Merrick Real Beef, Lamb and Bison Grain Free Wet Dog Food
Wet food, complete and balanced for adult dogs. With the water taken out it is 41% protein and 23% fat.
- Complete & balanced for adult dogs (AAFCO, on the label)
- 78% water
Ingredient Wiki
Beef
The clean flesh of cattle, used fresh. Like all fresh meats it is mostly water before cooking.
Beef Broth
The liquid produced by simmering beef, used to add moisture and flavor.
Beef Liver
The liver of cattle, an organ meat.
Lamb
The clean flesh of sheep, used fresh.
Bison
The clean flesh of the bison, used fresh.
Our read The ingredients
Three red meats, so the 96% comes easy
Signature feature
96% animal protein
96% of protein from animal sources
What it is A claim about where the protein comes from, not how much there is. Beef, broth, liver, lamb and bison fill the first five spots, and no plant protein sits above the salt.
Our grade
- Marketing
- Modest
- Meaningful
With no peas, legumes or grains in the can, nearly all protein has to come from meat. The claim is true but automatic; it tells you the source, not that the dog gets more protein than average.
Modest Real, but smaller than the pack makes it sound.
Beef, liver, lamb and bison fill four of the top five spots. Poultry-free, yes, but salmon oil sits seventh.
- 1 Deboned Beef
- 3 Beef Liver
- 4 Deboned Lamb
- 5 Deboned Bison
- 7 Salmon Oil
- 8 Salt
What’s in the serving
- First meat
- Deboned Beef, first on the list. Named meats near the top: Deboned Beef, Beef Liver, Deboned Lamb and Deboned Bison.
- Thickeners and binders
- Locust Bean Gum and Guar Gum. They give the food its texture and hold pieces together. Normal in wet food; starches and flours also add carbohydrate.
- Added color
- None listed.
- Flagged additives
- None from our list.
Guaranteed
Analysis
As printed on the serving, measured “as fed”
- Calories
- 1,111 kcal/kg
- Crude Protein (min.)
- 9.0%
- Crude Fat (min.)
- 5.0%
- Crude Fiber (max.)
- 1.4%
- Moisture (max.)
- 78.0%
Does something here not match the serving? Report a problem
Full Ingredient
Declaration
Exactly as the serving prints it, heaviest first
Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Deboned Lamb, Deboned Bison, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Salt*The Salt Divider. Ingredients are listed heaviest first, and a dog food needs very little salt, so everything after this point is present in an even smaller amount., Tricalcium Phosphate, Locust Bean Gum, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin)
Ingredients are listed heaviest first, and a dog food needs very little salt, so everything after the divider is present in an even smaller amount.
Wet food is mostly water, so the label’s percentages look small next to kibble. Taking the water out is the only fair way to compare it with other foods.
| NUTRIENT | ON THE LABEL | WATER OUT | WET FOOD MEDIAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROTEIN | 9.0% | 40.9% | 43.2% |
| FAT | 5.0% | 22.7% | 22.2% |
| FIBER | 1.4% | 6.4% | - |
| CARBS (EST.) | - | 20.9% | - |
Carbohydrate is not on any label: it is what is left after protein, fat, fiber, water and an assumed 2% ash.
Our read The label
Almost no carbs, heavy on fat, average protein
56%
-
Is it a high-protein food?
About average
40.9% protein on a dry basis against 42.1% for the average wet food we list. The meat-heavy name doesn't add up to extra protein.
-
Is it low in carbs?
Yes, very
With no grains, peas or potatoes, carbs come to about 2.7% on a dry basis, against 18.6% for the average wet food we list.
- Feed it to
- Adults allergic to chicken or grains, and dogs on a low-carb plan that handle rich food well.
- Skip it for
- Puppies, dogs with a history of pancreatitis or on a low-fat diet, and dogs allergic to beef, lamb or fish.
Daily portion calculator
Calculated from the resting energy formula vets use and this food’s actual calorie density (1,111 kcal per kg). A starting point to adjust from, not a prescription.
1 FDA Recall On Record
Beef dog treat varieties Matched by brand. The notice lists the exact products and lots.
None in the last three years. Older events stay on the record. See the recall log
Other Flavors
Protein with the water taken out, read the same way.
Similar recipes from other brands
Other wet food recipes with the closest protein, fat and moisture as fed, the way the label prints them. Prescription diets are left out.
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