Merrick Backcountry Wild Fields Real Chicken Jerky Review

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Review of Merrick Backcountry Wild Fields Real Chicken 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 Wild Fields Real Chicken Jerky, we'll examine all 4 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.

  4. 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 guaranteed analysis of Merrick Backcountry Wild Fields Real Chicken Jerky indicates a high protein content, with a minimum of 51.00%. This high level of protein is primarily contributed by the first ingredient: deboned chicken. Chicken is a rich source of protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues and maintaining muscle mass in pets.

The crude fat content is at a minimum of 18.00%. This fat likely comes from the natural fats found in the deboned chicken. Fats are an essential part of a pet's diet, providing energy, aiding in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and contributing to healthy skin and coat.

Crude fiber is listed at a maximum of 1.50%. The low fiber content reflects the absence of plant-based fibrous ingredients in the product. Since the product is primarily made of chicken, which does not contain fiber, the crude fiber content remains low. Any minimal fiber present might be incidental from the chicken itself or potentially from the rosemary extract, but given the product's composition, the fiber content is naturally kept to a minimum.

Dried cultured skim milk may contribute marginally to the protein content but is likely included for other functional reasons, such as texture or flavor enhancement. Mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract are included as preservatives and likely have a negligible impact on the guaranteed analysis values. Mixed tocopherols are a form of vitamin E, which can also serve as an antioxidant, while rosemary extract has natural preservative qualities. Neither of these ingredients significantly contributes to protein, fat, or fiber content.