Merrick Backcountry Big Game Real Lamb + Venison Jerky Review
PawDiet has been helping pet owners since 2015. To fund our efforts, articles may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission.
Review of Merrick Backcountry Big Game Real Lamb + Venison Jerky
According to our most recent data, this product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.
Review of Ingredients
In our review of Merrick Backcountry Big Game Real Lamb + Venison Jerky, we'll examine all 6 ingredients and highlight the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.
While the first few ingredients typically dominate the recipe's composition, ingredients in small quantities can still have a meaningful impact on the overall nutritional profile of the recipe.
Lamb is a high-quality protein source that provides essential amino acids necessary for your dog's muscle growth, tissue repair, and overall health. It's also a good option for dogs with sensitivities to other protein sources, such as chicken or beef.
Venison is a lean, high-quality protein source that provides essential amino acids for your dog's muscle development and maintenance. It is also a novel protein, making it a good option for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.
Dried Cultured Skim Milk is a rich source of probiotics, which promote a healthy gut flora in dogs. It's also high in calcium for bone health and protein for muscle maintenance.
While salt is a necessary component of a dog's diet, providing essential minerals such as sodium and chloride for proper cellular function, it should be provided in moderation to avoid health issues like hypertension or kidney damage.
Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.
Rosemary extract is a natural antioxidant that can help protect your dog's body from the harmful effects of free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can support your dog's overall health and well-being, particularly in regard to joint health.
Review of Guaranteed Analysis
The crude protein value of 42.00% is quite high, which indicates a significant amount of protein in the pet food. This high protein content is most likely contributed by the first two ingredients: deboned lamb and deboned venison. Both lamb and venison are excellent sources of protein, which is essential for muscle development and maintenance in pets.
The crude fat minimum of 24.00% is also a substantial amount, reflecting the energy-dense nature of the food. This fat content is primarily derived from the deboned lamb and deboned venison as well. Both meats contain natural fats that provide energy, support cell function, and help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
The crude fiber maximum of 1.50% suggests that the food is low in fiber. This low level of fiber is consistent with the ingredients listed, as neither deboned lamb nor deboned venison contribute significant amounts of fiber. The low fiber content is typical for jerky-type treats, which are not meant to be a primary source of dietary fiber but rather a high-protein, high-fat snack.
Other ingredients such as dried cultured skim milk, salt, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), and rosemary extract are present in smaller amounts and do not significantly contribute to the guaranteed analysis values. The dried cultured skim milk may add a minimal amount of protein but not enough to impact the overall crude protein content significantly. Mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract serve as preservatives and do not contribute to the macronutrient profile. Salt is used for flavor and as a preservative but also does not contribute to protein, fat, or fiber content.
