Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains Dog Food Review (Dry)

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains product range consists of three recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.

A blend of kibble and freeze-dried raw bites, which include whole grains to help support healthy digestion, along with high-protein real meat to help maintain lean muscle mass.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe + Grains was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.¹

Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

 The second ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The third ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

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

The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

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

The eighth ingredient is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato.

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.

The ninth ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.

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 the product.

This recipe has three notable exceptions.

First, salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. 

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

Next, miscanthus grass, also known as elephant grass. Miscanthus is a non-GMO source of crude fiber.

Also, taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe + Grains looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32.1%, a fat level of 18.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 37.7%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 35.7% and a mean fat level of 18.8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 33.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 53%.

This means this Merrick product line contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate and above-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.

Merrick Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Merrick through June 2026.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat as its dominant source of animal protein, and the brand receives 5 stars.

Highly Recommended

About

All Merrick dog foods are produced in the United States. Most of the brand’s dry and wet recipes are manufactured at one of its 3 company-owned facilities in Hereford, Texas. Unlike most pet food brands, Merrick owns its own cannery.

Merrick also owns Castor and Pollux Natural Petworks (a quality brand known for its certified organic dog and cat foods)… and produces Whole Earth Farms pet foods, too.

Merrick was sold to Nestle Purina PetCare in 2015.

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