA, specifically in five-star manufacturing facilities located in Hereford, Texas.

Merrick Dog Food Reviews

The Merrick company follows the tagline, “whole health made right”, so you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that they use a variety of wholesome ingredients in their formulas.

Their pet foods all start with a high-quality source of animal protein that is supplemented with digestible carbohydrates, many of which are gluten-free and grain-free.

They don’t use any corn, wheat, or soy ingredients and all of their formulas are free from artificial additives. Simply put, their products are hard to beat when it comes to quality.

 

1. Classic Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe

Merrick Healthy Grains range offers nutritious recipes combining proteins, whole grains (including ancient grains), fruits, and vegetables. The formulas are rich in Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, fiber, chondroitin, and glucosamine, and are free from peas, lentils, and potatoes.

This recipe is tailored for adult dogs of all breeds, featuring real deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and salmon meal for a protein-rich, flavorful meal. 

With 26% high-quality protein, it supports high energy levels and lean muscle mass. Carbohydrate and fiber content comes from barley, oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice, with barley and quinoa being ancient grains that are nutrient-dense and less processed.

Ancient grains, like barley and quinoa, are linked to heart health, better digestion, and improved blood sugar. Barley provides beta glucans, protein, fat, selenium, iron, and thiamine, while quinoa offers protein, manganese, phosphorus, folate, zinc, and potent antioxidants.

Fats in the recipe include chicken fat, flaxseed, sunflower oil, and chia seeds, supplying natural omega fatty acids for healthy skin, fur, and immune system. Chicken fat and sunflower oil provide omega-6, chia seeds deliver omega-3, and flaxseed offers both omega-3 and omega-6.

The food includes added vitamins and minerals, with natural sources from organic dehydrated alfalfa meal, carrots, and apples for antioxidants and nutrients.

Merrick’s dry dog food delivers a balanced meal with high-quality proteins, fruits, veggies, and ancient grains, complemented by beneficial minor ingredients like chondroitin, glucosamine, probiotics, and yucca schidigera for joint health, digestion, and reduced stool odor.

2. Backcountry Great Plains Red Recipe

The Backcountry range offers protein-rich dog food inspired by ancestral diets, featuring grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes with real, freeze-dried raw pieces of fish, meat, or poultry, and freeze-dried raw-coated kibbles. Grain-free options use sweet potatoes for fiber and carbohydrates, while grain-inclusive options use brown rice, oatmeal, and barley.

The said Great Plains Red Recipe is a grain-free formula for adult dogs, featuring a blend of beef, lamb, salmon, pork, and rabbit, with a crude protein level of 38%. This high-protein diet supports muscle, immune system, and skin health, and is ideal for highly active, weight-managing, or working dogs.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes provide essential carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients like calcium, potassium, and iron. The recipe includes healthy fats from pork fat and sunflower oil, offering a balanced mix of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Additionally, the recipe incorporates fruits like apples and blueberries for natural nutrients, enhancing the overall balance and completeness of the diet.

The freeze-dried kibbles cater to dogs who enjoy a meaty taste, providing the benefits of a raw diet in a convenient form, perfect for active dogs with higher nutritional needs.

3. LID Real Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe

The Limited Ingredient range offers a simplified diet with ten key ingredients or less, ideal for dogs with food sensitivities.

Despite fewer ingredients, these recipes provide complete nutrition. This line includes both grain and grain-free options, free from chickpeas and lentils, and fortified with taurine and DL-Methionine for heart and urinary health.

This lamb & sweet potato dry food is a grain free formula free from common allergens like soy, corn, wheat, eggs, and dairy. It uses natural, whole foods, with deboned lamb and lamb meal as primary protein sources, followed by sweet potatoes and potatoes for carbohydrates and fiber.

Peas and pea protein add to the protein content, while sunflower oil and flaxseed supply healthy fats, promoting endurance and overall fitness.

The diet supports healthy skin and a shiny coat and avoids artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, ensuring a pure and natural meal for sensitive dogs.

4. Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe

Merrick’s grain free dry dog food range features recipes with up to 84% animal protein, starting with deboned meat and enhanced with whole foods like blueberries and sweet potatoes for balanced nutrition. These formulations provide leading levels of protein, chondroitin, glucosamine, Omega-3, and Omega-6 fatty acids, catering to specific ages and breed sizes.

Designed for adult maintenance of all breed sizes, the diet consists of 65% natural protein and fat ingredients, with the remaining 35% comprising fiber, produce, vitamins, minerals, and other natural components. Deboned beef is the primary ingredient, supported by lamb meal, salmon meal, whitefish meal, and beef liver, reaching a 34% crude protein level.

Salmon, rich in omega fatty acids, supports skin, coat, and immune health. Sweet potatoes and potatoes replace grains, providing quick energy. Pork fat, sunflower oil, flaxseed, and salmon oil contribute to a 15% fat content, enhancing omega fatty acids.

The inclusion of superfoods like apples, blueberries, and organic alfalfa meal adds natural vitamins and minerals. This kibble is made from high-quality, trusted sources, offering an ideal protein-to-other-ingredient ratio of 65% to 35%, ensuring a well-rounded, natural, and balanced diet for dogs.

5. Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato

Li’l Plates food formula is ideal for small breed dogs with big appetites, providing grain-free nutrition in small, crunchy kibbles that help keep teeth clean. 

These recipes are rich in protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin for bone and joint health, and feature prebiotics and probiotics for digestive support.

The reviewed Li’l Plates recipe uses salmon as the main protein source, starting with deboned salmon, followed by salmon meal and whitefish meal, achieving a crude protein level of 34%. Potatoes and sweet potatoes offer quick-absorbing carbohydrates for energy.

Healthy fats come from coconut oil, flaxseed, and sunflower oil, promoting shiny coats and healthy skin. The recipe also includes dried organic alfalfa meal, apples, and blueberries for natural vitamins and minerals.

This Merrick grain free dry dog food meets the high nutritional needs of small dogs with fast metabolisms, using every ingredient purposefully without fillers, earning high praise for its formulation.

6. Cowboy Cookout

Inspired by Texas beef cookouts, This wet food recipe features real deboned USDA-inspected beef, vegetables, and fruits in rich gravy.

This high-protein meal is versatile, serving as a standalone meal, treat, or kibble topper, and is free from artificial preservatives, corn, soy, and fillers, making it ideal for food-sensitive dogs.

The revised recipe excludes peas and sweet potatoes, with a slight change in guaranteed analysis: protein content decreased from 9% to 8%, while moisture increased from 81% to 82%.

Deboned beef is the primary protein source, complemented by beef broth and beef liver, which enhance nutrient content and taste.

Chicken broth boosts moisture and nutrient content. Flaxseed oil and salmon oil provide omega-3 and -6 fatty acids for healthy skin, fur, and heart, and flaxseed oil also aids digestion.

Carrots, apples, and green beans offer antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The recipe includes supplemental nutrition, natural binders, and an herb to reduce waste odor. This balanced and flavorful recipe meets the nutritional needs of adult dogs.

7. LID Canned Lamb Recipe