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Our Verdict
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet product range is made up of three recipes with ratings varying from 1.5 to 4 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 3 stars.
A selection of recipes with limited ingredients to provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs with food sensitivities and sensitive stomachs
Pros
- Single source animal protein
- Limited ingredients
- No pea, potato, corn or soy ingredients
Cons
- Not a budget friendly option
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 Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains Real Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains Real Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, brown rice, oatmeal, natural flavor, potassium chloride, tricalcium phosphate, salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, sodium tripolyphosphate, choline chloride, minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite),calcium carbonate, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, folic acid, vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 23% | 33% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 29% | 44% | 26% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food 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 chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient lists 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 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.
After the natural flavor, we find potassium chloride, a nutritional supplement sometimes used as a replacement for the sodium found in table salt.
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 Merrick product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains Real Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe looks like an above-average wet dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.5%, a fat level of 23.1% and estimated carbohydrates of about 29.2%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 35.3% and a mean fat level of 29.5%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24.1% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 85%.
Which means this Merrick product line contains…
Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Merrick Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Merrick through December 2025.
- Merrick Recalls Multiple Dog Treats (May 23, 2018)
- Merrick Recalls Dog Treats (August 9, 2011)
- Merrick Pet Treats Recall 2011 (January 30, 2011)
- Merrick Expands Dog Treats Recall (August 16, 2010)
- Merrick Expands Recall of Dog Treats (August 4, 2010)
- Merrick Dog Treats Recall (July 6, 2010)
- Merrick Dog Treats Recall 2010 (January 15, 2010)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Canned Dog Food
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive canned dog foods, using a moderate amount of named meats as the main source of animal protein. However, the lamb recipe in this range has received a lower rating due to its high fat-to-protein ratios, which has consequently lowered the overall rating to 3 stars.
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.
Compare Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food
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A Final Word
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