Your dog’s palette isn’t so different from your own. He needs a wholesome blend of vitamins and nutrients, a good variety of meats and veggies, and a range of delicious flavors to choose from. Merrick dog food offers exactly that. The Texas-based brand even offers grain-free varieties for pups with sensitive stomachs and special dietary needs.
Chances are, Merrick has something in its diverse lineup that’s perfect for your pet. But which one is it? This Merrick dog food review will cover four different types of Merrick dog food, discuss the nutritional information of each, and share their key health benefits. The goal is to help you make an informed, well-researched decision on what type of Merrick dog food is best for your pup.
When shopping for new dog food, keep in mind that certain dogs may have specific dietary needs. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian before you change your dog’s diet to ensure the new food meets their proper nutritional and caloric needs. Between you and your vet, you’ll be able to select the perfect food for your dog.
The Grain-Free Merrick Puppy Food Reviews
Merrick’s Grain-Free lineup features an ingredient list tailored for dogs who are sensitive to grain and gluten to improve their digestive health. Instead of relying on grains like rice and barley, grain-free puppy food combines meat-based proteins with protein-rich veggies like peas, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Grain-free puppy food packs in all the nutrients a growing pup needs, minus the grain-based “fillers” included in other varieties of dog food.
Merrick’s lineup of grain-free puppy food comes in two savory flavors:
- Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato
- Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato
Ingredients
The primary ingredients in the Merrick Grain Free Puppy Food lineup are a meat-based source of protein like deboned beef or chicken. Following the primary meat ingredients are sweet potatoes, peas, lamb meal, potatoes, pea protein, potato protein, and natural flavor. Further down the list are other healthy ingredients like apples, blueberries, salmon oil, and flaxseed oil.
Nutritional breakdown:
- Crude Protein: 28.0% minimum
- Crude Fat: 12.0% minimum
- Crude Fiber: 4.5% maximum
- Moisture: 11.0% maximum
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 0.05% minimum
- Calcium: 1.2% minimum
Feeding Instructions
Instead of free-feeding your dog, Merrick recommends measuring out their food based on weight and age. Puppies up to sixteen weeks old are fed more than dogs aged sixteen to fifty-two weeks. For example, a 20-pound dog younger than six weeks old will eat 3 cups of kibble per day while a 20-pound dog older than six weeks of age should only get 2.5 cups daily.
To help you measure the correct amount of food for your pup, Merrick includes a handy chart on the back of the bag. Ultimately, your dog’s appetite is based on a number of factors including age, weight, breed, and daily activity level. Use the guide as a starting point and make any adjustments as needed. Keep in mind that this measurement is for total daily consumption, not per meal. To calculate the portion size for each meal, take the total and divide it by the number of meals you plan to feed your pup per day.
Be sure to keep a bowl of fresh water available during meal times so your dog can stay adequately hydrated. Plus, combining dry food with wet food helps increase the amount of water in your pup’s diet.
Health Benefits of Grain Free Merricks Puppy Food
- Grain-free recipe means no gluten, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors and colors.
- Main ingredients are deboned chicken or beef, fruits, and vegetables, for a nutritious and tasty flavor combination.
- Omega-3 fatty acids support healthy brain development as your puppy grows.
- Merrick’s facility in Texas uses locally-sourced ingredients from trusted farmers and ranchers.
The Wet Merricks Puppy Food Review
If your pup likes Merrick’s grain-free dry food or has certain dietary restrictions, he may also enjoy Merrick’s Wet Puppy Food. Wet dog food is a popular complement to dry dog food for extra flavor, nutrients, and hydration for your pup. Merrick’s wet food is a grain-free stew of chicken, duck, and turkey mixed with greens like peas, carrots, and Granny Smith apples.
The recipe formula is designed to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber for your growing puppy. Plus, all of the ingredients are high-quality, locally-sourced, and contain no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Merrick’s wet food can be scooped over dry kibble or served as a complete meal.
Merrick’s wet puppy food is available in two tasty flavors:
- Merrick Classic Grain Free Puppy Plate Beef
- Merrick Classic Grain Free Puppy Plate Chicken
Ingredients
Merrick’s wet food prioritizes nutritious meat-based proteins along with fruits and vegetables. The main ingredients for the Merrick Classic Grain Free Puppy Plate Beef flavor are deboned beef, beef broth, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples. Merrick’s Classic Grain Free Puppy Plate Chicken flavor substitutes beef for deboned chicken and chicken broth. Both flavors include omega-3 fatty acids including sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, and salmon oil to promote healthy brain development for young dogs.
Nutritional breakdown:
- Crude Protein: 9.0% minimum
- Crude Fat: 3.0% minimum
- Crude Fiber: 3.0% maximum
- Moisture: 81.0% maximum
Feeding Instructions
To determine the right portion size for your puppy, follow the guidelines on the can. Portion size will vary based on your dog’s weight.
Unlike dry food, the portion size for canned food is measured by can instead of a cup. A 3-pound puppy eats ¾ of a can while a 40-pound dog eats five cans. For pups over 40-pounds, Merrick recommends adding one can per 10-pounds of additional weight. Keep in mind that these measurements only work if you’re exclusively feeding your dog wet food. If you plan to combine it with dry food, simply reduce the amount of wet food by 3 oz for every 1/4 cup of dry kibble.
Any unused Merrick wet food should be covered and refrigerated until the next mealtime.
Health Benefits of Wet Merricks Puppy Food
- Made with farm-fresh ingredients like Texas beef, apples, peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
- Leading 28% protein level thanks to beef and chicken from local farms and ranches in Texas.
- Omega-3 fatty acids like fish oil and sunflower oil promote healthy brain development for puppies.
- Natural recipe cuts out filler ingredients like corn, wheat, soy, gluten and grain.
Merricks Puppy Food Review
Merrick’s current lineup carries one flavor of puppy food: Merrick Classic Puppy Recipe. The main ingredients are chicken and brown rice, so chicken-loving pups will be pleased with the flavor profile. In addition to having a wholesome flavor, the recipe is also designed to have a strong balance of protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for maximum nutritional value. Merrick’s puppy food contains high doses of essential vitamins, minerals, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to promote skin, fur, and bone health.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in Merricks Puppy Food are deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, peas, barley, carrots, and oatmeal. Plus, the ingredient list includes fruits and ancient grains including apples, blueberries, and chia seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon oil promote brain development as your puppy grows!
Nutritional breakdown:
- Crude Protein: 26.0% minimum
- Crude Fat: 12.0% minimum
- Crude Fiber: 3.5% maximum
- Moisture: 11.0% maximum
- Omega-6 Fatty Acid: 2.8% minimum
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid: 3.0% minimum
Feeding Instructions
Your puppy’s portion size will depend on its weight, age, breed, and activity level. To get started, Merrick includes a feeding chart on the bag with recommendations based on weight and age. Puppies under 16 weeks of age should get a larger portion than dogs between 17 and 52 weeks old. For example, a 3-pound dog should eat ¾ cup of kibble each day up until 16 weeks of age and only ⅔ cup of food after 17 weeks old. All puppies are a little different, so their meal size could be affected by breed and activity level as well.
To increase the level of water in your dog’s diet, you may want to combine dry food with wet food. Merrick recommends reducing the amount of dry food by ½ cup for every 6 ounces of wet food.
Health Benefits of Merricks Puppy Food Reviews
- Made with natural ingredients like deboned chicken and real fruits and veggies.
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids support healthy skin and coat while aiding hip and joint function.
- Merrick’s production facility in Texas uses high-quality ingredients sourced from local farmers.
The Hypoallergenic Merricks Dog Food Review
Hypoallergenic dog food formulas contain fewer unique ingredients than standard dog food recipes. By keeping the ingredient list simple and cutting out common allergens, hypoallergenic foods are much less likely to cause an allergic reaction in your pup. But don’t construe the short ingredient list to mean less nutritional value; in fact, Merrick’s Hypoallergenic Dog Food is packed with important vitamins, nutrients, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Merrick’s Limited Ingredient lineup comes in a variety of savory flavors, including:
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Duck and Chickpeas
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Turkey and Chickpeas
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Chicken Recipe
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Lamb and Chickpeas
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Salmon and Chickpeas
Ingredients
The primary ingredient in Merrick’s Limited Ingredient lineup is a meat-based protein. The top two ingredients in Merrick’s Chicken Recipe are deboned chicken and chicken meal. The meat ingredients are supplemented with high-protein vegetables like chickpeas, lentils, and peas. This is a much healthier alternative to lower-grade dog foods that use ingredients like beet sugar. Omega-3 fatty acids like sunflower oil and flaxseed oil offer an added benefit to your pet’s coat and skin.
Nutritional breakdown:
- Crude Protein: 30.0% minimum
- Crude Fat: 16.0% minimum
- Crude Fiber: 4.5% maximum
- Moisture: 11.0% maximum
- Omega-6 Fatty Acid: 5.0% minimum
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid: 0.8% minimum
Feeding Instructions
Your puppy’s meal size is mainly determined by their age and weight, although breed and activity level will likely also play a role. To determine your puppy’s correct portion size, simply follow the guidelines on the back of the bag. Portion sizes for Merricks Hypoallergenic Dog Food range from ⅓ cup for three-pound dogs to 5 cups for dogs one-hundred-pounds and over. Keep in mind that the amount is a daily allotment, so you’ll need to divide the total by the number of meals you plan to feed your pup.
Merricks Hypoallergenic Dog Food is a dry kibble so be sure to give your dog access to a source of freshwater so they can stay hydrated. To up your dog’s water intake, you can also complement their dry kibble with Merrick’s wet food. If you plan to add wet food to your dog’s meals, Merrick recommends reducing the dry amount by 1/2 cup for every 6 ounces of canned food.
Health Benefits of Hypoallergenic Merricks Dog Food Review
- Real deboned meat like chicken and beef are the top ingredients.
- List of ingredients is simple and straightforward to eliminate common food allergens.
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids promote healthy skin, coats, and joints in addition to boosting brain development in young puppies.
- Food is manufactured in the USA using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients.
(Puppy) Food for Thought
Which variety of Merrick puppy food is best for your dog? Or perhaps your pup would like a combination of several on the list? With the help of this handy Merrick dog food review guide, you know enough about Merrick’s high-quality dog food lineup to make an informed, confident decision for your dog. Whether you chose scrumptious grain-free chicken kibble or zesty canned beef, your selection is sure to put a smile on your pup’s face and an extra wag in his tail.
