Product Lines And Offerings
Like humans, dogs can be different in many ways. This is why one kind of dog food will not be good for all canines. The various product lines offer a solution for this.;
With these, you can always choose the right food for your dog according to his age or individual dietary needs.;
I want to point out in advance that both brands offer food for dogs with all life stages and dietary needs. My goal here now will be to compare the number of offerings.
Taste Of The Wild Vs Merrick: Big Comparison
In this part of my article, I will compare the two brands based on as many aspects as possible. I look at the average ingredients and the offerings.;
I will also examine and compare two products of the two brands Limited Ingredient line.
I am confident that we can get a real picture of which brand is better by comparing these recipes.
I will also include some additional products from the two brands.
Is Merrick Better Than Purina
According to our average data, Merrick typically provides less protein than Purina Pro Plan. However, this difference is relatively small and doesnt represent a significant difference between the two brands. In addition, Purina Pro Plan wet cat foods also provide more protein than Merrick wet foods.
Also Check: How To Know If Your Dog Is Allergic To Food
How Expensive Is Merrick
As is to be expected with a dog food made from real whole food ingredients, Merrick isnt cheap. But it is certainly not as expensive as some premium dog foods brands. Given the quality of the ingredients, it is reasonably priced. For instance, at the time of writing, Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food is available to purchase onlone at Chewy.com for $53.98 for a 25lb bag, which is equivalent of $2.16/lb.
About Merrick Dog Food
Merrick first game on the pet food scene in 1988, and at the time, they were a small company that specialized in natural dog treats. But over the years, they become more invested in offering pets the premium quality dog food that the need to meet their nutritional needs.
Merricks philosophy is simple: they believe that dogs should be fed the best possible food. To that end, all of the products they make contain natural ingredients that are sourced from local farmers and most reputable suppliers. Additionally, all of their ingredients are approved by the FDA and other agencies that ensure the quality of pet food. Put simply, Merrick is one of the highest quality dog foods on the market today and for the past 30 years!
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How Much Merrick Costs
The Merrick brand is a high-quality brand, so you should be prepared to spend more than you would for an average kibble. The different product lines of Merrick dog food vary in price with the Backcountry line being the most expensive and the Classic line being the most affordable.
The Backcountry line of dry foods ranges from $63 to $80 for a 22-pound bag. For 25-pound bag of Classic dry food you will spend between $35 and $68. You can purchase 13.2-ounce or 12.7-ounce cans of wet dog in cases of 12 for $30 to $45 which gives you an average price of around $3.10 per can.
Why You Should Feed Your Pet Merrick Dog Food
When it comes to selecting food for your pet, you want to ensure that you are choosing a product that has an outstanding reputation and is fully committed to crafting the absolute best quality foods. Thats exactly what you will get when you choose Merrick.
Their recipes include all natural ingredients, including:
- Protein that is sourced from real animals and is carefully deboned to ensure the safety of your pet. The meats they use include chicken, turkey, salmon, lamb, pork, venison, buffalo, and more. Protein is always the first ingredient in all of their recipes to ensure easy digestion, great taste, and maximum nourishment for their joints and bones.
- Natural fruits and vegetables are mixed into every type of Merrick dog food. This produce is provided by local farmers and includes things like sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, blueberries, apples, green beans, and much more! These natural fruits and vegetables further infuse their food with the vital nutrients that dogs require, and also help to further enhance the flavor.
- All Merrick products are infused with essential vitamins and minerals, such as glucosamine, zinc, phosphorus, B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, omega fatty acids, amino acids, and many more!
The Bottom Line
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Pedigree Dog Food
Is Merrick Considered A Healthy Dog Food
All Merrick dog foods meet dog food nutrient guidelines published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Each recipe is considered complete and balanced for specific life stages according to nutrient standards posted by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C.
Merrick Dog Food Vs Purina One Dog Food
| Dry Dog Food |
| 7.1% |
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your dog’s diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
According to our data, Merrick guarantees 3.87% more protein than Purina One. Although this difference is relatively small, it’s still a notable difference. For wet dog foods, Purina One and Merrick provide roughly the same amount of protein.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog’s body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.
Merrick and Purina One both provide roughly the same amount of crude fat. For wet dog foods, Purina One provides more fat .
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands. With regards to wet dog food, Merrick and Purina One also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
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Best Dog Food For Puppies : Merrick Grain Free Dry Puppy Food Chicken + Sweet Potato
The dry puppy food from Merrick has a lot of the same qualities as we talked about above for their adult line – locally sourced ingredients, real de-boned meat, and no grains or other bad fillers. There really isn’t much to not like about what Merrick is doing. The puppy product line has some great added benefits that their customers love over the competition, like added DHA for brain development. It also has other vitamins and minerals to help with physical development. The chicken and sweet potato recipe is absolutely loved by most of the puppies who try it – it’s one of their highest rated recipes.
What We Like
Taste Of The Wild Product Lines
Taste of the Wild has three main lines. The standard formula, Ancient Grains formula, and Prey formula.;
The Standard formula is the most varied, with 9 dry and 5 wet foods. Each standard recipe is grain-free. You can find the right food for every life stage in this line.;
Ancient Grains recipes include special grains such as grain sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seed. According to the manufacturer, they have excellent nutritional value. They contain a lot of fiber and protein, not to mention vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. You can choose from four variations. All are suitable for dogs of all life stages.
The Prey line contains 3 products. This is practically the limited ingredient line of the brand. These foods are also suitable for dogs of all ages.
There are two recipes in the Standard line that are made specifically for puppies. These are the High Prairie Puppy Recipe and the Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe. Both have excellent ratings.
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Merrick Backcountry Alpine Rabbit Stew
Merrick Backcountry Alpine Rabbit Stew is a grain-free diet thats packed with big pieces of meat and fresh-cut veggies in a hearty gravy. Its designed to build healthy muscles and high energy levels in adult dogs of all breed sizes.
The Alpine Rabbit Stew has undergone a slight recipe change. It now features an extra broth aside from turkey broth , and the potatoes and carrots from the previous recipe were removed. It also contains more turkey liver now than peas and a higher crude protein content .
Real deboned rabbit is the first ingredient. Rabbit is rarely used in dog food and as such, is considered a novel protein. If your pet is sensitive to meats other than chicken and turkey , this formula might be a good alternative.
Rabbit is low in sodium, calories , and cholesterol , but it has a generous proportion of protein. In fact, rabbit protein is higher than the protein content of chicken, pork, duck, turkey, or fish. Its also abundant in vitamin B12, phosphorus, and selenium.
To take the moisture content to its present high of 82%, two types of broth were included. Chicken and turkey broth help keep dogs hydrated and filled with the nutrients that come from the two animal broth sources. To think that broths are just flavored water would be a mistake. These contain lots of nutrition, and they also make the wet food more enticing to dogs.
The guaranteed analysis for the Backcountry Alpine Rabbit Stew recipe is found below:
Rating: 5/5 stars
Discussion Of Most Important Ingredients Good And Bad
Here were going to take a closer;look at the first ten ingredients in;Merrick Grain Free Chicken and Sweet Potato recipe.
Its 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.
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Merrick Grain Free Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Recipe
This 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:
- The small kibbles are good for smaller breeds, as well as large.
- Its grain-free formula may be good for dogs with sensitive stomachs or who have allergies.
- Made in the USA from quality ingredients.
- Contains chelated vitamins and minerals to help give your dog a balanced diet.
Cons:
thumbs-down
- While its advertised as made in the USA, its not necessarily made from American ingredients.
- Some customer reviews indicate dogs have been sick or had loose stools after switching to this food, but this is a minority.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diets
If you have a dog with a sensitive stomach or an allergy, the best thing you can do is buy food with limited ingredients for your dog. The less in such cases, the more. With this method, you can rule out potentially problematic sources of protein or carbohydrates.;
According to the manufacturer, there are ten or fewer key ingredients in these recipes, plus added vitamins and minerals. A total of twelve recipes are included, 5 dry and 7 wet foods.;
You can choose grain-free and non-grain-free options. The source of protein in each case is some real meat, fish, or poultry. Each of these products contains omega fatty acids for a healthy brain, skin, and coat.
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Merrick Dog Food Ingredients
Quoted from the manufacturers website: MerrickPetCare.com
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Natural Flavor, Chicken Fat , Salmon Meal , Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Blueberries, Organic Alfalfa, Salmon Oil, Salt, Minerals , Vitamins , Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.
Merrick Lil Plates Grain
This Lil Plates recipe is designed especially for toy and small breed dogs. I think it is a good choice for active toy or small breed dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers or Beagles. The high protein and fat contents make it unsuitable for inactive or typically active dogs.
The omega fatty acids are reasonably high so it will be suitable for long-coated dogs. It also contains high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin . So, for dogs already suffering from joint problems, this food can help relieve pain and repair cartilage damage.
Merrick also includes a strain of probiotic bacteria called Bacillus coagulans, which can help little dogs with digestive problems like diarrhea, as well as prevent conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
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Best Dog Food For Small Breeds : Bil
This Bil-Jac recipe is formulated with small dogs in mind, and the best small breed recipe we found among the competition. It has small, easy to chew bites and the three primary ingredients are chicken, oatmeal, and yams. This recipe is great for small senior dogs as well – if you mix with a little bit of water or wet food, this food softens up easily and is chewable by pretty much any dog, even ones with arthritis or bad teeth. Bil-Jac Small Breed Select also has naturally sourced Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to help your dog maintain a strong coat, and other vitamins to support their immune system. Check out our full review of the Bil-Jac Small Breed Select.
What We Like
Is Merrick Dog Food Complete And Balanced
MerrickMerrickcomplete and balanceddogsfood
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 recall includes all of the following products with best-before dates of 5/19/2017 9/1/2019.
Secondly, is Merrick dog food owned by Purina? July 21, 2015 According to a Yahoo! news report, Nestle Purina PetCare Company has purchased Merrick Pet Care in a recent buyout agreement. Merrick Pet Care was founded in 1988. The company is a leading producer of natural and organic pet foods. Merrick’s foods are made in the USA.
Hereof, is Merrick a good dog food brand?
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.
What is the healthiest dog food on the market?
Top Healthy Dog Food Picks
- Ollie’s Healthy Turkey Fare.
- Merrick Grain Free Dog Food.
- Taste of the Wild.
- Wellness Core Natural Grain Free.
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Why Does It Matter Where Your Dog Food Is Made
Simply put, there are more regulations in the U.S. than abroad when it comes to pet food production. This allows overseas manufacturers to cut corners with more heavily processed ingredients and other low quality ingredients like propylene glycol, which is commonly found in antifreeze. Simply put: dog food made in the USA is a safer bet more often than not.
What Do Others Say About Merrick
As of the time of this update
Chewy customers rate Merrick Grain-Free 4.6 out of 5 stars and 93% say they would recommend it to others.
Heres an actual user review
Sample buyer reviewIm one to constantly look for the best to feed my dogs. I believe in researching ingredients and paying attention to the order in which they are listed on the product itself. Im even ultra-particular when it comes to the water that they drink. All of this combined is leading to long lives for my two Corgis. I switched from another famous natural brand to Merrick chicken and sweet potato based on what I read from other people, the ingredient list and the history of the Merrick product. Theres no question that dogs, like people, do better with quality foods as opposed to foods lacking in certain proteins, vitamins and minerals. Merrick is a premium food of which, my dogs will benefit highly. I recommend this completely.
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Best Poultry Free Dog Food : Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain Free And Poultry Free Salmon
In our opinion, Castor & Pollux Pristine Salmon recipe is the best option out there if you want to stick with a grain free and poultry free recipe. The #1 ingredient is salmon, followed by real fruits and vegetables that you can actually see in the bag! Along with these wholesome ingredients, Pristine is packed with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids , calcium , and contains zero synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides. This recipe contains zero soy, corn, or wheat as well. Pristine is a good fit for pretty much any dog size or breed, and is typically for dogs in their adult stage of life . Pristine is just one of the product lines for Castor & Pollux, who also make great recipes under their Organix product line.
We also really liked their Natural Ultramix, but unfortunately they stopped producing it. You can check out our full review of Natural Ultramix for more.
What We Like