Merrick Pet Care Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
Dry Extruded · complete
Our verdict
Is Merrick Pet Care Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 47/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Doesn't list turkey, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids beef: it is listed as an ingredient
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - brown / whole grain
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (23)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- supplement 25.0%
- carb 19.9%
- veg 16.6%
- meat 15.7%
- additive 9.8%
- oil 8.4%
- fibre 4.6%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 5.7 |
| 2 | chicken meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 5.6 |
| 3 | brown rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb · medium | - | 5.5 |
| 4 | barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 5.3 |
| 5 | oat meal | Oats | carb · medium | - | 5.2 |
| 6 | canola meal | Rapeseed | veg · medium | - | 5.1 |
| 7 | beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols | Tocopherols | additive · good | - | 5.0 |
| 8 | natural flavor | Flavor | additive · poor | - | 4.8 |
| 9 | dried yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 4.7 |
| 10 | dried beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 4.6 |
| 11 | fish oil | Fish Oil | oil · good | - | 4.5 |
| 12 | lamb meal | Lamb | meat · medium | - | 4.3 |
| 13 | flaxseed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 4.2 |
| 14 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 4.1 |
| 15 | sunflower oil | Sunflower oil | oil · good | - | 4.0 |
| 16 | quinoa | Quinoa | carb · good | - | 3.9 |
| 17 | carrots | Carrots | veg · good | - | 3.7 |
| 18 | apples | Apples | veg · good | - | 3.6 |
| 19 | MINERALS [zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite] | Manganese proteinate | supplement · good | - | 3.5 |
| 20 | taurine | Taurine | supplement · good | - | 3.4 |
| 21 | choline chloride | Choline | supplement · good | - | 3.2 |
| 22 | VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K), biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin D-3 supplement] | Menadione sodium bisulfite complex | supplement · poor | - | 3.1 |
| 23 | calcium carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement · medium | - | 3.0 |
- 1. Chicken5.7% estimated
- 2. chicken meal5.6% estimated
- 3. brown rice5.5% estimated
- 4. barley5.3% estimated
- 5. oat meal5.2% estimated
- 6. canola meal5.1% estimated
- 7. beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols5.0% estimated
- 8. natural flavor4.8% estimated
- 9. dried yeast4.7% estimated
- 10. dried beet pulp4.6% estimated
- 11. fish oil4.5% estimated
- 12. lamb meal4.3% estimated
- 13. flaxseed4.2% estimated
- 14. potassium chloride4.1% estimated
- 15. sunflower oil4.0% estimated
- 16. quinoa3.9% estimated
- 17. carrots3.7% estimated
- 18. apples3.6% estimated
- 19. MINERALS [zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite]3.5% estimated
- 20. taurine3.4% estimated
- 21. choline chloride3.2% estimated
- 22. VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K), biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin D-3 supplement]3.1% estimated
- 23. calcium carbonate3.0% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 26% · Fat 15%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26% |
| Fat | 15% |
| Fibre | 14.50% |
| Moisture | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 45% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.30% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2.10% |
Energy: 372 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Dog Weight (lbs) / Cups Per Day: 3=1/3, 6=2/3, 10=3/4, 15=1-1/4, 20=1-1/2, 30=1-3/4, 40=2-1/4, 50=2-2/3, 60=3, 70=3-1/3, 80=3-2/3, 90=4, 100=4-1/4; over 100 add 1/4 cup per additional 10 lbs. 1 cup = 113 g (420 kcal). Adjust for age, size, activity. Transition over 7-10 days.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Zinc proteinate; Ferrous sulfate; Manganese proteinate; Copper proteinate; Calcium iodate; Sodium selenite; Taurine; Choline chloride; Vitamin E supplement; Niacin (Vitamin B-3); Thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1); Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5); Vitamin A supplement; Riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2); Vitamin B-12 supplement; Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6); Folic acid (Vitamin B-9); Menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K); Biotin (Vitamin B-7); Vitamin D-3 supplement; Calcium carbonate
Technological additives
Beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-12
Brand and contact: Merrick Pet Care
- Phone
- 1-800-664-7387
- Address
- Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 340, Neenah, WI 54957
- Contact page
- www.merrickpetcare.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-12
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.merrickpetcare.com
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 0.0/5 · 0 reviews
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall rating of 47 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +5.8 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -2.6 points.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.84 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 21.4% | -0.115 | -2.47 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.092 | -0.94 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 11.5% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 10.8% | 0.163 | +1.75 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 28.0% | -0.012 | -0.34 |
| Recipe graded poor | 8.0% | -0.065 | -0.52 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.8% | 0.060 | +0.29 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -11.78 | 0.222 | -2.61 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.84 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 21.4% | -0.115 | -2.47 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.092 | -0.94 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 11.5% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 10.8% | 0.163 | +1.75 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 28.0% | -0.012 | -0.34 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 8.0% | -0.065 | -0.52 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.8% | 0.060 | +0.29 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -11.78 | 0.222 | -2.61 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 47.1
- Final score
- 47/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 26 | 28.7 (band 18.497237569060772 to 40%) | 98.6 |
| Fat | 15 | 16.6 (band 5.651933701657457 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 14.5 | 16 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 372 | 411 | 100 |
Fibre: Declared as a maximum; the high-fibre taper is not applied.
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 5 declared nutrients (combined weight 70); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 21 nutritional additives on the label
- Zinc proteinate
- Ferrous sulfate
- Manganese proteinate
- Copper proteinate
- Calcium iodate
- Sodium selenite
- Taurine
- Choline chloride
- Vitamin E supplement
- Niacin (Vitamin B-3)
- Thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1)
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5)
- Vitamin A supplement
- Riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2)
- Vitamin B-12 supplement
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6)
- Folic acid (Vitamin B-9)
- Menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K)
- Biotin (Vitamin B-7)
- Vitamin D-3 supplement
- Calcium carbonate
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to help support healthy hips and joints (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| antioxidant blend with vitamins A and E helps support your adult dog's immune system and overall health (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| real chicken as the first ingredient (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 92 percent protein, fat, and healthy grains from wholesome, natural sources (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids promote skin and coat health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| fiber sources support gut health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No corn, no wheat, no soy dry dog food, with no poultry by-product meal, peas, lentils, potatoes, artificial colors, or preservatives (on pack) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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