Not Just for Special Occasions, Indulgences, and Celebrations

There are so many health benefits to sharing our wet recipes with your cats and dogs.

Some pet parents think that wet food is only for special occasions, but we have some great news to share. All of our wet recipes are made with high quality ingredients and add moisture to your pet’s diet.  

Proper Hydration – Water is Essential to Overall Health

Proper hydration is so critical every day and even more so when the temperatures start to rise in summertime. Water is essential to overall health. It regulates body temperature, supports healthy joints and skin, and many other cellular functions in the body. It also can support digestive health.¹ The good news is that canned food contains water, so wet food can be used as supplemental hydration!² Liquid meal enhancers and toppers such as our Purrfect Bistro Bon Appétits gravies for cats and our Merrick Bone Broths are also a great way to add necessary moisture to your pet’s diet.  

High Quality Protein Helps Maintain Healthy Muscles

Our wet recipes provide a power-packed serving of protein. Protein is a critical nutrient for maintaining lean muscle mass. Our complete and balanced recipes start with real meat, fish, or poultry, as the first ingredient, which sets your pet’s body up for success.

Single-Serving Trays for Proper Measurement

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of our pets are overweight or obese. Our single-serving trays of our Lil’ Plates recipes can help take the guesswork out of measuring a meal for your dog. They eliminate any confusion on cup size or “rounding the scoop.” According to a study, wet food may help with weight loss by reducing calorie intake and providing the appropriate number of calories for a long, healthy life.³

Mealtime Variety Is Beneficial

Lastly, wet recipes provide some variety in your pet’s diet and a complement to the texture of dry food. Cats can be very particular about the texture of their food and sharing wet recipes with them at an early age can help them accept a variety of food forms and keep things interesting at meal time.

Three tips to remember when serving wet dog or cat food:

1. Offer wet food any time of day, but only leave it out for 30 minutes to an hour to avoid spoiling (but it’s so delicious it probably won’t be in the dish that long!).
2. Store opened cans in the refrigerator with an airtight cover on top for no more than 3 days. Warming the refrigerated portions to room temperature or slightly warmer can enhance the flavor.
3. Most unopened cans have a shelf life of about 2 years when kept at room temperature which can be confirmed by the expiration date on the can.

If there’s a question about feeding wet food to your pet, don’t hesitate to talk with your veterinarian. And, if you have any questions about which Merrick recipe is best for your pet, please contact our Pet Parent Relations team at 800-664-7387 or online here: https://www.merrickpetcare.com/contact.

Ensuring Our Dogs & Cats Get All the Nutrients They Need to Thrive

With so many options in the pet food aisle, it can be difficult to know which diet to choose for your four-legged family member. The first step is to consider your dog or cat’s life stage because puppies and kittens have unique nutritional needs in comparison to adult or senior pets.

Stage One: Puppy and Kitten

Puppies and kittens require more protein to help support their growing muscles and brain and vision development.  They need just the right balance of calcium and phosphorous to fuel their growing bones and teeth. DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid found in sources like mother’s milk and fish ingredients, such as salmon oil, is critical for healthy brain and vision development. Keeping them on a recipe formulated for puppies and kittens, such as our Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe or our Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Healthy Kitten Recipe, throughout this stage of their life will help ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need in just the right balance.

For large breed puppies, it’s important that they don’t grow too quickly; it can lead to painful bone and joint issues as a puppy and set them up for health challenges such as arthritis or hip dysplasia later in life. Therefore, seeking out a recipe that is specifically formulated for their unique metabolic needs is important for their healthy development. Our Grain Free Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Puppy Recipe is one of many options Merrick has.  

Because puppies and kittens often have smaller mouths and teeth than adults, finding the correct kibble shape and size can help ensure the young ones are able to consume the calories they need.  For example, our Lil’ Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken Recipe is made specifically for puppies and contains smaller sized kibble for smaller mouths.  

Stage Two: Adulthood

Most kittens and small- to medium-breed dogs reach adulthood within the first year, typically between 8-12 months. However, large breed dogs can continue to grow until they’re almost 2 years old. It’s always best to speak with your veterinarian to understand when your pet has reached the right developmental milestones to move to a food formulated for adult dogs and cats.

During their adult lives, dogs and cats should be fed a recipe formulated for maintenance.  

The most important part of feeding in this life stage is the quantity in the bowl each day. The metabolism of each dog and cat can vary widely, so having an open line of communication with your veterinarian will help ensure your pet maintains an optimal body condition to help minimize other health conditions that can plague them as they age. Over and over, research has shown that keeping a pet in optimal body condition is the one thing that can help them live a longer and better quality of life – who wouldn’t want their four-legged to have that?!?

Stage Three: Senior

As pets age, there are key nutrients like Omega-6 fatty acids and protein that are especially important for our senior pets in their golden years. Omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid can help support healthy skin and coat, glucosamine and chondroitin help support healthy hips and joints, and protein is important for maintaining a pet’s muscle mass. At Merrick, our senior dog recipes, such as the Healthy Grains Senior Recipe, contain the necessary nutrients and protein levels to support your aging dog. Because our pets age more quickly than we do, having consistent and regular conversations with your veterinarian can help ensure you’re providing the right recipe with the right nutrients in just the right balance.

Quality nutrition can not only make a visible difference in the appearance and activity level of dogs and cats, but it can also set them up for a long, vibrant, and happy life and strengthen the amazing relationships we share with them.

Q&A with Our Lead Veterinarian

Our lead veterinarian, Dr. RuthAnn Lobos brings almost two decades of experience in the pet food industry. Prior to her current role, she was responsible for directing global scientific programs and events for the Purina Institute, collaborating with veterinary and scientific thought leaders to promote and share research and knowledge about proven nutritional science to help pets live better, longer lives. Dr. RuthAnn continues to practice veterinary medicine in Boulder, Colorado, where she lives with her husband, son and their pup Finn. Outside of work, she is an avid marathoner and triathlete and can always be found training for her next race.

To give you the opportunity to get to know our lead veterinarian, we asked Dr. RuthAnn to answer a few questions about how she got into veterinary medicine, her pet nutrition philosophy and her first pet.

1. When did you know you wanted to be a veterinarian?

Since I was in the first grade. My mom still has a scrapbook from my elementary school years – for each new grade, there was a page for my school picture and fun memories from that point in my life: My favorite class was. . . My friends are. . .My favorite teacher is. . .and when I grow up I want to be. . .” It’s pretty telling to look back to my desired career path back in kindergarten – I wanted to be a cat when I grew up!

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By first grade, I must have realized that it wasn’t really possible to become a cat, but I could surround myself with them by becoming a veterinarian. Starting with first grade, I noted that I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up and it stayed that way all the way through school. Every now and then, I would write that I wanted to be a teacher and a veterinarian (My mom and sister are both educators)—and with my role at Merrick, I get to do both of those jobs!

2. What’s the hardest thing about being a veterinarian?  

Not taking home ALL the puppies and kittens that come into the clinic! Puppy breath is the best and so irresistible.

3. The most enjoyable thing about being a veterinarian?  

Using my education as well as my medical and communication skills to enhance the relationship of pets and pet parents. It’s great to celebrate that bond and the positive health benefits it brings to both sides of the relationship.

4. What’s the craziest thing or client you’ve ever had to deal with?

I would say myself! It all goes back to the BEST DOG EVER: My chocolate Labrador named Drake. Drake was my soulmate. He was so sweet and smart—taught himself to get the newspaper from the end of the driveway and the remote control when we were too lazy to get it ourselves. I was convinced that he was too nice to fight off any disease and that I would lose him at an early age, so I was a complete “helicopter mom” with him. One day when I was out of town, my husband, Dean, called to tell me that Drake came back from a quick potty break with a really severe limp and he didn’t know why. I felt helpless, started hysterically crying and immediately thought the worst—the ONLY reasonable explanation was bone cancer – a very aggressive cancer with a very low survival rate, and I was going to lose him.

As I waited for an update, I scrolled through all the pictures of Drake on my phone and began wishing I had taken more. When I got the call back my veterinary friend, I couldn’t hear what she said over my uncontrollable sobbing – it was too hard to talk, and I just knew it was a terrible diagnosis. Since I couldn’t speak, she opted to follow up with a text to let me know that Drake has a broken toenail. Since she knows me and my hyper-paranoid tendencies, she took x-rays and did bloodwork, and everything came back normal. So, when a pet parent tells me that they are overprotective and overreactive to changes in their pets’ behavior, I totally get it – I can easily relate to them based on my own “mother bear” relationship with my pups!

5. Do you have a pet nutrition philosophy?  

Competing as a runner and triathlete, I know the impact quality nutrition can have on my performance during a workout or a race.  For our pets, who race around every day, the same philosophies apply. Protein is incredibly important for maintaining healthy muscles, hair coat and skin. It’s also important for the immune system—antibodies that fight off bacteria and viruses are all made from protein! Healthy fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and minerals that serve as key components to numerous vital processes in the body.  

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Since our pets rely on us to give them proper nutrition, it’s important that the kibble or wet recipe they eat delivers every macro- and micronutrient our pets need. This is a responsibility we take extremely seriously at Merrick, and we fulfill it across our entire line of complete and balanced recipes.  

6. Tell us about YOUR very first pet.

I welcomed the first pet of my own into my life when I was seven, a hamster named Bouncer. At that time, I was sharing a bedroom with my 12-year-old sister. Like most siblings, we often fought and there were times when a line of duct tape was needed to separate our bedroom into two sides so we wouldn’t “infect” the other’s territory or belongings. Enter Bouncer—a tan and white teddy bear hamster that knows no boundaries or sister-established borders. I’m sure you can see where this is headed, but I promise that I did my best to keep him contained. I used almost all my saved allowance to buy a very comfortable hamster home, an elaborate maze of zigzagging plastic tunnels and wheels for running, but he would manage to escape at least once (if not twice) a week!  

Despite my efforts to secure and re-secure every possible opening, he was like Houdini and could find a way out.  With every ill-timed escape (usually the middle of the night as hamsters are nocturnal), it seemed like there was a gravitational pull that would draw him over to my sister’s pillow. Bouncer would crawl across her pillow and sniff in her ear until she woke up in a terrified frenzy. I’d wake up to find him sitting on the edge of her bed and calmly grooming himself as if nothing was amiss. Of course, I would giggle uncontrollably about the “torment” he caused my older sister! Bouncer taught me a lot about the responsibilities of caring for a pet as well as the fact that engineering and construction were not in my professional future.

(To learn about Dr. RuthAnn’s first dog, watch the short video at the bottom of this post!)

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 7. Favorite thing to do with your dogs?  

Hmmm, that’s a tough one if I just have to pick one! In Colorado, we’re fortunate enough to have a variety of off-leash trails to hike on and I love to let them run and explore and “be real dogs.” They usually wind up so exhausted – and so happy!

8. Where does your pup sleep?  

Even though I swore it would never happen, our pup Finn currently sleeps at the end of the bed with us. We are adding another puppy to the family soon, so we will have to wait and see where she ends up sleeping!

9. Do you feed “people” food to your dogs?  

For the most part, we avoid human food. But, with a preschooler at home, our dogs are occasionally the benefactors of food that is accidentally dropped from the table when we eat or counter when my son helps us prepare a meal.

It’s best to steer clear of human food in order to keep their GI system nice and happy. And within the Merrick family, there are so many great options for food and treats that are designed specifically for our pets. I’m finding that the Fresh Kisses dental treats are making our dog’s breath more kissable.

10. What excites you about working with Merrick?  

At Merrick, we have a team of experts that work tirelessly to formulate and produce the highest-quality and most nutritious food for dogs and cats. I’m excited to share these efforts with my veterinary colleagues and for the opportunity to help educate our pet parents about the science and research behind the benefits of quality nutrition for pets.

Our Recipes Crafted with Whole and Ancient Grains

Both dry and wet dog food recipes containing healthy grains, such as ancient grains dog food, are quickly regaining popularity on the pet food shelf.

“Grains, which are the seeds of cereal grasses like rice, oats, and barley, are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates to fuel the cells in the body,” explains Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, lead veterinarian for Merrick Pet Care. “When whole grains are included in a complete and balanced diet, they will not only give your dog energy, but they also provide important nutrients like B-vitamins, essential fatty acids, protein and fiber.”

Healthy grains such as brown rice, barley and oatmeal aren’t new for our team. We have been crafting our Healthy Grains line of both dry and wet recipes with a healthy blend of good grains for dogs for more than a decade.

Merrick Dry Healthy Grains recipes also feature ancient grains, like quinoa.  This line of dry dog food, which offers a variety of high-quality protein options such as beef, chicken, or lamb, continues to appeal to pet parents. The recipes are free of lentils, corn, peas, and soy and deliver high levels   of other key nutrients like Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat and glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain healthy hips and joints.

We have added several new offerings to address the growing interest in grain inclusive dog food. Now, pet parents can choose between a grain free option, or a recipe crafted with healthy grains such as brown rice, barley and oatmeal, across our entire Merrick portfolio.

Dr. Lobos adds, “Every dog is different and that’s why we strive to offer a wide range of options across our portfolio so you can choose a food that’s right for your pet.”  

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We introduced recipes to our Limited Ingredient Diet line, which is a popular choice for dogs that prefer simple meals. The recipes feature a single source of animal protein, such as Salmon or Chicken, as the first ingredient and are free of peas, chickpeas, and lentils. The recipes are made with brown rice and other healthy grains such as oatmeal and barley, which provide carbohydrates. 

“My dog, Rigolets, is thriving on the salmon and brown rice recipe within our Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet line,” said Dr. Lobos. “He not only enjoys mealtime, but we’ve also seen a visible difference in his appearance – his coat is shiny, and skin has never been healthier.”  

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Additionally, for pet parents looking for a protein-rich, ancestral diet with grains, we have added several recipes to our popular Merrick Backcountry line. The Backcountry Raw Infused Pacific Catch and Puppy recipes are available with healthy grains like easily digestible oats in addition to our offerings that are grain free. Backcountry recipes feature high protein kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces that are mixed into the delicious dry kibble. The freeze-dried raw inclusion goes through quality testing and a proven process called High-Pressure Processing (HPP) to ensure food safety. Just like the Merrick Grain Free Backcountry Raw Infused Puppy Recipe, the Puppy + Grains recipe is formulated with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to support healthy growth and development in puppies of all breeds.

“We include the omega-3 fatty acid Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in our recipes formulated for puppies,” adds Dr. Lobos. “DHA helps support the proper development and function of a puppy’s brain, central nervous tissue and vision.”  

Whether choosing a complete and balanced dog food with grains or one that is grain free, it’s always important to closely monitor the calories and serving size that meet the needs of a specific dog.

“Regardless of which recipes a dog enjoys, counting calories is not just a ‘people thing’ – it’s critical for a pet to maintain a healthy weight too,” confirms Lobos.   

Lobos reminds pet parents to reference the feeding guidelines featured on the packaging of your dog’s pet food. “If you have specific questions or concerns related to your dog’s diet, you should always talk with your veterinarian.”  

We offer a variety of complete and balanced diets for dogs to meet the preferences of today’s pet parents – some options are grain free and some feature healthy grains. Additionally, we provide a wide selection of protein choices across our portfolio, which includes dry and wet food options.

To help find best recipe for your dog, we’ve developed a few helpful tools on our website. Visit www.MerrickPetcare.com to find the right Merrick food for your dog based on life stage, breed size and food type or to compare our offerings to the food your pet is currently eating.