Merrick Dog Food (Canned)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★★

Merrick canned dog food receives the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.

The Merrick product line lists 24 canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

Because Merrick makes available different products at different times of the year, it’s difficult for us to accurately report which dog foods are grain free. So, be sure to check the labels while shipping.

  • Merrick Wingaling
  • Merrick Little Italy
  • Merrick Turducken
  • Merrick Brauts-n-Tots
  • Merrick Camfire Trout Feast
  • Merrick Cowboy Cookout
  • Merrick French Country Cafe
  • Merrick Grammy’s Pot Pie
  • Merrick Harvest Moon
  • Merrick Puppy Plate
  • Merrick Senior Medley
  • Merrick Smothered Comfort
  • Merrick Wild Buffalo Grill
  • Merrick Wilderness Blend
  • Merrick Working Dog Stew
  • Merrick Autumn Leaf’t Overs
  • Merrick Gameday Tailgate
  • Merrick Susie’s Shepherd Pie
  • Merrick Homecoming Holiday
  • Merrick Venison Holiday Stew
  • Merrick New Zealand Summer
  • Merrick Mediterranean Banquet
  • Merrick Thanksgiving Day Dinner
  • Merrick Burger Pie and Sweetie Fries

Merrick Cowboy Cookout Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Merrick Cowboy Cookout

Canned Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 47% | Fat = 21% | Carbs = 24%

Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, beef liver, fresh sweet potatoes, fresh carrots, fresh green beans, fresh granny smith apples, potato starch-modified, beef meal, egg, dried blueberry, olive oil, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, natural caramel color, flax seed oil (for omega-3), Yucca schidigera extract, choline chloride, salt, lecithin, zinc amino acid complex, mixed tocopherols, iron amino acid complex, vitamin E supplement, manganese amino acid complex, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A acetate, copper amino acid complex, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3 supplement, niacin, riboflavin supplement, biotin, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, sodium selenite

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.3%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis9%4%NA
Dry Matter Basis47%21%24%
Calorie Weighted Basis39%42%19%

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1

Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second item is beef broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.

The third ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, beef liver is a beneficial component.

The fourth ingredient mentions sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.

The fifth ingredient mentions carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

Green beans and apples are natural sources of vitamins and minerals.

The eighth item lists potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used here more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.

The ninth ingredient is beef meal. Beef meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh beef.

The tenth ingredient includes egg… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

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 two notable exceptions…

First, we note the inclusion here of flax seed oil… one of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids… essential to a dog’s life.

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 Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line

This may not just be a good dog food. But an important one, too. Merrick canned dog food is a certified2 low glycemic product making it a serious candidate for feeding a diabetic dog.

And judging by its ingredients alone, this canned product line appears to be an excellent 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 47%, a fat level of 21% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 44% and a mean fat level of 23%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 25% for the overall product line.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical canned dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing a significant amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Merrick canned dog food is a meat-based wet product using an abundance of assorted meats from named species as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Those looking for a quality kibble from the same company may wish to check out our review of Merrick dry dog food.

A Final Word

This review is 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 a specific health benefit for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to 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 veterinarian for help.

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

Notes and Updates

02/05/2010 Original review
09/12/2010 Review updated
09/12/2010 Last Update

  1. Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
  2. Glycemic Research Institute ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Smithac3

    This is one of the best wet foods for dogs. My very picky dog loves three of the flavors. she’s allergic to chicken and I really like that they are specific with the ingredients and that it is a very healthy dog food. I was told people can it it. I don’t think I would, but it doesn’t smell half bad. I use this as a topper with the Merrick Buffalo dry kibble. She actually eats twice a day now. Very happy with this.

  • Addie

    Smothered Comfort* Sorry. They do say though that  ”THIS SPECIAL COOKING PROCESS MAKES THE BONE MUSHY AND SAFE FOR YOUR DOG TO ENJOY. Feel free to serve whole or to break apart the chicken and soft bones for ease of pet consumption.”

  • Addie

    Wingaling and Southern Comfort are supposed to contain bones. 

  • Skaake

    We add Merrick wet food to our dog’s dry food, which is Acana. Tonight while feeding my dog I found a sharp cooked chicken bone in the Merrick Southern Comfort can. I phone their customer service line and it closes at 5pm, so I will be phoning back tomorrow.

  • Nealdc

    What I meant to say was….

    Orijen is a DRY food and you fed your dog Merrick canned. Don’t see how you can really compare your dogs reaction to a dry versus canned.

  • Nealdc

    Orijen is a canned food and you fed your dog Merrick canned. Don’t see how you can really compare your dogs reaction to a dry versus canned.

  • SandyDuarte

    Thanks! :)

  • MM

     My dogs have been eating the Merrick for the past year and have loved it. Merrick’s variety and noticeably top-notch ingredients (you can see that it is real meat, veg etc) are also great. We haven’t tried Evo for the dogs, but did previously for the cat and have since moved on to a different brand. Give Merrick’s a try. Wingaling is our dogs’ favourite.

  • SandyDuarte

    I think this website is so helpful and amazing. I will be getting a puppy (blue/fawn pit) soon in the next week or two, I’m so excited!! I went to the pet store and asked about Evo (because that is what the mother eats) and it was suggested to me Canidae Single-Grain Protein Plus. I saw that on the 5 star list for dry food so I’m very pleased. I was told I wouldn’t need a wet food, but my question is what would you suggest for a canned food just to give the dog variety once in awhile so she’s not always eating the same thing and getting bored with it. Should I stick with Canidae for a alternative or try one of the other brands you have listed above. What should I look for? Merrick looks very good but I wasn’t sure if I should go with a stew-type or just like an Evo 95% Beef?? She’s been eating Iams puppy dry and i will be slowly transitioning her to the Canidae, would wet food help that process? I appreciate any help, thank you.

  • Bill

    I use the BG cans as toppers with the BG dry foods. But to mix things up I’m going to start using these as toppers since they have a larger variety of flavors. Although from a cost perspective at my local Petco theses cost the same at the BG cans.

  • Shawna

    They actually now know that it is not protein that causes problems in large and giant breeds but rather over feeding of any food as well as foods that are too high in calcium or not in correct proportion to phosphorus. 

    Aimee has posted several times here that Orijen (large breed puppy food) is higher in calcium then what is recommended by nutritionists..

  • Mswench

    The problem may be feeding your puppy, puppy foord.  proteins are much higher.  I switched mine to regular Orijen, and then to the Acane and his stool firmed right up.  Large breeds grow quickly and too much protein may be the issue.

  • LabsRawesome

    Hey guys, I picked up a couple cans of Merrick for my two, for their special  Easter dinner. They absolutely loved it! But,  I new they would. Hope everyone had a nice Easter.  :)

  • Amanda

     I had the same problem with my puppy on Orijen Puppy. Turned out that he had an intolerance to chicken. He had exactly the same syptoms as your dog. I switched him to Acana pacifica and all the symptoms subsided (he loves his food). I would try switching him to a food that does not have chicken (or eggs) and see if the symptoms subside.

  • Rheseyj

    Right now I have been feeding merrick for a while . My dog is doing a thousand times better on it than on orijen ! We have been slowly mixing and she have stopped eating the orijen but she will find the pieces of meat in the orijen ! Does that mean the switch is done and she can completely be on merrick ?

  • Rheseyj

    Wow… I just opened my first can of merrick dog food . I got campers delight . I could not believe how quickly my dog ate it !! She was on orijen and wouldn’t eat it unless she was hand fed !! After I put it in her bowl and in a minute she licked the bowl clean :) i will never use another canned food !!!! :)

  • Bazuhi

    I agree with Melissa, try some others that are rated the same. Also stop hand feeding your only teaching her a bad habit. Mine was the same way so I tossed the kibble on the floor up to the plate and then he would grab it off the plate.. I didnt want a dog I would have to tell someone oh while your watching my dog you have to hand feed her. :)

  • Bazuhi

    I am currently using a puppy food that seems to be available online only anymore so I was looking for a food that I can get easliy enough in a store. I choose the Merrick brand.. my pups love it… problem…13oz can.. half the weight is liquid it is not a solid can of dog food as others are so it takes pretty much a whole can to feed 2 (8lb) puppies. This is the first food where I saw it said to shake before opening. Another thing I was a little worried about in the Wingalongs it actually has chicken wingz with the bones included. Of course the bones we very soft but I removed them since I was afraid my pups would have a hard time digesting this and have problems outside which we have already experienced with another brand of food(I think this was my error as I gave them other meat other then chicken which is all they have had since I got them) So back to the drawing board since the price of this food based on a high liquid content will not be cost affective. They loved eating it tho!   

  • melissa

     Rheseyj-

    I would go to the pet store and get some samples of other dry foods that she likes. Would you eat something with gusto that was giving you gas, and loose stool? I can only imagine that those two things would cause the dog to feel ill after eating. Orijen is very rich and can cause upset for some dogs-I know it did mine, but they love the Acana(same company) and no stomach issues.

  • Rheseyj

    My 4 month old Siberian husky is on orijen large puppy. Unfortuneatly it is giving her gas , loose stool and she will only eat when it is hand fed to her ! Would a canned food be good choice for a finicky dog ? This is probably the best canned food I have available to me . Also because she is on a chicken based food, should I start with a chicken based can food ? Thank you for help and suggestions :)

  • Tina

    I just started feeding my 4 year old Chihuahua canned Merrick.  I took her off of dry Blue Buffalo because from the research I’ve been doing I felt like canned was better than dry.  I tried commercial raw, but she wouldn’t eat it.  The calorie calculator says for her weight of 5lbs 10ozs and relative inactivity she should have around 180 calories a day.  The can says for a 5lb dog around 1/2 can a day which, depending on the can, is 475-550 kcal for that 1/2 can, but she is losing weigh on this food.  I feed her 2 times a day.  I started just putting alot of food and letting her eat until she’s through, but she really can’t eat more than about 1/4 can.  Should I add some dry food or just keep feeding like I’m doing.  Not sure what to do. 

  • sandy

    The Merrick cans come in different consistencies.  Grammys Pot Pie, Thanksgiving Day Dinner are not big chunks.  I’ve also used Wilderness and Campire Trout as these have the chunks but are quite soft.  You would be able to smush them with a fork.  This site has some photos, but not sure how up to date they are.  http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showcat.php?cat=12&stype=1&si=merrick&perpage=12&sort=8&stype=&limit=&cat=12&ppuser=

  • Guest

    Since it sounds like Merrick canned food is very chunky, would it be okay to feed to a 2.5 lb puppy?  I wouldn’t want her to choke on any big bites of whatever is in the food.  She is 4 months old but tiny.

  • Pingback: Merrick- Senior Medley Canned Canine Food | Animal Rescue

  • Lucy

    I wanted to add that I do plan on trying some of the dehydrated raw food too as part of his rotation. I know there are cheaper routes to go, but when I got my dog I knew I was making him a financial priority for the length of his life. He doesn’t come above any human in my family, of course, but I made a commitment to his health and well-being.

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