Does your company make all of your products here in America?
All Merrick products are made in the United States of America.

How long has the Merrick family been making pet foods?
The Merrick family has been in the dog food manufacturing business for two decades.

FUTURE PLANS


Will Merrick Pet Care ever sell to National Chains?
We have been selling our Merrick products to the independent retail channel for over 18 years, which is a lot longer than most of our competitors can say. Merrick brand is not available at national chains. So please feel free to check out our snazzy store locator and see where you can find Merrick in your area.

Will Merrick Pet Care be adding new items?
We love new items! We always are looking at doing something new, so stay tuned and keep checking our website or with you local Merrick Retailer.

MERCHANDISING


Does Merrick offer Phone in Orders?
At this time we do not, we do offer orders over the internet. Our website is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and we have Customer Service Reps here to help you with your online orders Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST. We know of several great online retail outlets that sell our products over the phone as well as on their website that you are free to call in and ask our Customer Service department about. We have no favorites, we love them all.

Does Merrick Pet Care have a frequent buyer or breeders program?
Not at this time, but we are always evaluating requests. We do however have monthly sales and promotions on both treats and our foods, so be sure to ask your retailer about them.

How can I find a Merrick Pet Care retailer in my area?
The Store Locator has this information.
If you sell Merrick Pet Care and are not listed, please call 800-664-7387 or email info@merrickpetcare.com.

What if a customer is unsatisfied with your food?
We stand behind all of our products 100%. We will gladly replace anything that a customer is not happy with. If the animal doesn’t like the food or if the color of the bag clashes with the carpet at home, we stand behind Merrick Pet Care 100%.

TREAT LINE


Do all Merrick Pet Care treats & bones come from American grown animals?
All Merrick Pet Care treats are American and are USDA sourced ingredients.

What are the natural bones preserved with?
We do not use any artifical preservatives on our bones or any of our treats for that matter.

DRY DOG FOOD


How can I calculate calories per cup in the dry food?
For example, Turducken reads 3660 kcal/kg - one pound provides 1660 kcal of metabolizable energy, calculated value or 1660 calories per pound of dry food.

1 kilogram = 35.3 ounces(approx. 2.2 pounds);therefore (16 oz divided by 35.3) times 3660 = 1660 cal/lb.

Is the Dry Dog Food baked?
No, our pet food is extruded which is somewhat similar to the baking process and the way that the majority of pet foods are manufactured.

What is the digestibility percentage for the dry food?
Dry foods range from 79% to 83%.

What is the shelf life of the dry dog food?
The dry food is good for 13 months from production time. The "Best Buy" date is stamped on each bag.

What is the sprayed on gravy made of ?
Our homestyle gravy is made with a combination of all natural ingredients - did we mention they are a family secret?

When cleaning up the yard, I noticed the dog had not digested the vegetables, so should I be concerned?
The freeze dried vegetables are a size that could escape digestion in a big eater or dog fed once daily. The volume of food can push the food through the digestive tract, very short in the dog, as they are carnivores, too fast for complete utilization. To correct this, we would suggest feeding equal portions A.M and P.M. Adding warm water and allowing the food to set for a few minutes before feeding will help hydrate the vegetables and aid the digestive tract digestion.

Why is there salt in the dry dog food?
The salt in the foods helps to satisfy the requirement for sodium and chloride. The requirement for sodium is 0.3% and 0.45% for chloride in the dog foods. The salt is added at 0.6%, 12 lbs per ton of day diet. Salt also helps to stimulate water intake for pets that are confined to the air-conditioned homes.

CANNED FOODS


Are there really supposed to be chicken bones in the Wingaling?
Yes, our whole chicken wings offer tender chicken cooked on the bones and as a result of the cooking process, the bones become soft as well. Feel free to serve whole or break apart the wings and serve as a complete meal.

Is it okay to feed Puppy Plate to an older dog?
Yes, all Merrick food is developed for All Life Stages. Please review the feeding guidelines on the back of the can for each entree to learn what amount you should feed your dog.

My cat is diabetic, so what is the % k/cal carbs in each cat flavor?
Each food has a slightly different make-up of total calories, however on the average, the composition of calories is very close.

Fat = 38% of calories
Carbohydrates = 8% of calories
Protein = 54 % of calories

These are good foods for the diabetic cat.

Our Grammy's Pot Pie, Thanksgiving Day Dinner and Turducken entrees for cats would be good items for this type of cat.

What is Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide and what does it do for the dog can food?
EDDI is an organic source of iodine and is in the food to supply the necessary iodine nutrient level. EDDI is the most available source of iodine.

What is the sodium, phosphorus and calcium level in the can cat food?
The sodium level in the can cat food will range from 0.26% to 0.4% on a dry matter basis. Phosphorus will range from 0.18% to 0.25% as-fed. The calcium phosphorus ratio will be 1.2 – 1.5:1. Calcium will be 0.23% - 0.32% as-fed.

What is tripe in the Working Dog Stew?
Tripe is the lining of a cow’s stomach. It is a very high protein source and great for dogs that are active and need extra protein.

How many calories are in the dog cans? I do not understand the kcal/kg and the kcal of metabolizable energy, please explain.
For example, 403 kcal of metabolizable energy means there are 403 calories in the can. It also shows the kcal/kg or 1078 kilo calories per kilogram.
1 kilogram = 35.3 ounces; therefore (13.2oz divided by 35.3) times 1078 = 403/can.

GENERAL PRODUCT/INGREDIENT/NUTRITION


Do you harm any animals during product testing?
No! Dogs are kept in a quality kennel environment with regular vet care along with an onsite family that takes care of them and the facility. We test palatability, digestibility and growth. Merrick Pet Care does not perform any invasive testing.

Do you use organic meats in Merrick Pet Foods?
We only offer Organic Chicken in the following dry entrées – Grammy’s Pot Pie, Turducken, Puppy Plate and Senior Medley.

What is Carrageenan?
Carrageenan is an emulsifying agent, stabilizer and/or thickener used in the canned foods at very low levels. It is refined from red seaweed.

What is Pryidoxine Hydrocholoride?
Vitamin B6 which is required for growth.

What is the percentage of meat in all the dog dry and cans?
Formulas are proprietary; however, the dry products will contain more than 40+% meats. The can products are essentially meat, as meat comprises more than 80% of the ingredients.

What is the sodium level in the Senior Medley can and dry food?
Sodium in canned food as-fed Senior Medley = 0.125%.
Sodium in dry food as-fed Senior Medley = 0.26%.

What is the urine pH for a dog eating the Merrick meat based foods?
Dog urine pH eating our foods will be around 6.8.

What is Yucca Schidigera Extract and what is the purpose?
Yucca Schidigera Extract is a product derived from the Yucca cactus. It's primary function is that of reducing odor in dog urine and feces. The compound extracted is classified as a sapogenin and research shows it is able to reduce ammonia naturally.

What type of research has Merrick Pet Care conducted on all dry & can foods?
Merrick Pet Care works closely with nutritionists and veterinarians.

Where is the source of lecithin?
Lecithin comes from Soy Beans. Lecithin is a natural source of inositol and the level is low.