Merrick Grain Free Dog Food (Dry)

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Rating: ★★★★★

Merrick Grain Free dog food receives the Advisor’s top tier rating of 5 stars.

The Merrick Grain Free product line includes four dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

  • Merrick Grain Free Pork and Sweet Potato
  • Merrick Grain Free Duck and Sweet Potato
  • Merrick Grain Free Buffalo and Sweet Potato
  • Merrick Grain Free Chicken and Sweet Potato

Merrick Grain Free Duck and Sweet Potato was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.

Merrick Grain Free Duck and Sweet Potato

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 43% | Fat = 19% | Carbs = 30%

Ingredients: Deboned duck, turkey meal, salmon meal (source of omega 3 fatty acids), sweet potato, peas, lamb meal, potato, duck fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), pea protein, natural flavor, apples, blueberries, organic alfalfa, salmon oil, minerals (salt, zinc amino acid complex, zinc sulfate, iron amino acid complex, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, potassium iodide, cobalt amino acid complex, sodium selenite), vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3, niacin, riboflavin supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate), 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

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis38%17%NA
Dry Matter Basis43%19%30%
Calorie Weighted Basis36%39%25%

The first ingredient in this dog food is duck. Although it is a quality item, raw duck contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.

The third ingredient includes salmon meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears2 to be ethoxyquin-free.

The fourth ingredient lists sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The fifth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient is lamb meal. Lamb meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh lamb.

The seventh ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The eighth ingredient includes duck fat. Duck fat is obtained from rendering duck, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Duck fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, duck fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The ninth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With three notable exceptions

First, salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Next, we note the use of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Merrick Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Merrick Grain Free appears to be an above average dry dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 30%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 43% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 30% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 45%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas and pea protein, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Merrick Grain Free is a meat-based dry dog food using a significant amount of named meats and meat meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.

However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

02/08/2010 Original review
09/13/2010 Review updated
05/16/2011 Review updated
08/21/2011 Review updated (added chicken and pork flavor)
06/15/2012 Last Update

  1. Association of American Feed Control Officials
  2. Merrick Customer Service via email dated 8/17/2010
  • neezerfan

    I have a Havanese too! I feed him Darwin’s (raw frozen). And rotate with various canned; Evo, Nature’s Logic, Whole Earth Farms, Simply Nourish, Lotus, Instinct, Weruva and Wellness Core. No kibble for my baby! I also give him Instinct raw frozen. The only thing he has a problem with is canned beef. He’s fine with the raw beef. Aren’t they the best?

  • Love my Havanese

    My havanese loves Merrick grain free. The positives are, no more itching, no more vomiting, and a better coat. Unfortunately, he has very soft stool that is almost impossible to pick up. He was on Earthborn, but he would vomit 5-6 times per week. We have tried Merrick, Earthborn, Natures Recipe, Nutro, Taste of the Wild, and Chicken Soup. Maybe more. We can’t find a food he likes, isn’t allergic to, doesn’t vomit or itch, and has formed stool. Any suggestions would be helpful.

  • Guest

    Yep. It’s important to switch up their meat protein sources on a regular basis. Beef by the way, is considered one of the more inflammatory causing red meats, but more commonly poses such problems with smaller breed dogs. But if you you do alternate your Shar Pei on various protein sources he’ll adjust better with different same.

  • Thor’s Mom

    I have a Shar Pei and we tried 3 different foods and he would not eat them at all. Switched to Merrick Buffalo grain free and he ate it right up. About three weeks later his coat was shiney and looked really good. Basically he looked like a totally different dog from when I got him. Then about two months later he started to shed and itch like crazy. I did some research and learned that some dogs have beef allergies and sweet potatoe. I switched him to the chicken grain free and three weeks in his coat has filled in, he rarely itches, and he looks gorgeous. I get compliments when people see him all of the time. So for anyone having issues with a certain flavor, maybe try a different one. HTH

  • Davesbuddies

    I have a Boston Terrier, a French Bulldog and an American Shorthair. If Merrick’s ratings for their dog and cat food were solely based on taste, they would be #1 to my pets.

    My dogs will actually eat almost anything but they truly love Merrick. This and Orijen were the only foods that stopped their allergic itching, hair loss, and redness. Merrick’s taste, family values, and made in America (Texas), made them a clear choice.

    I would recommend them to anyone especially those with allergic bully type breeds.

    I’ve also had good luck with Vets Choice Skin and Coat Cond. oil. Maybe not needed outside the dry western US, but my dogs really shine and rarely shed with this. The Foster and Smith brand and Salmon oils did absolutely nothing.
    Good Luck!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    I love Nature’s Logic, Dave… both the canned and the kibble. I’m not afraid of millet anymore since Shawna and HDM set me straight on pseudo-grains. My two just finished a bag of the sardine formula and are now eating Brother’s White Meat… which of course, they’re both doing great on. : )

    Coonhoundlover, it sounds like you’re looking for a grain and white potato (and apparently sweet potato free) food. InkedMarie put together a list that’s in the forum area; here’s a link to it: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/grain-and-potato-free-dog-foods/. Double check the ingredients in case there have been any formula changes and there may be some that aren’t on the list that could be..

  • Dave’s Hounds

    I have three coonhounds and have had the very best success with NV Instinct, Brothers Complete and Ziwipeak. One food that also works well but has millet is Natures Logic. I also found that Zymox is the best treatment and cleaner for their ears.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Nature’s Variety Instinct and Back to Basics high protein formulas are free of grains, white potatoes and sweet potatoes – might be worth a try. I’d also recommend supplementing with probiotics if your dogs are prone to ear build-up.

  • Coonhoundlover

    Hi. I have 4 coonhounds. They were on Innova Prime Grain Free until the recall. Great food, no itching or ear infections, which mine are all susceptible to. I then switched to Merrick grain free which has sweet potatoes, and they are itchy, and my big male has an ear infection. I have to assume it is the sweet potatoes. I really like the Merrick because of the company and the fact they get ingredients from locals etc. I have tried taste of the wild, and Blue Buffalo and Avoderm which did not work. Any other suggestions for grain free, made by reliable company?

    Thanks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jaime.saare Jaime Saare

    Hi Pattyvaughn. Thank you! I worried about leaving food down. I’d been feeding twice per day after a scare (torsion) with our Basset who passed away last year. But I’ll give once a day a try and see if it helps. She does like the Merrick. It’s the canned food she dislikes.

    I really appreciate the input! Much appreciated.

  • Pattyvaughn

    When you are completely off the Nutro give it a couple weeks to see if she is getting better.

    I’ve had dogs that definitely prefered to eat once a day, so you might want to try that and see if she has a preference.

    I wouldn’t leave food down all the time. It is easier to know if there is something wrong with your dog, if you know whether or not it is eating like regular, but you have to have a regular for that to work.

    I have 2 cats that prefer kibble, it is OK to go with your dogs preference.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jaime.saare Jaime Saare

    First, I’d like to thank everyone who discusses foods here and provide so much beneficial assistance. I have a question.

    My American Pit Bull Terrier was eating Natural Choice Lamb and Rice as a puppy. Now that she’s nearing a year of age, I decided to change foods (also based on the ratings of the food I had been feeding her and my concern about her nutrition). At first I tried Nutro Ultra. She didn’t take to the food very well (I often mix canned with Kibble) and started having coat/allergy issues. So I slowly started changing to Merrick (Duck and Sweet Potato Grain Free). While she enjoys the kibble, she refuses to eat canned (Wingaling and Granny’s Pot Pie). Hoping to get her to eat, I tried some Wilderness canned with similar results. So here’s my question:

    Is it acceptable to stick with kibble and supplement (I give her coconut oil and Healthy Dogma Fish Oil capsules each day) with healthy treats (I tend to give her Wilderness Grain Free Salmon treats and a bully stick or pig ear here and there)? I want her to enjoy her food. Although I’ve been feeding x2 per day (morning and evening) I’m concerned as she’s showing little interest in food. Her weight is fine but her coat isn’t looking very good and she scratches more than she used to. I’m almost done transitioning away from the Nutro Ultra completely, so perhaps that’s the issue.

    Thanks in advance! If this persists I’m taking her to the vet. She’s not miserable (or scratching all the time) or I’d have taken her in already.

  • Jethro

    maf1950@yahoo.com –Jethro—Have been feeding my Rhodesian Ridgebackm male, 120 pounds, Merrick Duck and Sweet Potato for 5 months. He has deveoped hair loss on both sides (stripes-looking). Right away I thought of Hypothyroidism–blood tests were fine.

    Any ideas?? Was feeding Innova red meat dry previously and no problems.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Then I’ll tell you how I got my picky dog eating whatever I put in front of him and really improved his health too. Instead of picking one food and sticking with it, I picked several and started rotating his diet regularly. As soon as I had him transitioned to one food I started transitioning to the next. Now my dogs don’t need any transition time at all. I feed something different every meal and my dogs never have upset stomachs or diarrhea. And my picky dog isn’t picky anymore, he excitedly eats whatever I put in front of him. I feed by the philosophy that no food is perfect, therefore I don’t stick to any one food for long. Some foods will be high in some nutrients and low in others and others will be balanced in those areas, but unbalanced in others, so I feed a variety. Gideon used to only eat every day and a half, now he never misses a meal.

  • michelle turner

    Thanks Patty. I have the same sarcastic mind. I guess I needed to give more detail; just lazy in my fingers.
    I’ve fed my boy Blue Wilderness for about 3 years. He just keeps picking out the “life bits” and he seems unenthusiastic about the rest of it as well. I’ve done my homework and narrowed it down to about 6 dog foods that suit my quest for the best. Now, I’m only looking at people’s comments from those 6 for mentions about flavor. I’ve done the sample routine and will do it again, but that’s how I got to BB. (It may have just been the smell he liked better than the others.).
    I wanna go to a site and see lots of doggy parents saying their dogs LOVE their (high quality, no grain formula) dry dog food, without digging through all the comments that aren’t related to the food site I’m visiting. Plus, people are so rude to each other, I need a Xanax!

  • Pattyvaughn

    First, let me apologize in advance for my poor sense of humor, but my first thought was
    “Gee Michelle, I know your dog will like Merrick dry dog food. How do I know? Oh, I just know these things. I can tell what a dogs individual tastes are. Don’t bother with buying a small bag and trying it, don’t ask for free samples, trust me and go ahead and buy 5 of the biggest bags you can find.” See why I had to apologize. We do sometimes get off topic here just following a conversation to it’s end, but if you hang around you will learn a lot and who knows, maybe someone will learn something from you. Dr Mike just recently added the Off Topic Thread and the Forum, so we would have a place to go to continue questions and answers, but we seem to have a hard time figuring out when to quit in one place and start in another.
    .
    Seriously though, all you have to do is ask if other people have tried this food, and if their dog liked it. Several people will probably pop in with an answer.
    My very picky dog likes this food just fine, and it is one of the few that I’m willing to feed him. It’s a good food.

  • michelle turner

    I’m trying to find out if my dog would like Merrick dry dog food. I can’t find what I’m looking for because of all this talk of other things. You may have just cost Merrick a good customer.

  • diane billferraro

    This is what I’m using for my baby ~ 1 yr. old rescue mix. The so called “review sites” etc. out there can have your head swimming. Short of feeding a raw diet, which we plan on as soon as circumstances allow, we ALL have to be SO CAREFUL what we do.
    I IMPLORE ALL PET PARENT TO BE OPEN & TO PLEASE READ the truth about pet food with Susan Thixton & PETSUMER web sites.
    I say PLEASE BE OPEN because when I came across it I had to unlearn A LOT OF THINGS & come to terms that I had been snookered by certain companies & people that I trusted.
    Oh & by the way just about ALL Vet schools are backed by some commercial food company and 78% are backed by Hill’s in particular Hmmm I THINK I’M SWIFT ENOUGH TO CATCH ONTO WHAT THE NUTRITION CURRICULUM IS THERE ;) & I’m confident most of you are too!
    MUCH LOVE TO ALL PET PARENTS AND THEIR SNUGGLY FRIENDS! <3

  • Jodi

    I have a 5 month english bulldog. She had been eating Iams, but recently started having bowel issues. I just recently switched to Merrick, grain free, pork and sweet potato. I don’t care about the opinions of a raw diet. I am only interested in hearing thoughts about Merrick. Any educated or experienced advice?

  • Shawna

    I’m glad you are seeing improvement. Again, I don’t think it is the protein but that doesn’t mean it isn’t something in the food.

    If it continues, even on the NB, look at things like a pinched nerve or chiropractic issue. You can run your fingers down the spine and if there is twitching it can be an indication there is something out of whack. A visit to the puppy chiropractor can realign the spine or a shot of NSAID can relieve the inflammation.

    There are also herbs like uva ursi that help tone the urinary tract and improve symptoms of incontinance.

    The vet in this article on incontinence is a raw feeder and advocates a high protein diet. High protein is not one of the reasons she sees incontinence in her practice. She gives recommendations on prouducts she uses in her practice as well.
    http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/01/07/urinary-fecal-incontinence.aspx
    I hope you are able to figure it out or at least able to manage it!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/melissa.haub Melissa DiCamillo Haub

    hi Shawna. I had Benny’s urine tested by the vet – no UTI. Switched him back to Natural Balance LID sweet potato and duck about 3 1/2 cups per day and 1/2 cup of Merrick Grain Free Buffalo. The incontinence has lessened, but he still has an accident every few days. He is not drinking as much water as well but the incontinence has not completely disappeared. He is a 2 1/2 year old yellow lab with lots of energy. Not sure what else to try.

  • InkedMarie

    Why do “breeders” sell a six week old dog :(

  • Luis

    I took my new 6 week old cocker spaniel to Petco. An employee came up to me and I told him I’m looking for the best quality food I can give to my new pup. My 12 yr old spaniel passed away and I never really purchased food that i believe he enjoyed. He said to me I have no kids and have never been married my dogs are my life. He then took me to this exact bag of dry food pointed at every other product in the store and said all that is McDonald’s I have been giving my dogs nothing but merrick. I picked up the bag and MY PUPPY LOVES IT! I really look forward to seeing him grow big and strong.

    Since that day I haven’t seen that guy at the store…must of been an angel looking out for me and my pup in our new adventure. :)

  • Hound Dog Mom

    No – increased drinking/urination is not normal when switching from grain-inclusive to grain-free, it’s not normal for switching between any foods. I’d have him checked out by a vet – it could be nothing, but these are symptoms of diabetes or kidney failure.

  • http://www.facebook.com/george.hlinko George Hlinko

    I just put my 12 year old yorkie on a grain free diet because of skin and allergie like problems. He had been on Wellness kibble for most of his life but after extensive researching I chose Merrick Grain free Duck & Salmon. He’s been on it for 2 weeks now, but I notice he drinks almost twice as much water now & pees more often. He also seems just as itchy as before & slightly less energetic. Is this common in new food adjustments. I hate to keep switching him to different foods. Any suggestions?

  • Pitbullsinmylife

    I have 3 pitbulls and they have been under weight due to lack of eating and getting tired of top brand dog foods. I finally found a dog food that I can stick with based on A LOT of trial and error. I’ve been using Merricks grain free dry kibble with a couple of squirts of grizzly salmon oil for about a year now. Now when ppl see my dogs, they say things like, wow! Your dogs got bigger or did u get new dogs? Bottom line they look great!!! Next I want to try raw but am not in any rush

  • InkedMarie

    I’ve been using Darwin’s but when I figured I could buy some grinds from Hare Today for less and no veggies, I figured I’d try.

  • digitalcassidy

    Love this food!!! My English Bull Terrier totally loves the grain free Buffalo. Just switched from Zignature without any issues.

  • Johnandchristo

    Hi marie,

    Happy belated Easter to you and yours.

    The raw food will help, we have a grinder and always use different meats plus 4 different flavors of kibble, if any thing else Christo stays interested and I feel that variety is good for his body and mind.

  • InkedMarie

    Hey John! This is week two of 2 of my dogs being on ground raw (buying from Hare Today) for one meal. I’m hoping to see an improvement in gingers coat, for starters

  • Johnandchristo

    Hey there Shawna,

    We had a nice Easter, thank you. I’m happy you did too.

    My neighbors are going to start with the lawn chemicals soon shrug, I wont even walk past their houses when they put those down.

    Kitzen is doing great! We are all happy. He is still not as sweet as Freya, but he has not bitten anyone in a good long while.

    Dawn made a turkey for Easter and the babies all got some.

  • Shawna

    Howdy John,

    Yep, had a great Easter weekend!! Thank you :) Hope you and family did as well!!!

    I don’t use flea/tick meds either but neighbors on either side of me do.. I LOVE not having to put chemicals on the pups!!!!!!

    How’s Kitzen doing?

  • Johnandchristo

    Hi Shawna,

    I hope you and yours had a great Easter.

    I agree with what your saying. (lol you were agreeing with me ). With the raw I add into Christo’s kibble (34% 36%/ 38% 30%) he must be getting at least 45-50% protein. He has never
    had any problems with urinating.

    The thing that really amazes me is he does not shed and I also never treat his coat for fleas or ticks. I live in a part of the country that is super high in ticks. I have had many dogs and the best thing I fed them was fosters and smith, they all shed a lot.Learning ( on the DFA) about raw/better kibbles or high protein in general has made a huge difference in my dog and cats.

    There is no question as far as I’m concerned about the amazing benefits of a ancestral diet, or something close to one. I think everyone should give it a try to see for themselves before dismissing the idea.

  • Shawna

    Like John, I wouldn’t expect it to be the protein. MANY of us here on this site feed diets that greatly exceed the 43% protein in this food without the results you are seeing. My dogs are raw fed and some of the food has protein as high as 54%. I have eight toy breed dogs and foster for two rescues. I’ve never seen urinary incontinance when switching even my fosters to a high protein diet — I feed them kibble topped with high protein canned and a small dollup of high protein raw.

    One of my dogs is allergic to a few different ingredients. If she gets any of the foods she is allergic to urinary incontinence is one of the symptoms I see — she too wets the bed at night. I am allergic to dairy and I too get urinary incontinence when I consume dairy. This may not be the case with yours but something worth considering in my opinion.

    Is it possible that the changing of the food might be just a coincidence and that maybe pup has a urinary tract infection? Just a thought.. I googled “canine urinary tract infection bed wetting” and several sites popped up. http://www.petside.com/article/what-could-be-cause-my-dog-urinating-while-asleep

    PS — I’m not saying that it actually might not be the food but I don’t think it is the amount of protein. That is inconsistant with what so many of us here have experienced.

  • aimee

    Hi Melissa Dicamillo Haub,

    I recall from past posts that others have reported a similar problem when switching to high protein food. It is hard to know if what your dog is experiencing is related to some component in the diet or an unrelated cause.

    When protein is consumed in excess of need, as in diets like Merrick Grain Free, it is broken down and used for energy. This results in urea production and the urea must be eliminated. Water is eliminated with the urea, which could explain an increased urine volume.

  • Johnandchristo

    Hi Melissa DiCamillo Haub,

    I don’t think protein will ever cause a problem like that in a young and healthy dog. In fact dogs do best on high protein diets.In the past there has been some speculation on high protein and problems with the kidneys, but IMO, its is erroneous and just not true. Dogs and cats both do their best on a meat based diet. Sugar in any form (IE; grains, potato ) can be the root problem of GI trouble. Heal the gut with pre-pro biotics and digestive enzymes, and cut out or greatly lessen the amount of carbs in your dogs diet, and that dog should do great.Good luck to you and your dog.

  • http://www.facebook.com/melissa.haub Melissa DiCamillo Haub

    I recently switched my 2 1/2 year old yellow lab (I was feeding him a mix of Natural Balance LID and Blue Buffalo Freedom). I felt he was having very runny stools (outside). He loves this new food but now that he is only eating this food, I notice he is drinking a lot of water and is having urinary incontinence in the middle of the night. I am wondering if there is too much protein and he just can’t handle it. I am considering switching him back b/c I can’t handle a wet bed each morning. Any one else have a problem like this with a high protein food?

  • http://www.facebook.com/laurel.schuman Laurel Schuman

    I changed my dog to the Buffalo and his system did poorly on it. Super stinky gas and excrement. changing back to California Natural Venison.

  • http://www.facebook.com/RivrFox RivrFox De Crested Butte

    Hi,

    I am sorry but I HAVE to comment about Suzanne’s ignorance towards raw feeding. When I can afford it or be creative with my resourcing of raw food and also have the time….it’s obviously the most healthy and natural way for my canine friend to eat. I quote Suzanne:

    “Well, Hmmmm, the reason your vet hasn’t seen the results of illness and perforations in dogs, or intestinal blockage from people feeding dogs RAW MEAT is because HER DOG PATIENTS ARE NOT FED RAW MEAT. She is clearly intelligent and totally reliable, and THAT IS WHY SHE IS OPPOSEDTO FEEDING RAW MEAT TO THE DOGS WHO ARE HER PATIENTS…I will NEVER feed my dogs raw meat, which I consider irresponsible and dangerous. I don’t understand why that is so hard to comprehend. In my view it is endangering dogs to push feeding raw meat to them..”

    Where to start…it’s quite obvious she hasn’t spend the time or effort to feed her animals raw long enough or at all to experience it’s benefits.

    I have worked as a vet tech at an animal hospital in a small town in Colorado. The only blockage we ever got was from a cooked chicken bone that was gulped down. When it comes to feeding dogs..you always want to be gentle with changing there diet. When switching kibbles, please start to slowly integrate from one to the next as you slowly increase the new & decrease the old. Some dogs this is less important than others.

    When switching to raw. Please go to a prey model website and have a game plan. I usually fast for a day and then feed a white meat (no hormones) for a week straight and local if possible. I currently feed my dog grain free if I can’t feed raw. I feed local beaver, chicken & fish raw. It’s more work but it’s so much better for my pup. Deep freeze pacific northwest salmonids for at least 11-14 days. I know it’s healthier for my dog to eat raw, it’s just more work. Other things to be careful of is don’t let your dog chew on load bearing bones that can hurt their teeth or frozen meat which can do the same.

    I’ve heard that Merrick grain free is a step up from TOTW. I usually feed my cow dog TOTW among some other things. My dog doesn’t do well with cheap grains and the red bag of Orijen.

    I have no animosity towards the above person I quoted but it saddens me to see pure disinformation posted here. My friends experiences who feed raw and our local dog sledding company who all have positive/great experience with feeding raw don’t do it b/c it’s fun. They do it because it works best for their animals.

    Blessings to you & your canines on this mysterious journey,
    Rivrfox

  • Shawna

    Thanks for sharing your results Elliott!! My guess is that there was a tiny puncture in the bag I purchased — or something of that nature. I haven’t used their reformulated foods much, actually just the two times, but I used to rotate in their Before Grain products often.. And I really like their canned foods.

  • Nicole

    For the whole discussion on raw dog food. Do your research!! Dogs are not humans! Although consuming raw meat as a human is very dangerous, it is very healthy and beneficial to dogs. Do you think wild dog (dingos), wolves, coyotes, etc have cooked kibble? No.. The eat raw meat and do perfectly fine. It is natural.

  • Lucky

    Thank you so much for your suggestions on brands and the very excellent video; it is very appreciated! And it seems that Dave is in agreement! :)

  • Lucky

    As a very new pet owner that “inherited” a 4yr old 55lb. hound mix, I so appreciate all the research that has gone on before me since all I want is a skin-healthy girl w normal stools. This site has been invaluable & again thank you for the expert tried & true tips!

  • Dave’s Hounds

    Lucky, I use Mercola probiotics and digestive enzymes for pets (but I have used human probiotics in the past just broke open the capsules). There are quite a few different enzymes I will use but prefer the mercola probiotics.

  • Lucky

    This is great advice, Dave – may I ask which probiotics and digestive enzymes you use? Thank you so much.

  • Sponge

    I am new to caring for dogs … I love this site … very informative … also seems to lack an agenda!

  • Elliott

    I’ve been buying Merrick 1-2x a month for the last 7 months and have not had anything remotely close to a rancid bag. My dog who has had grain allergies responds really well to this food, and I rotate the “flavor” every couple months. I might rotate in some other brands when he reaches one year old.

  • Shawna

    Hi Karen ~~ I too have seen some amazing results when switching my own dogs to raw (all but one are adopted). Positive results even when incorporating raw into the kibble diet of my foster dogs.. Until you see it with your own eyes (and with multiple dogs) it is hard to believe the difference it can make.

  • Karen Smith

    Shawna my pugs and my husky have been eating raw diet for 6 years..they have never been healthier. they used to get sick all the time.. i sayi if you think kibble is germ free Suzanne then you have obviously not done your research

  • Shawna

    Hi daddyboston,

    Allergies are difficult as any food with protein can be a trigger. If eggs, as an example, are causing the allergic reaction then none of the Brothers foods are going to be a great option as, last I knew, they all contain egg.

    I think Brothers is a good food and worth trying but when it comes to allergies even the best of the best foods may not work. It’s kind of a trial and error thing.

    I will say that I’ve bought two bags of Merrick within the last six weeks. The first bad smelled rancid right from the point I opened it. I bought a second bag last week as I know things like tiny tears in the bag, through no fault of the manufacturer, can cause that. The new bag didn’t smell rancid but I didn’t care for the smell.. Could just be me though?

    You may have to try several foods before finding one that works. Not knowing the dietary background of the dog will make it even harder as you don’t know what foods she was exposed to in the past.

    The other thing worth trying in my opinion is a premix with meat you supply.

  • InkedMarie

    I’m not Shawna but I do feed Brothers Allergy; you can’t go wrong, IMO.

  • daddyboston

    Question for Shawna,

    We have two Boston’s. One is a recent expensive rescue. We have been dealing with constant skin issues and how to treat them or cure them. We have tried one round of anti histamines but that doesn’t do anything for her immune system, except to make her stop scratching for a couple of weeks. We found two great foods, Merrick Grain Free and Brothers Complete Allergy Formula.

  • Teresa

    I read much here, but don’t post often. Just want to let people know there is a bad bug going around the country, causes vomiting and diarrhea – so it might not be the food. Seems to resolve in a few days to a week, but it went through my whole crew and most everyone I know has had it in the last month. No fun.

  • Pingback: What’s the Deal With Dog Food? | Duncan Pets

  • Khandal

    I fed my cavalier blue buffalo wilderness and he really like it. However, after two weeks he had a major diarrhea episode in his room in the middle if the night. He had also been going to the bathroom a lot and drinking lots of water. Not sure what caused it, but I am not feeding him that food any longer. Be careful…

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    I have a small bag of the Chicken gf opened and I just looked thru it and did not see any of the dark pieces. They have eaten out of this bag before the Pork and were doing fine. I opened the new large bag of Duck and, while it doesn’t have any dark pieces like the pork there are a few size inconsistencies in the kibble. Some are bigger or longer than others. I really like this new Merrick and don’t know if I should continue with these other bags….I’ve also fed some of the Small Breed with success. Sigh….ugh….

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    I’ve been feeding Merrick gf since right before Christmas and we’ve gone thru several small bags. One Buffalo, couple of Chicken and one Pork. Everything was fine until this last small bag of Pork. The dogs have had some strange looking stool. Very dark in color (green, dark gray almost blackish) and some formed with some diarrhea. I stopped all treats, but they still were getting Merrick canned as a topper. No one seems sick at all, yet (at least outwardly), however, when I started going thru the bag I noticed some different looking kibble pieces! They are longer and darker in color. They look very “concentrated”. It looks like the extruder had some sort of issue. Anyway, this is most likely the problem. I immediately stopped the Merrick. I’m kinda upset, too, because I just bought a large bag of Duck (great sale). It’s unopened and I want to return it, but I also want to open it to see if it’s like this. Tonight the dogs had some Cal. Nat. chicken and rice canned which they’ve always done fine on. We’ll be feeding this for a few days and see if the stool changes. I will be contacting Merrick about it. I still have the bag and most of the kibble, since it was just opened a few days ago.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Beneful is probably the biggest offender there. Looks so healthy on the bag.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    It kills me that so many people still allow slick marketing to make decisions for them.

  • InkedMarie

    Just think, Bryan, there are people out there who DO buy dog foods because of the color of the bag or best, all those wholesome grains, fruits and veggies on the front!

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    LOL, yeah. I like the color green, so I think the Holistique Blendz bags are cool.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    I agree, Solid Gold does have the best packaging. I love all the sparkles and how even the inside of the bags are sparkly.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Oh, well then complain away.

  • JellyCat

    Like I said, I do dislike the picture; however, this alone will not be sufficient for me to not to buy the food :-) Ingredients come first.
    I’m simply complaining about the picture :-)

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    LOL

    I’m sorry, but letting the picture, or lack of a picture, on a bag of food dictate whether you feed it or not is perhaps the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. And not just when it comes to feeding dogs, but in general.

    I might as well eat McDonald’s because the golden arches make me smile. Or perhaps I should buy a Kia Sportage over a Nissan Rogue because I like Kia’s logo better.

    Tell me you’re not being serious here.

  • JellyCat

    I know it is common to put food on label. It all depends on what kind of food and how it is pictured. All foods that I use do not put food on the labels. Castor&Pollux organix that I have in can only has a pic of happy dog on it.
    I actually think that it is worse to put very healthy looking dog on Pedigree bag :-)

  • InkedMarie

    I think the purtiest packaging is Solid Gold’s “Just a wee bit” but I love pink!

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Yep – I got the same thing. I converted 4.4 oz. to g. Got approx. 8 c. per kg. and divided 3,740 kcal/kg by 8.

  • Melissaandcrew

    HDM- Can’t remember where you posted this before, but want to ask-

    Figuring cals per cup-3740 per KG-each cup is approx 4.4 oz. If I am doing it right, I get 3.64 cups per lb-3740 divided by 2.2, divided by 3.64-467cals per cup? Its the new grainfree Country Naturals(grandma maes)

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I didn’t say anything about you liking or not liking the picture, just that what’s inside the bag is what should help you make your buying decision.. not some silly picture.

    Besides, what’s wrong with grilling meat? It’s much healthier than deep-frying (which, to use your silly comparison, are how fries are prepared). You do know that meat is not put into kibble raw, right?

  • Hound Dog Mom

    I mean I guess it’s false advertising – we all know that meat that looks like that isn’t what’s actually going into the food. However, putting food on the package is a fairly common practice. It’s not like Merrick is the only company doing it. Innova, Castor & Pollux, Pure Vita, Artemis, Nature’s Recipe, Back to Basics, Iams Naturals, Premium Edge, Chicken Soup, etc. etc. all do the same thing.

  • Melissaandcrew

    LOL. It is minor since its only affecting 3, not the entire crew. Odd thing is, those that did vomit also produced a very thick phlegm to go along with it. I have only seen this one other time and that was when we tried Native Dog Food. It c concerns me since all three would be considered to have “stomachs of steel”. I am off to return the offending bags, not sure if I will try Fromm this time around, or try the Merrick grain inclusives. Yours will probably be just fine-if you see a problem, just return it : )