Merrick Dog Food
Marketed as “premium natural dog & cat food worthy of a fork”, Merrick is a top-notch pet food brand that contains human-grade ingredients. Based in Amarillo, Texas, Merrick Pet Care, Inc. was founded by Garth Merrick in 1988. Today, it remains a family-owned business that offers a simplistic, yet innovative selection of all-natural dog food recipes.
Merrick Pet Care, Inc. owns and manufactures Merrick dog food. All of their recipes are produced in their test kitchen and plants in Hereford, Texas. They use locally-sourced ingredients, and their kitchens and manufacturing facilities are upheld by strict FDA standards.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
Merrick Recalls 2019
Despite the fact that Merrick dog food is produced to retain the most nutritional value, this brand has been involved in many pet food recalls.
- August of 2012, Merrick withdrew their All-Natural Beef Chew dog treats.
- In August 2011, Merrick’s Doggie Wishbone pet treats were recalled due to the possibility of contamination of Salmonella.
- January 2011, Merrick pulled their Junior Texas Taffy dog treats off of the shelves due to another possible Salmonella contamination.
- In January 2010, Merrick issued a voluntary recall for their Beef Filet Squares because of possible Salmonella contamination (this product was recalled again in July of 2010 for the same reason).
To learn about new recalls when they happen, sign up through our Recall Alert Form. You can learn more about how we monitor for recalls here.
Merrick Consumer Ratings
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Merrick Dog Food Coupons 2019
Merrick Reviews
Despite recalls years ago, it is clear that Merrick really values the quality of their ingredients. All of their ingredients are locally sourced from farmers and ranchers, and they don’t use anything from overseas.
Merrick also produces all of their dog food in-house. Not only that, but they have strict standards well-defined by the FDA. They take pride in the fact that they have their own five-star kitchen and manufacturing facilities. Merrick dog food contains absolutely no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Everything is 100% real, including the meat, so there are no by-products or fillers.
The first ingredient in every recipe is always USDA-inspected deboned meat or fresh produce, which can be difficult to find in commercial dog foods. They spent years conducting nutrition research and taste tests to develop a collection of top-notch recipes that contain as few ingredients as possible. Their ultimate goal is to provide dog food chock full of uncompromised nutritional benefits, and the way to achieve that is to manufacture it with as few ingredients and steps as possible.
We’re impressed with the quality of Merrick dog food. After analyzing the ingredients and reading up on their good manufacturing practices, we can safely deduct that they walk the walk and talk the talk.
In-Depth Look At Merrick’s Grain-Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe
Merrick’s Grain-Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato recipe was created for dogs of all breeds and life stages. Of course, Merrick rates it 5 stars. Let’s find out if this rating is justified.
Merrick’s website describes this grain-free formula to be “ideal for all life stages and all breeds of dogs with a focus on naturally nutrient rich ingredients to support overall health.”
The first ingredient is deboned duck, which can raise some concerns because it’s mostly water that contributes no nutritional value. However, the next two ingredients are turkey meal and salmon meal. Turkey meal provides a concentrated amount of protein, and salmon meal is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Sweet potatoes and peas come next, and then there’s lamb meal, another source of protein. According to Merrick’s website, the fresh produce, which includes sweet potatoes, peas, blueberries, and apples, in this recipe offers the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your dog needs.
By the looks of the ingredients list, we concluded that there’s truth behind Merrick’s claims of keeping their ingredients list as short and wholesome as possible.
So, yes, we think that the 5-star rating is justified.
Where Can You Buy Merrick Dog Food?
You can snatch up a bag of Merrick dog food either online or at a brick-and-mortar pet store. However, we recommend browsing for Merrick formulas on Chewy.com. They have quick shipping and offer discounts to new customers.
I would like to know if Merrick tests their dog food products on animals.
I would also like to know if Merrick tests on dogs for their dog food. Especially beagles. Please answer, if you don’t I will assume you do and will stop buying your dog food.
Thank you.
That’s a joke right? I would hope they test their dog food on animals as it’s made for them…
Wait. You’re saying this company tests their products on dogs? That’s horrible, I’m never buying this dog food! Hopefully they don’t make the dogs wear lipstick when they force them to eat such nutritional food. Shame on you.
NO ONE EVER SAID THEY TEST ON ANIMALS!!!
Sadly, testing even pet food on animals is serious and something that pet owners need to consider. The testing that these people are referring to isn’t just feeding dogs the food. Companies have been caught doing some pretty sadistic things, like breaking animals legs, leaving them untreated, and seeing how food effects the healing process. Countless animals have been tortured and killed testing food. Read Ann Martin s book Fo
Read Ann Martin’s book Foods Pets Die For. It is pretty shocking.
Would you like to become a dog food taster, I’m sure they are hiring
No animal testing was done on animals, the testing was to find out if dogs would like the recipe to see if it must sell to pet owners. I am amazed how people would think otherwise. I sure hope these people do not live in my area. Their ignorance would probably polite the water supply.
I agree with your reply as I too thought the question was stupid. LOL with you!!
Did you really ask a company to respond on a 3rd party website?
Have you been reading comments on line about your dog food? I wanted top quality food for my 11 year old dog and yesterday purchased your Grain-Free Chicken/Sweet Potato mix. My dog loves those ingredients. I only added a heaping tablespoon as a start to his regularly used food. He loved and ate it all. This morning he woke me early
all in distress racing to the door to get outside with loose & runny stools. Bag going back – just too many incidents I’m reading of same happening to too many dogs. How many more comments will it take for you people (who profess to be avid dog lovers) to sit up and take notice?
I’ve done a lot of research, reading, and educating myself about dog food. It even led me to try other brands, this is what I learned:
You can’t blame the dog food makers for loose & runny stools.
Each dog is different with a different digestive system. I have two Beagles, one who can’t digest high amounts of protein and one who can. I tried Merrick first. Dog A had perfect poops, dog B had semi-soft poop, the protein content was about 30% I think with 3.5% Fiber (this is important).
Next we tried Solid Gold Wolf King, this food is about 22% protein and 4% fiber. Both dogs had perfect poop, but the cost of food was quite a bit more. So I kept looking.
I tried Evo next, 40% protein and 2% fiber. Dog A was perfect as usual, but dog B had diarrhea. The protein was just too high and the fiber was just too low.
Lesson: protein and fiber %. Dog B does better on minimum protein (22%) and high fiber (4%). So I went back to Merrick bc of the price and instead of feeding 100% dry food, as it is already harder for a dog to digest, I lower the daily portion by a ½ cup and I add about 6 oz. of wet dog food (they love Natural Balance). This has solved the problem.
My point is, just because your dog can’t digest the food well, doesn’t make it bad. You should try a dog food that has lower protein and more fiber or try what I did and mix wet & dry. You can also try finding a food with just more fiber or add some yourself. But don’t blame Merrick.
I think this is best and most informative post I have ever read on any of the many sites I have been using to research dog food. Bless you.
I’ve been feeding g my french bulldog and toy pom natural balance potato and duck formula for years, they do love the tadte, BUT, they fink water excessively! ! I finally tasted it myself (lol)and it is EXTREMELY SALTLY!!!!!! And today for the 1st time my toy pom had an epileptic seizure, can be due to high sodium levels, not to mention I’m up all night letting them out, from drinking water, from the SALTY NATURAL BALANCE! I changed their food today…please beware buyers!
I am a neurosurgeon. Your dog didn’t have a seizure due to dog food. Probably you should be responsible and take it to a vet. Low sodium is far more likely to cause neurologic concerns than high.
Your tasting of dog food is also concerning. Perhaps you should also get checked out.
Sweet potatoes will loosen stool considerable (does on humans as well), in time most dogs will make the adjustment but every dog is different. Introduce slow and do not buy a huge bag until you know if your dog will tolerate any food. Every dog is different just like every human is different. There are some foods I do not eat as I am sure there are some foods you do not eat…
the reason why your dog is going to the bathroom is the sweet potato ingredient….it is used often as a laxative for constipated dogs. i think that maybe after a few weeks your dogs digestive system might adjust and regular bowel movements will resume. in my case i have a constipated dog and id love to see him get back to being regular…even if it starts with some runs. bc its heartbreaking. maybe you should try a different formula of merrick…one w/o sweet potato….bc it will make them go go go.
My French Bulldog has always been very finicky about food. He sniffs everything first before eating, and if it’s not top-notch, worthy of a 5-star restaurant, he walks away. I have bent over backwards over the last year trying to feed him. I finally saw that he likes CHUNKS—real beef—real potatoes, with gravy. I finally found Merricks dog food at Pet Smart and zero’d in on “Pappys’ Pot Roast.” HE LOVES IT. I mixed it in slowly over a week, WITH Merrick’s dry food. NO PROBLEMS. He actually asks to eat now!! YAY! And he’s eating twice a day. Wonderful.
I just picked up a trial bag of Merrick’s Grain Free Healthy Weight Recipe for our newly adopted Bullmastiff boy, who came to us on some cheap-ass grocery store brand. Have been introducing it over the past several days and not only does he love it, I detect no stomach issues whatsoever. I plan on feeding it with a little FreshPet Select Slice and Serve Roll mixed in for moisture and interest. Now that’s a combination I can feel good about feeding our dog.
Merrick was first recommended to me by a specialty veterinary hospital. They said a sick dog would eat the canned food when it would not eat anything else. Still true. I feed Merrick Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato kibble to seven adult vizslas, and I also wean puppies directly from their mothers’ milk to this kibble. Its simplicity and high quality keep me feeding it. My dogs flourish on it, and IT DOES NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS. The fact that this particular formula contains no bird products may account for the lack of problems. I haven’t been able to feed chicken, duck, or turkey safely for years. Try freeze-dried Ziwi Peak Lamb and Venison chunks for treats. Costs the moon, but I think it’s worth it.
Katherine, I wondered if you were still having good results with your Vizslas? I am switching my boxer over.. Thanks Tina
I have two senior yorkies. The eldest one (13.5 y.o.) will eat rocks if you put them in his bowl, he just doesn’t mind about any food, nor he ever gets sick. The other one (11.5 y.o.) is very picky with his food and has quite a delicate stomach. Anything out of his Hill’s ID canned food will probably give him diarrhea. The problem is that he doesn’t even want to eat ID anymore. So I went to a local pet shop and the owner recommended me to try Merrick’s canned dog food (they also have food for Senior dogs and categorized by breed size as well). We started with a very small amount yesterday mixed with his ID and so far, no diarrhea. I’ll keep this posting updated just in case it helps some of you out there.
So far, so good. They still like Merrick and I cannot tell if their quality has downgraded to be honest. The food keeps looking the same as when I wrote this original comment a little over a year ago. One of the yorkies recently got his annual check up with the vet and he is as healthy as he can be. I guess we are going to keep feeding him Merrick for Small Breeds.
I have been feeding my Boston (8y.o) and my kitty (6y.o) Merrick since they were babies. I had to wait for the cat food to come to the market near me but they both LOVE the food. It’s high quality NUTRITION and for those of you saying your dog gets sick when introduced… HELLO! Humans would get “sick” too if introduced to higher grades of food. It’s called releasing toxins. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
I switched abruptly to Merrick because of the Costco brand dog food scare. I have 5 dogs, 2 of which has sensitive tummies. None of them had tummy upset or diarrhea. Will keep using this product.
I switched from Blue to Merrick after hearing about the lawsuit between Purina and Blue and the rumor that Mars was buying Blue. My 12 y.o. pit mix is just loving Merrick’s grain free buffalo and sweet potato. I never had an issue with Blue but, was uneasy about the rumors.
Your dog is “loving it” but you gave it only ONE star?? Is it having troubles or getting sick??
I’m looking to switch my Doberman off Taste of the Wild and wanted to go to kirkland (costco) 5-star but Jan 2015 many dogs are getting sick and even dieing so that’s a one star.
I want to get AWAY from Diamond brands.
just wanted to update you Merrick is now owned by Purina…I’ve been feeding Merrick for quite some time but am currently looking at other brands. I don’t believe that Purina is keeping the formula the same.
Merrick was Purchased by PURINA July 2015, That usually means change in processes or food cut corners make cheaper. Why is this not updated? In most cases where small manufactures were bought out by these big Companies means a change in food quality or how it’s processed. Most Pet food is made by Nestle Purina; Masterfoods USA (Mars); Iams (Proctor and Gamble); Del Monte Pet Foods; Diamond. Most other Brands are made under these Big companies. Mars makes quite a few.
I talked with Merrick. It says right on their website…and they told me…they maintined an Indepedent contrat. Purina can make NO change now or in the future. The company is still ran by the original owner and their is no time limit on the contract it will remain indepedent. They ar enot changing any formulas. That stipulation was accepted by Purina and that is why they went with Purina.
I have two dogs- a corgi mix and a teacup chihuahua. Both have high level palette when it comes to food- as a foodie myself, I’ve been making home made foods everyday for them. But due to my work schedule, I had to resort to dog kibbles – and tried Merricks dog food. They LOVE it! The first dog brand they actually eat – licking the last bite!
Great ingredients, especially their grain-free line, and as a designer myself, really love what they did with the packaging design and photography!
I work at petco and I’ve also told customers that merrick is the best dog food we have I have an 8 week old rottweiler and he loves the puppy recipe
I have a year old rottweiler and he eats Merrick’s Grain Free Chicken and Sweet Potato recipe. He’s been on it for a few months. I fed him Wellness as a puppy then switched to Science Diet. Neither of those brands were best for my puppy in my opinion so I did some research and decided on Merrick. He hasn’t had any issues and his coat is nice and shiny. His vet is happy with my food choice so I am going to stick with it. I like giving him the canned food as an occasional treat. I was pleased to find real chicken and veggies in the cans instead of mashed up food that was unrecognizable.
Parents fed a can of Merrick Wing-a-ling to my boxer on Saturday. He enjoyed the dog food but began coughing and joking shortly after eating. Fortunately he was able to cough up a small bone that was in the food. I kept the bone in case you want proof. Sounds like Quality control may be an issue. At this time I’m not sure if I will buy your product again.
Jill, First off I’d like to say that I have no affiliation with Merrick whatsoever, and am just consumer like you. But you are incorrect about the bone being a quality control issue. I feed our German Shepard Wing-a-ling all the time. The bones are pressure cooked so they literally crumble when they are chewed. It is a very safe process that several companies now use including Evangers also (they have two products with bones – Roasted Chicken Drummets and Whole Thighs). I was freaked out too the first time I saw the bones, but after doing a lot of online reading, I realized that these are actually good for the dogs. They do not recommend giving them to small dogs because they might try to swallow them whole which could cause choking. However in large dogs (like a boxer) there should be no problem. It is more likely that the dog loved it so much he wolfed the food without chewing. The bones break up really easily, and can be broken into smaller pieces usually with just a fork if you need to. Here’s an informative video I saw on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETem8C6fGx8
That’s one of the few “flavors” that is so much a can of real food, that there are bones in the wings. There are real carrots, potatoes, peas, etc in some of the other options – and they LOOK like real foods. My 2 dogs (yorks & bullie) love the taste, but I’m just really careful serving up a meal.
Oops forgot to give stars! 5/5!!
Jill, Merricks wet food clearly states on the can that is has softened chicken bones in it. Read the can. Do your research. (I also use their wet food line, I saw the ingredient, picked it out, threw it away. Trash can encountered 0 issues)
I am currently feeding my 6 dogs and 3 cats the grain free Merrick foods. The dogs are on the Texas Beef with Sweet Potato, and the cats are on the Salmon formula. My dogs range in age from 4 years to 10 years, and they range in size from 4 lbs. to 80 lbs. All 6 of my dogs LOVE the Merrick food; have great poops; have the best coats that I’ve seen on them in their lives; and are maintaining a healthy weight. My cats’ coats improved immensely after they had been eating the Merrick food for a few weeks, and they also have great poops and maintain a great weight on a nominal amount of the food.
I have a question actually. I have my dogs on Merrick Salmon Grainfree dog food. Do you use propylene glycol in this dog food or any of your dog food? The reason I ask this is I want to make sure you DO NOT have that indgredient in your dog food. I stopped using Blue Buffalo because of stomach issues and switched to Merrick. So far no problems but I wanted to make sure about this ingredient and why do you use chronitin/glucosomine in your food? Please advise.
Our Bella loves it!!! She has unbelivable, paint removing, eye watering FARTS! So bad it startles her because of the noise coming from her butt!
When we first got Penelope (Mastiff/Great Dane/Lab mix) her trainer recommended Merrick. We’ve been buying it for her ever since. She loves it. The bones in the WingALing concerned me at first, but I called the number on the can and they explained that they use some special cooking process that makes the bones very digestible. I can easily break them up with a fork, and have never had a problem. The new flavors that have come out recently are a real hit! Huge chunks of meat and real veggies. It looks pretty dang good! So we tasted it! And for dog food, it ain’t too bad! I would highly recommend Merrick, it’s a bit pricey, but well worth it.
I have a two in a half year old Presa, he’s very very picky with his food! We do the raw diet, mostly. I went to the pet store and wanted the best food for him! I was told to try merrick, we got a smaller bag just in case he hated this food also! No such luck! He ate 5 bowls and wanted more! Looks like we found our new food! YAY!
I have been having problems with my 10 year old Japanese Chin who loved Merrick moist food for over 8 years. Now for the last 2 weeks he is snubbing it. This happened once before when he ate the tainted food back in 2007 and I would almost force feed him thinking he was being finicky. He wasn’t eating because he smelt something off with this food and I almost lost him and won the class action law suit…not much though, especially with $$$ spent at vets. So I researched Merrick deeply. I am NOT saying something is wrong with the food, I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem. I have learned to trust my dog Now. I did call the company and they stated they do not know of any problems and sent me coupons…but to date he won’t eat their food now. Appreciate any help and any suggestions for new food to buy. Very tired of making chicken and beef for him not well myself . Thank you!!!!
Bil-Jac. You don’t have to transition. You can put them right on it with no diarrhea. I have found this to be true with my dogs, and have asked others and not one has reported diarrhea when put right on it, and they guarantee your dog will like it, or they will pay for the whole bag.. (I asked)
DO NOT BUY THIS DOG FOOD!!!! I have been buying Merricks Grain Free Dog food in all flavours for the past couple months and they have easily made at least 2 grand off me. My dog just got back from the vet with a 200 dollar bill because of the wet food. The vet said my dog is literally squirting out poop. . . gross. The only thing I changed is add the wet Merricks dog food with the kibble and day one puking now day two his bum is so sore hes on pain meds and wearing a cone on his head!!!! So MAD!
That’s hortible! I’ll be thinking twice now, before making a choice, don’t ever choose natural balance grain free either, SALTY!!!!!! sodium through the roof! I also saw a lot of recalls this company has had, nails in food, salmonella, concerning. ..good luck!
One good comment, it’s not the dog food or the dogs fault. Every dog and every food is different. My dog can poop perfect after a day of eating nothing but wild horse and donky %$#@ out on the trail. That doesn’t mean it would be healthy long term to feed him that. I had many dogs for years that I fed the cheapest crap the store had, no problems. Freshly killed rabbit heart, lungs and liver? No problem, sometimes even the head, fur and all. Could be anxiety from wacky owners causing issues just as much as the wrong food. How many dogs eat their own crap over and over? Happens all the time. It’s a dog, not a human child. That being said, Merrick Buffalo grain free seems great so far. I supplement with large doses of fish oil as well as scrambled eggs and fresh salmon on hunting days, so my dog is super spoiled. Oh, I also give him “smart water” during sprint work out time, but he also drinks seemingly nasty pond water on the hunt. Generally, they will only eat and drink what is good for them or that they like.
We all have our opinions and methods. Just go with what you think is best. At least if you actually buy food and take your pet to the Vet, you care! Better than the countless idiots who do not spade or neuter their dogs and cause the slaughter of thousands of pets daily.
I HAVE A BORDER COLLIE/LAB MIX THAT IS 7 MONTHS OLD. I HAVE BEEN FEEDING HER MERRICK FOR 2 MONTHS NOW AND CAN I JUST SAY THAT I LOVE THIS FOOD. HER COAT IS SUPER SHINY AND SHE HAS ALOT OF ENERGY AND VERY PLAYFUL. THE FOOD IS PRICEY THOUGH. I BUY MINE THROUGH PETCO AND A 12 POUND BACK COSTS ME 48.00 THAT WILL LAST ME A MONTH.
Been feeding my Springer pup Merrick Backcountry puppy mix for two months. Guy loves it and has had great vet visits and he’s full (too much at times) of energy.
Merrick announced that it sold to Purina. I have strong doubts that the brand will retain quality & I will not support Purina, so I am no longer going to be purchasing Merrick or its other brands Castor & Pollux and Whole Earth Farms. https://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2015-07-21-0
My dogs and I really love Merrick. I use it whenever I’m out of their regular raw diet so I was devastated to hear today that Merrick has been bought by Nestle/Purina.
Of course, Nestle claims they will not change anything but I don’t believe that for a moment. Sadly, another really good, family-run business has been taken over by corporate greed.
Oh, no!!! They didn’t!! How disappointing.
You have blown my trust. Can’t anything good ever stay the same.
I have used Merrick grain free for a year now. I prefer the most wholesome and nutritious food for my dogs. Over the last 27 years I have had 13 of my own dogs; most from shelters or abandoned situations, and many fosters. In the beginning I was ignorant to the different quality of dog foods available and I look back now and feel guilty that I fed my first few dogs the big name basic quality dog foods; because that was good enough. As I became more educated about the seriousness of recalls, I began to look into the ingredients. I improved the quality as the years went along. And before Merrick I used a human grade, add water, brand that was great; but one of my new dogs had problems with the garlic. I then was introduced to Merrick by a small pet food store in Fort Collins, CO. I went on line and checked the history of recalls, all of the ingredients and benefits of grain free. I was sold on Merrick and have tried to convert all family and friends to this brand. I constantly receive compliments on my dogs’ beautiful glossy black coats, their sparkly teeth and great health. Both are rescues. I have also taken a friends mothers 12 yo dog, having entered a nursing facility, and his coat and feebleness have improved greatly. The quality of the food allows me to feed them less, while keeping their recommended weight and knowing the food they receive has no fillers. I am sold forever and don’t mind paying the price. Paying more for the best beats paying less for junk. We are what we eat, right?
As a sidebar, I always keep a few cans of Merrick chicken just in case I need it. When I opened it the first time, my eyebrows arched and I said to my husband, “wow, this looks better than the canned stuff I have in the pantry for us. Give me a fork!” Thank you so much Merrick.
I just want to know if the Merrick dog food is safe to feed my dog since selling out to Purina. I do not trust Purina to produce anything safe for him.
I’ve been feeding my dogs Merrick Grain Free Real Buffalo & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food, for 2 1/2 years. They all love it and have the shiniest coats. My vet has asked what I’m feeding them because they are all so healthy. He did say, don’t stop.
I’ve never had any problems that I would relate to the food.
The bad of Merrick’s Grain-Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato we just bought Jan 2016 has different ingredients than those listed above. No turkey or salmon by products.
New ingredients: Deboned duck, Duck meal,Sweet potatoes, Peas, potatoes, pea protein, duck fat, “natural flavor”(??? Do they mean MSG? or What?), potato protein, Organic alfalfa, Salt, minerals, vitamins, choline chloride, Yucca Schidigara extract and then many things starting with Dried Lactobacillus …
Did you ever find out what natural flavor meant? That’s pretty said if it’s msg! Especially for the price!
Merrick was bought out by Ralston Purina. Merrick has sent me an email saying they will not be cheapening their products and will remain the same. Amazon reviews are beginning saying Merrick has changed on some products. What is your feeling/review of the buyout?
I am a St Louisan and know Ralstons reputation as a cheap company.
Merrick actually uses China for their premix- theirs a lawsuit pending as we speak
That is TERRIBLE! At the time of the buy-out, in an inquiry I made to them, Merrick swore that their standard would not change, and that all their stuff was natural and were sourced from the USA.
I feel that the recent purchase of Merrick by PURINA must be addressed here. We have been loyal customers of Merrick for many years, even attributing bringing my 16 yr old cat with kidney disease back from near death. However, after the merger and their announcement that none of their formulas would change, we noticed within a few short months a MAJOR change in both our dogs and cats! Coats were no longer shiny, increased shedding, kidney issues back, loose stools..and the list goes on and on..Merrick has an entire YEAR to inform us, the consumer of the changes, but I have noticed that in my cat food PEAS are now used profusely…cheap, nearly unusable filler for felines..
Just be careful, pay attention when buying your “go-to”..deception seems to be the word of the day.
hi! I have a pitbull hound mix and have had him on Merrick sweet potato chicken recipe, and he’s always been fine on it, until now. this last bag i bought has been making him sick and he’s had loose greenish stool I ordered the bag online from petco which i never do, do you think it could just be petco?
Merrick is simply the best dog food out there. My 4 month old 32 pound goldendoodle is the most beautiful dog due to the help of her merrick raw infused puppy food. 5 star is very true about this product.
My 13 week old weimaraner loves it. She has been eating the classic puppy for over a month now and I am happy with the ingredients. She was on Blue Buffalo puppy when I got her from the breeder and really was not very excited about eating it. It would take her hours to eat her meal. Once I switched her to Merrick she goes crazy for it! Plus she is growing like crazy and her skin is so soft. I’m also very happy with the fact that their is glucosamine chondroitin added in the food as she is active. Very pleased with the protein level as well. I like Merrick a lot.
Actually I know someone who works for a large brand name testing facility. The dogs are treated like family and have the run of the place during work hours. She never said about at night. They are treated like household dogs at this place.
WASN’T MERRICK JUST BOUGHT OUT BY P/G IN 2015?
Merrick was bought by Purina, why do you still ratr this food a 5star?
Qi really do not know what to do about using Merrick. cat food products. I was looking for a food to help me phase out the use of Evo which all my cats loved. Continued to use some Evo dry until this past week since I could not buy it on line. So had to do a complete changeover to Merrick dry. I also have used Merrick limited ingredient wet food for about 21/2 years.
Cats I am feeding are my personal pets. Several rescues that are inside and a small colony of outside cats which have been TNRed. I feed them all the same. Please advise if I should continue with the Merrick or change again. What would be excellent quality alternatives?
I guess my question to the dog testing question is…don’t you test on your dog when you try different foods. Each dog is different and so is their metabolism. What works for your dog may not work for mine. What works for one breed, may not work for another and the size and lifestyle of the dog matters. I have researched Merrick and found them to be highly reputable and their ingredients do not come from outside sources like China. I trusted them for my last Shih Tzu and will hopefully be able to use it with this one. I believe in grain free and my last resort is to cook for him myself.
I’ve found large sections of meat in the can. Very gross! This last can had 2 bones, that looked like legs, even though it says “chicken wings” meat. So, extra weight to the can, when there’s bones, or large greasy looking hunks of slime!
I thought Merrick was just bought out by Purina?. Is this true?
my dog has been eating merrick dog food for 2.5 yrs, most of his life, he now can no longer keep the food down. he throws up about 20 min after eating it. unfortunately i threw the bag out – i keep the food in a Tupperware. the food was bought from jet.com and is ‘Merrick Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Adult Dry Dog Food, 25 Lb’
anyone else having trouble?
I thought Merrick was purchased by Purina and no longer was a family owned dog food. What is the truth?
My dog a pug was diagnosed with a debilitating bone disorder. The X rays showed us the extent of the degeneration. He would drag his limbs frequently. We were contemplating euthanasia because we couldn’t stand to see him suffer. By the grace of God I wanted desperately to help my buddy. I walked into a Pet Value that sold this item. I first tried a sample because our pug is finicky he loves people food. He loves the lamb and sweet potatoe. I cannot tell you the improvement in our pug. He has a new spring in his step hasn’t dragged his butt at all and he is running again. I am so thrilled with this product. My only beef is that the bag us not big enough in the flavour my pug loves. I believe the pug will be with us for more many more years cause of your product. By the way our pug is 13 years with the blood work of a puppy!
Thank you
Caroline Rizzo Ottawa ON CA
Our lovable pup has eaten canned Merrick dog food for over 10 years. No “real” issues (some apple seeds, some cans less full than others, some coagulated fat) until yesterday. Received a shipment from Chewy.com of 96% Grain Free Real Texas Beef and a huge bug was mixed in the meat. Today, there were globs of white balls in the 96% Grain Free Real Chicken. Very concerned about this and afraid of what I might find next.
Believe this company has changed since it’s take over from Purina.
I have the most finicky dog in the world. I have tried different food with him which he will eat when hungry. His last couple years he was on Acana. His pet store was out the day I went to get him more kibble so I picked up a back of Merrick’s Back Country Raw Infused figuring I would just get thru the night or two till I could pick up hos normal. He is going nuts over this food. Never seen him enjoy his breakfast and dinner so much.
I have a 8 month old female German Shepard , she was on diamond which is decent food Til 6 months, then I switched to Merrick. I will admit it did give loose stool at first but my fault for that, in 2 months time my pup has thickened up and her coat is shinny and I honestly can see the difference in food. Yes it’s pricy but to me it’s a family member and to spend 100 a month to keep her healthy and lean its way worth it. I use their treats as well and the best part is u can change the protein from meat to fish without issue. Great dog food hands down
My dogs hate Merrick, they just hate it and I do not know why. But then again they hate all dog food. I do not and will not feed canned dog food of any kind and no jerky treats. I have tried them on the small 4 pound sacks of merrick pork, they hate it, I tried the wild game bird with freeze dried chunks, they hate it, they will not touch the freezed dried pieces. I have tried the chicken and of course, they hate it.
I have tried them on beyond, 4-health, and blue…same, they hate it. and never feed from, they will not touch it.
My dogs when I got them were 5 years old and had been raised on beniful.. I refuse to feed that to a chicken. Both my standard schnauzers hate dog food of any type, and they are 13 years old. My 17 year old chi also hates all dog food. Pedigree dog food makes them violently ill, canned food makes them all sick…
So I buy either merrick or beyond and mix it with de-boned de-skinned chicken.. no other meats. they still hate it. The only dog food they have ever ate willingly is Bil-jack
Merrick was bought out by Purina 2015. Do you still trust them to keep the 100% USA sourced formulas as promised at the time of the buyout or don’t you think Purina will head straight for China to cut costs and quality ??
It was my understanding that Merrick was purchased by Purina. That’s why I stopped feeding it to my dog. You still show it as being a family owned business. Please clear that up. Thank you.
I feed my 1 1/2 y/o male Akita the Large Breed Merrick Dog food and he loves it, but he does have runny poops. He was on Diamond and I couldn’t get him off that fast enough and now that Purina has purchased Merrick guess its time to switch one more time. Guess its time to try Victor this third and final try I hope. Don’t trust Purina to keep the quality that I purchase Merrick for and I’m not paying $70.00 per 24 # bag 3 times a month for garbage dog food.
I believe Merrick was purchased by Purina in 2015. That would make the statement “owns and makes it’s own dog food” inaccurate.
We adopted a Rottie puppy 6 weeks ago. He is now almost 6 1/2 months old. We started him on Merrick Grainfree Chicken and Sweet Potato dry food for puppies when we adopted him. He is pooping 4-6 times a day and the stool is always so soft that we leave messy smears on the grass when we pick it up. It is formed but very soft. It has been like this since we got him. He has no other issues..no vomiting, diarrhea. Should we change to another food? This is very troublesome because he poops at least twice on each walk, and we don’t want to leave these messy smears on neighbors’ lawns or in the parks where there are other dogs or kids that play. Even if he poops before the walk, he will still poop once or twice during the walk. Help!
I find lamb chunky contains fewer actual meat pieces than beef and I use both having 2 fussy dogs(too much thick broth which I have to throw out as small dog will not get face into anything mushy) Other than that and over 300.00 Mo. cost I have no complaints and dogs love it
When you find a whole chicken thigh bone and big pieces of chicken skin in a can of Merrick’s dog food it makes you want to tell everyone. I contacted Merrick and was told the bones were cooked under pressure and were falling apart. I sent a video of me striking bone with knife and the bone remained totally intact. Obviously their quality control is lacking. The price of a can of this food suggests it should be perfect. I don’t feed my dog chicken bones and won’t spend money on chicken skin and bones.