Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains For Small Breed Dogs Review
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Review of Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains For Small Breed Dogs
According to our data, this Merrick recipe provides complete & balanced nutrition for the maintenance of adult dogs. In other words, this formula is AAFCO approved.
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for the maintenance of adult dogs.
Review of Ingredients
In our review of Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe, we'll examine all 47 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.
Chicken is a lean, easily digestible source of protein that provides essential nutrients for your dog's growth and maintenance. It's also a great source of vitamins and minerals to support overall health.
Chicken meal is a highly concentrated source of protein made from dehydrated and ground chicken. It provides essential amino acids for your dog's muscle development, tissue repair, and overall growth, making it a valuable ingredient for maintaining your dog's health and well-being.
Brown rice is a whole grain that provides an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, and essential nutrients for your dog. The fiber content can aid in digestion and help maintain a healthy weight, while the carbohydrates provide energy for an active lifestyle.
Barley is a nutritious, fiber-rich grain that helps promote healthy digestion and provides essential nutrients for your dog's overall health. It is also a great source of energy, vitamins, and minerals.
Turkey meal is a high-quality, protein-rich ingredient that provides essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals for your dog. It supports lean muscle development, healthy organ function, and a strong immune system.
Oatmeal is a highly digestible and nutritious source of carbohydrates that provides your dog with energy, fiber, and essential nutrients for a healthy digestive system and overall well-being.
Chicken fat is a highly palatable source of energy, providing essential fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat, as well as supporting your dog's immune system.
Quinoa is a nutrient-dense, gluten-free grain that provides your dog with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It supports healthy digestion and overall well-being, making it an excellent choice for a balanced and nutritious dog food.
Salmon meal is a high-quality protein source that also provides omega-3 fatty acids, which support skin and coat health, as well as overall wellness.
Natural flavor is added to dog food to enhance its taste and make it more appealing to your pet. This can help encourage your dog to eat a balanced and nutritious diet, supporting their overall health and well-being.
Flaxseed is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, and essential nutrients, which can support your dog's skin, coat, and digestive health.
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.
Sunflower oil is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that promotes a healthy coat and skin.
Dehydrated organic alfalfa meal is a nutrient-rich ingredient that provides essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your dog's overall health. It's also an excellent source of fiber, which aids in digestion and promotes a healthy gut.
Potassium chloride is an essential mineral supplement that helps maintain your dog's electrolyte balance and supports healthy nerve and muscle function.
Choline Chloride is an essential nutrient that aids in brain and liver function, muscle movement, and supports healthy metabolic processes.
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your dog. They're rich in vitamin A, which supports healthy vision and immune function, and also provide fiber to aid in digestion and maintain a healthy weight.
Apple is a natural source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that support your dog's digestive health, immune system, and overall well-being.
Iron amino acid complex is a highly bioavailable source of iron for dogs, which supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport throughout the body. It helps maintain overall health and vitality for your furry friend.
Zinc amino acid complex is a more digestible form of zinc that can support your dog's immune system, skin health, and coat quality.
Zinc sulfate is a source of the essential mineral zinc, which supports your dog's immune system, skin and coat health, and overall growth and development.
Sodium selenite is a form of selenium, a necessary trace mineral that supports immune function and thyroid health in dogs.
Manganese amino acid complex is a highly bioavailable form of manganese, an essential trace mineral that supports healthy bones, joints, and metabolism. This ingredient ensures that your dog receives the proper amount of manganese for optimal health.
Copper amino acid complex is a highly bioavailable source of copper, an essential trace mineral that supports your dog's immune system, skin and coat health, and promotes red blood cell production.
Potassium iodide is a chemical compound that can be used as a source of iodine in your dog's diet. Iodine is crucial for the proper functioning of your dog's thyroid gland.
Cobalt proteinate is an organic form of cobalt, an essential trace mineral that plays a vital role in the production of vitamin B12, which supports your dog's metabolism and overall health.
Cobalt carbonate is a trace mineral that plays a role in the synthesis of vitamin B12, supporting your dog's metabolism, energy production, and overall health.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that supports heart health, vision, and development and function of skeletal muscle.
Chia seed is a superfood for dogs, providing omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin, as well as fiber to support digestion and overall health.
Yucca schidigera extract is a natural ingredient known for its ability to reduce unpleasant odors in your dog's waste. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help support joint health and overall well-being.
Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.
Vitamin E supplement is an essential nutrient that helps support your dog's immune system, skin health, and overall wellness.
Vitamin B12 Supplement is an essential vitamin that helps support brain function and the formation of red blood cells.
Vitamin A acetate is a form of vitamin A, which is essential for your dog's overall health. It supports healthy vision, immune function, and proper growth and development. Vitamin A acetate also plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin and coat, ensuring your dog looks and feels its best.
D-Calcium Pantothenate is a source of pantothenic acid, a B-vitamin that helps in energy metabolism and the synthesis of important compounds in the body.
Thiamine mononitrate is a form of vitamin B1 that helps support your dog's nervous system function, energy metabolism, and overall health.
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is essential for a dog's metabolism and energy production, and supports healthy skin and coat.
Riboflavin supplement is a source of Vitamin B2, which is crucial for your dog's energy production, cell function, and overall growth and development.
Biotin is a B-vitamin that's important for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and nails in dogs.
Vitamin D3 supplement is an essential vitamin that supports bone health, immune function, and overall well-being in dogs. It helps regulate calcium and phosphorus balance in the body, promoting strong and healthy bones.
Folic acid is a crucial B-vitamin that aids in the synthesis of DNA and supports healthy cell growth. It's essential for maintaining your dog's overall health, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a source of vitamin B6, which is essential for your dog's nervous system function, immune health, and red blood cell production.
Citric acid is a natural preservative that helps maintain the freshness and quality of dog food. It also acts as an antioxidant, which can help protect your dog's cells from damage caused by free radicals.
The dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product is a probiotic that aids in maintaining a healthy gut flora.
Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product is a probiotic ingredient that helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria in your dog, promoting optimal digestion and immune system function.
Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product is a beneficial probiotic ingredient used in dog food. It helps support a healthy digestive system by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This probiotic also aids in nutrient absorption and can improve your dog's overall immune system function.
Dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product is a probiotic that can aid in maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in your dog's gut, supporting overall digestive health.
Review of Guaranteed Analysis
The crude protein minimum of 27.00% is largely contributed by the deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and salmon meal ingredients. These are all high-protein ingredients that are commonly used in pet foods.
The crude fat minimum of 16.00% is likely to be primarily from the chicken fat ingredient. Fat is an essential component of a balanced diet for dogs, providing them with energy and helping them to absorb vitamins. The flaxseed and sunflower oil ingredients may also contribute to this value, as these ingredients are also high in fat.
The crude fiber maximum of 3.50% is likely to be contributed by the brown rice, barley, oatmeal, and quinoa ingredients. These are all grains, which are a common source of dietary fiber in pet foods. The organic dehydrated alfalfa meal and chia seed may also contribute to this value, as these ingredients are also high in fiber.
The calorie content of 3711.00 per kg is a result of the combined caloric value of all the ingredients. Deboned chicken, chicken meal, and chicken fat are likely to be particularly significant contributors due to their high protein and fat content, respectively. The grains and other carbohydrate sources, such as brown rice, barley, and oatmeal, also contribute to the calorie content.
Review of Affordability
According to our data, Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe costs approximately $5.08 per pound. The following table provides our estimate of the monthly cost to feed this recipe exclusively as your dog.
| Adult Weight | Adult |
|---|---|
| 5 lbs | $30.12 |
| 10 lbs | $50.66 |
| 15 lbs | $68.67 |
| 20 lbs | $85.20 |
| 30 lbs | $115.48 |
Estimates are based on average prices and caloric requirements.
Summary of Customer Reviews
Customers love Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe for their small dogs. They appreciate the natural and healthy ingredients, and many have noticed improvements in their dogs' health and digestion. Some have mentioned that the kibble is too small for larger small breeds, but perfect for toy breeds. A few customers have reported their dogs experiencing diarrhea initially, but this seems to clear up once their dogs get used to the new food.
Many reviewers have praised Merrick's food for being suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs. They've noticed that their dogs, who previously had difficulty with other brands, have had no issues with Merrick's. Some mix it with homemade food or other ingredients like chicken broth or ground beef to enhance the taste for picky eaters.
The Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe is also appreciated for its small kibble size, which is easy for small dogs to eat. However, some customers have noted that their dogs refused to eat the food when it was first introduced. Others have found that their dogs love the taste and the small kibble size.
Customers have also praised Merrick's food for helping with their dogs' digestion and overall health. Some have noticed their dogs having better bowel movements and less vomiting. However, a few have reported their dogs having increased bowel movements if they eat too much of the food.
Some customers have expressed concerns about the price of the food, suggesting it's a bit high. However, others believe the quality of the ingredients and the positive impact on their dogs' health justify the cost. Some customers have also noticed a change in the kibble size in recent bags, with the kibble being larger than before.
A few customers have reported their dogs experiencing itching and skin issues after switching to Merrick's food. However, others have noticed improvements in their dogs' skin and coat health. There are also mixed reviews about the taste, with some dogs loving it and others refusing to eat it.
Some customers have expressed concerns about the food causing their dogs to fart and have "random butt leakages". However, others have reported no such issues. Some customers have also mentioned that their dogs stopped eating their usual kibble after the packaging and formula were changed.
Despite some negative reviews, many customers are pleased with Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe and plan to continue feeding it to their dogs. They appreciate the quality of the ingredients and the positive impact on their dogs' health. Some customers have also praised the convenience of having the food delivered to their door.
