Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains Review
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Review of Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains
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 Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains 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 Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains, we'll examine all 45 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.
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.
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.
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.
Lamb meal is a concentrated protein source, providing essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to support muscle development and overall health in dogs.
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.
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.
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 guaranteed analysis of the Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains shows that it has a minimum of 23.00% crude protein. This protein content is likely derived primarily from the deboned lamb and salmon meal listed as the first two ingredients, as well as the lamb meal further down the list.
The product also has a minimum of 16.00% crude fat. The primary source of this fat is likely the chicken fat ingredient. Deboned lamb and salmon meal may also contribute to this fat content, as both are rich in animal fats.
The maximum of 3.50% crude fiber in the product is likely derived from the grains and vegetables in the ingredient list, such as brown rice, barley, oatmeal, quinoa, flaxseed, carrots, and apples. These ingredients are known to have high fiber content.
The product has 3680.00 calories per kg. This caloric content comes from the combination of all ingredients, but primarily from the protein and fat sources (deboned lamb, salmon meal, and chicken fat) as they are energy-dense. The grains (brown rice, barley, oatmeal, and quinoa) and other carbohydrates also contribute to the caloric content.
The minerals and vitamins listed in the ingredients are likely contributing to the overall nutritional value of the pet food, but they are not specifically mentioned in the guaranteed analysis. Similarly, the fermentation products listed at the end of the ingredients list are likely used as probiotics to aid in digestion, but they are not quantified in the guaranteed analysis.
Review of Affordability
According to our data, Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains costs approximately $4.28 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 | $25.53 |
| 10 lbs | $42.93 |
| 15 lbs | $58.19 |
| 20 lbs | $72.20 |
| 30 lbs | $97.86 |
| 40 lbs | $121.42 |
| 50 lbs | $143.55 |
| 60 lbs | $164.58 |
| 70 lbs | $184.75 |
| 80 lbs | $204.21 |
| 90 lbs | $223.07 |
| 100 lbs | $241.41 |
Estimates are based on average prices and caloric requirements.
Summary of Customer Reviews
Many customers appreciate Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe for their dogs, especially those with picky eaters or dogs with specific dietary needs. The product has been praised for being well-received by dogs with sensitive stomachs and for improving their coat health. Some customers have noted their dogs have thrived on this food for years, and they appreciate the inclusion of healthy grains.
However, some customers have expressed concerns over the food's smell and its impact on their dogs' breath and stool odor. There are also reports of inconsistent quality in different batches of the product. A few customers have had to switch their dogs off the food due to health issues such as pancreatitis or allergies.
Many customers have appreciated the variety of flavors offered by Merrick, allowing them to switch up their dogs' diets regularly. Some have noted the kibble size might be too small for larger breeds. The inclusion of chicken meal in a lamb-based product has raised questions for some customers.
A few customers have reported their dogs not taking well to the food, but these seem to be individual cases rather than a widespread issue. Overall, the product is well-liked by many dogs, and owners trust the Merrick brand for its quality ingredients.
