Rating: 
Merrick Dry Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Merrick Dog Food product line lists seven kibbles… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Merrick Turducken
- Merrick Puppy Plate
- Merrick Senior Medley
- Merrick Cowboy Cookout
- Merrick Wilderness Blend
- Merrick Grammy’s Pot Pie
- Merrick Campfire Trout Feast
Merrick Wilderness Blend Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Merrick Wlderness Blend
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Buffalo, salmon meal, lamb meal, ground rice, oat meal, pearled barley, beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), ground whole barley, venison,natural flavor, rice bran, yeast culture, dried egg product, hydrolyzed yeast, salmon oil (a natural source of docosahexaenoic acid), calcium carbonate, dried potato, dried carrot, salt, potassium chloride, dried apple, dried peas, dicalcium phosphate, alfalfa nutrient concentrate, choline chloride, dried blueberry, dried cranberry, Yucca schidigera extract, inulin (from chicory root), egg shell meal, ground fennel, dried parsley, dried marigold, rosemary extract, zinc amino acid complex, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, iron amino acid complex, vitamin E supplement, manganese amino acid complex, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper amino acid complex, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3, niacin, lecithin, riboflavin supplement, biotin, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cobalt proteinate, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, sodium selenite, colbalt carbonate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this product is buffalo. Raw buffalo 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 occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to salmon and lamb meals… the second and third (and most likely) the dominant meat ingredients in this food.
Salmon and lamb meals are both considered meat concentrates and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh salmon and lamb respectively.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item1 appears to be ethoxyquin-free.
The fourth ingredient is listed as ground rice. Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and is (unlike many other grains) mostly gluten-free.
The sixth ingredient lists barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The seventh ingredient is beef fat. Beef fat (or tallow) is most likely obtained from rendering beef… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Although it may not sound very appetizing, beef fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient mentions barley again. We’re not sure why this item is listed a second time and assume it may be a misprint.
The ninth ingredient is venison. Venison is another protein-rich meat ingredient.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other healthy items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.
The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
Merrick Dry Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Merrick Dry Dog Foods looks to be of excellent quality.
But ingredient quality by itself does not tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before we determine a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27% and an average fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest an overall carbohydrate content of 50% for the full product line.
Average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Merrick Dry Dog Food is primarily a grain-based kibble using only a moderate amount of meat as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a quality wet food from the same company may wish to check out our review of Merrick Canned 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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
02/05/2010 Original review
06/28/2010 Review updated (new recipe)
09/11/2010 Review updated (minor corrections)
- Merrick Customer Service, 8/17/2010 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.