We all know that our choice of food greatly impacts our health. It’s exactly the same for our dogs. As a loving dog owner, you would want to feed your dog with good, high-quality and natural food – free of those harmful chemicals.

However, in today’s world, many of the food available are most likely contaminated with all sorts of chemicals, harming our bodies; this is also the same when it comes to dog food. Luckily, there are brands like Merrick that strive hard to use only fresh, top-quality ingredients in their products.

About Merrick

Founded by Garth Merrick in 1988, Merrick Dog Food uses real and wholesome recipes, making it one of the more suitable choices for your pet dog. Most importantly, they only use USDA-inspected deboned meat, as well as the freshest product with high nutritional value.

With a long history of quality assurance and constant innovation, Merrick has proved to us that they care about our pets and what they eat. This makes this brand very reliable and thus, you never have to worry about what’s in your dog food anymore.

In recent years, Merrick has partnered with a number of non-profit organizations. In 2013, Merrick partnered with PAWS Chicago, a no-kill, humane adoption center. That being said, if you are a new pet adopter at PAWS Chicago, you will be able to receive a free bag of Merrick.

In 2014, Merrick and Tree House Humane Society in Chicago worked together to provide Chicago’s homeless cats with high-quality cat food for their meals.

In the following year, Merrick partnered with K9s For Warriors to provide dog treats as well as dog food for the service dogs in K9. The organization pairs service dogs with military veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Ingredients and Sources

With such high-quality pet food and a constant goal to be the best, you can be confident that their ingredients are the freshest.

With their five-star promises, their food is grown locally by farmers. They make fresh produce purchases all year round and with fewer distributors and warehouses, they ensure that it reaches your pet faster.

They also use ingredients without any additive, coloring or preservatives. Containing high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their fresh-caught fish. In addition to that, the vegetables are also full of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. Another good news is that their Classic recipes include whole grains for fiber too.

Protein forms a large part of Merrick’s dog food; this is beneficial to your pets as they thrive on high levels of protein. Their dry recipe has 60% to 70% of meat and fish and their dry, grain-free recipes are produced with high levels of proteins, such as beef and duck.

Instead of mass production, Merrick cooks their pet food in a kitchen in smaller batches. This helps them to monitor the quality and ensure that the amount of nutrients is right.

Lastly, in addition to all that has been mentioned above, they partner with organizations such as NSF International, Safe Quality Food (SQF) and HACCP to uphold high hygiene and safety standards in their kitchen and facilities.

Recall History

Unfortunately, despite the care and delicacy in which Merrick makes their products, there have been some cases where some of their products were recalled.

July and August 2010

There were two products that were recalled during these time periods, namely the Merrick Beef Filet Squares, lot #10084TL7, best by 24 March 2012 and the Merrick Texas Hold’ems pet treats, lot #10127, best by 6 May 2012. They were recalled in July 2010 and August 2010, respectively due to an underlying problem which was salmonella contamination.

January 2011

The Merrick Jr. Texas Taffy pet treats with numbers up to 10364 were recalled by the FDA. This was because there was possible contamination of salmonella, as well.

August 2011

The Merrick Doggie Wishbone pet treats in lot #11031, best by 30 Jan 2013, were recalled during this month and year because there was possible contamination of salmonella once again.

Fortunately, there hasn’t been any case of recalls since 2011, so Merrick must have solved the problem of salmonella contamination. Most pet food manufacturers will have recalls once in a while, so Merrick is still a trustworthy brand for your pets.

Formulas Offered

With such a wide variety of pet food available, the formulas offered can be confusing for you. Hence, we have categorized them for easy understanding just for you. Here is a list of pet food formulas by Merrick:

• Merrick Treats
• Merrick Grain-Free
• Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet
• Merrick Backcountry (High-protein plus glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support)
• Merrick Classic (Potato free plus glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support)
• Merrick Backcountry Raw (Freeze-dried raw bits of meat, poultry, or fish)

The flavors and formulas by Merrick are always unique and interesting for your pets. In 2002, Merrick innovated super premium pet food with a line of gourmet ingredients. You will be surprised, as it comes with real meat, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, as well.

Subsequently, Merrick introduced eight unique foods for the festive seasons, such as Grammy’s Pot Pie, Thanksgiving Dinner and Senior Medley. All these turned out to be tremendously popular and the Glycemic Research Institute of Washington awarded Merrick with the Best Pet Food of the Year award in 2004. Thus, be reassured that the quality has never been compromised, as they continue to strive to produce the best pet food.

Flavors Offered

Formulated from the highest quality ingredients, Merrick offers both canned and dry dog foods that come in an assorted range of flavors meant to entice even the pickiest pup. From the standard Merrick Classics range, to the high-protein Merrick Backcountry – which supplies dogs with a high protein diet.

Merrick Classics

• Small Breed Recipe
• Real Beef and Green Peas Recipe with Ancient Grains
• Real Chicken and Green Peas Recipe with Ancient Grains
• Real Lamb and Green Peas Recipe with Ancient Grains
• Puppy Recipe

Merrick Grain Free Range

• Real Buffalo and Sweet Potato
• Real Chicken and Sweet Potato
• Real Duck and Sweet Potato
• Real Rabbit and Sweet Potato
• Real Salmon and Sweet Potato
• Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato
• Real Turkey and Sweet Potato
• Real Venison and Chickpeas

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Range

• Grain Free Real Chicken
• Grain Free Real Lamb and Sweet Potato
• Grain Free Real Salmon and Sweet Potato
• Grain Free Real Turkey and Sweet Potato
• Grain Free Real Duck and Sweet Potato

Merrick Backcountry

• Big Game
• Game Bird
• Great Plains Red
• Hero’s Banquet
• Large Breed Recipe
• Pacific Catch
• Puppy Recipe

Merrick Backcountry Raw Meal Mixer

• Real Chicken
• Real Beef
• Real Salmon

Available Sizes

To suit the needs of their four-legged pals, Merrick’s dry dog food comes in a variety of different sizes that range from 4 lbs. for smaller breeds (like Shih Tzu Chihuahuas), up to 30 lbs. for larger breeds. Among the sizes on offer are:

Merrick Grain-Free and Classic

• 4 lbs.
• 12 lbs.
• 25 lbs.

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet and Backcountry

• 4 lbs.
• 12 lbs.
• 22 lbs.

Merrick Classic

• 15 lbs.
• 30 lbs.

Is It Suitable for Your Pet?

While Merrick’s products are specially formulated to cater to the needs of just about any kind of dog, Merrick also produces a range of specialty foods that are intended for dogs with special dietary requirements. Perhaps your beloved dog needs to lose a few pounds or spends the day out on the field working together with you. Whatever the case, Merrick has got you covered.

Healthy Adult Dogs

Most of the foods produced by Merrick is suitable for any dog with the exception of older dogs, puppies and dogs on a weight-loss program.

Dogs with Allergies

Some dogs may suffer from allergies or have difficulty adjusting to certain foods. Thanks to Merrick’s Grain-Free and Limited Ingredient Diet dog foods, rest assured that all of the ingredients have been screened for allergens or irritants that may affect your dog adversely.

Dogs with High Energy Requirements

Working dogs or athletic dogs have a significantly higher energy requirement as compared to other dogs. Merrick’s Backwoods range is specially formulated to provide active dogs with the energy that they need for an active lifestyle.

Puppies

Merrick also offers classic, grain-free and high protein diets for puppies. All of the ingredients used are specially-formulated to provide growing puppies with the nutrition they need to grow healthily.

Overweight Dogs

Sometimes, an overweight dog may need some help when it comes to losing a few extra pounds. Merrick’s Grain-Free Healthy Weight recipe is specially-formulated to help dogs lose weight in a healthy way.

Small Breeds

Lastly, if you have a small-sized dog, fret not, because the Merrick Classic Small Breed Recipe is specially-formulated to meet the dietary requirements of smaller-sized dogs.

Limitations

As stated by Merrick, not every brand of dog food is suitable for every dog. Dogs that may not be suitable for Merrick foods are:

Senior Dogs

Unfortunately, Merrick does not have a specific recipe for dogs who are getting on in years. Thus, owners should consider looking at brands that offer specific formulations for older dogs.

Pregnant or Lactating Dogs

As pregnant or lactating dogs have a different set of dietary requirements altogether, it is recommended that you consult your vet on the right choice of food for your dog.

Large Breed Puppies

Large breed puppies develop at a slower pace as compared to smaller-sized dogs. Thus, in order to ensure that they get the nutrition they need, you have to look for brands that offer dog food for plus-sized puppies.

Pros

Large Number of ChoicesWith so many varieties and flavors to choose from, owners are spoilt for choice when choosing a range of dog food for their beloved pet. From grain-free and ingredient limited recipes that are suitable for dogs with allergies, to sensitive stomachs, to the Merrick Backcountry range which provides working dogs with the protein they need to sustain their active lifestyles.Manufactured in the USAInstead of taking chances with a foreign dog food brand that may be guilty of skimping on quality ingredients, all of Merrick’s products are manufactured in the good ol’ US of A. Thus, rest easy knowing that Fido is getting the best in nutrition and quality.Top Quality IngredientsIt is a well-known fact that some competing dog food manufacturers are guilty of using what is known as filler ingredients in their products i.e. using cheap ingredients such as low-quality grains, rice, peelings, or even feathers in order to “bulk” up their products. However, Merrick takes no chances with second-rate ingredients and ensures that only top-quality ingredients are used during the manufacturing process.Highly-Rated by Customers and Reputable DistributorsThorough research into the Merrick brand has shown that the brand has a respectable reputation within the community of pet owners, with many owners praising the quality of Merrick dog food. Along with this, reputable distributors have also given their mark of approval. Thus, further reinforcing the Merrick brand name.

Cons

Past Salmonella ContaminationAlthough Merrick has taken numerous steps to ensure the quality of their products, the company was forced to recall some of their products several times in the past due to a risk of salmonella contamination. However, these recalls only affected dog treats and not any of their dry and canned dog food range.Unsuitable for Some DogsSome owners have mentioned that their dogs suffered from diarrhea and stomach upsets after switching to Merrick dog food. Thus, care should be taken when first feeding your dog with Merrick dog food i.e. slowly introducing Merrick dog food into your dog’s diet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Merrick is definitely a trustworthy brand. With a long history as well as awards earned, you are able to trust them to deliver good quality pet food. Furthermore, there is always a large variety to choose from, so your pet will never be bored of a single or a few flavors of pet food. The different types of formulas also mean that there is something for everyone’s pet, no matter what your pet may be allergic to.

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