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Merrick Dog Food Reviewed Pros & Cons Recall History Best Merrick Dog Food Recipes What Other Users Are Saying
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Review Summary
Our Final VerdictWe give Merrick Dog food a rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars.
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Garth Merrick founded Merrick Pet Care in 1988 out of a desire to create homemade food for his dog, Gracie. He crafted his recipes in Hereford, Texas, where the company still has offices. Merrick prides itself on producing food in the U.S. and sourcing ingredients directly from farmers. One of the brand’s most popular recipes, Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato, supports the state’s ranchers.
Merrick is a premium pet food brand that offers an impressive array of recipes. There is a formula to fit almost any dog’s dietary needs. Merrick is known for its charitable contributions to organizations like K9s for Warriors and Austin Pets Alive!
At a Glance: The Best Merrick Dog Food Recipes:
Merrick has dozens of high-quality recipes, often adding to their line-up. It wasn’t easy to choose our five favorites which are listed below.
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Favorite
|
 | Merrick Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food |
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|
 | Merrick Classic Small Breed Recipe |
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|
 | Merrick Backcountry Grain-Free Dog Food |
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 | Merrick Senior Recipe Dry Dog Food |
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 | Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken & Brown Rice |
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Merrick Dog Food Reviewed
If you consider switching to Merrick dog food, you might have questions about the brand. Let’s take a closer at the company’s history, recalls, and ingredients.
Who Makes Merrick Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?
Nestle Purina acquired Merrick in 2015, but the company continues to operate as an independent business.
Merrick manufactures all its food and treats in the U.S. Most wet and dry dog food recipes are produced at the company’s three Hereford, TX facilities. Merrick partners with veterinarians and animal nutritionists to create delicious and nutritious pet food.
Which Type of Dog Is Merrick Dog Food Best Suited For?
Merrick has eight lines of dog food: Full Source, Backcountry, Grain Free, Healthy Grains, Lil’ Plates, Limited Ingredient, Puppy, and Slow-Cooked BBQ. There is a formula to meet almost every dog’s nutritional needs.
Merrick is a premium brand, and their pet food is priced accordingly. The company will impress owners who want ingredient transparency. Many dog food brands at the same price point do not source their own ingredients as Merrick does.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
You may need to look elsewhere if your dog requires a novel protein. Merrick’s Limited Ingredient line of dry food has options containing beef, chicken, salmon, and lamb. You’ll need to find another brand if your dog can only tolerate single novel proteins like bison, venison, or duck.
Image Credit: Andrii Spy_k, Shutterstock
A Closer Look at Some of Merrick’s Primary Ingredients
Many owners want to make an informed decision about what food to feed their dogs. There is a lot of misunderstanding about some ingredients or why they are included in dog food. We cover some of Merrick’s most commonly used ingredients below.
“Deboned” meat such as chicken, turkey, or beef is the flesh and skin with the bones removed. Dehydrated alfalfa meal is a source of several nutrients, including vitamins B5, B7, and K.
Meat “meals” create confusion among pet owners. Beef meal, chicken meal, salmon meal, etc., make use of animal parts left over from the butchering industry. These ingredients are ground up and then cooked at a high temperature. The end product is a high-protein, dry powder. Meat meal is easy to transport and store since it does not require refrigeration.
Natural flavor is one ingredient we’d like to see more information about. The FDA’s definition of “natural flavor” is quite lengthy. Briefly, natural flavors are “flavoring constituents” derived from plants or animals “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
Salt (sodium chloride) acts as a flavor enhancer and natural preservative. It is safe for healthy dogs to consume in low quantities. Your vet may place your dog on a sodium-restricted diet if they have certain health conditions.
A Quick Look at Merrick Dog
Pros- Made in the U.S.
- Most recipes are produced at Merrick’s Hereford, TX facilities
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Ingredients sourced directly from U.S. farms
- Some recipes contain unspecified “natural flavors”
- Expensive