Welcome to our review of Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food.

Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food Review

Name: Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food Review
Item: Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Rating: 4.12
Author: Samuel James

Disclosure: As a Chewy affiliate, we earn commissions for qualifying purchases.

List of products

Merrick Grain Free Dry Products	Ratings	AAFCO
→ Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.5	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Real Beef, Bison & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.2	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Large Breed Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.1	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Senior Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.1	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Healthy Weight Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.1	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.1	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Puppy Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	3.8	Growth
→ Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	3.8	Growth
→ Grain Free Real Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.1	Maintenance
→ Merrick Premium Grain Free Dry Adult Dog Food, Wholesome And Natural Kibble With Real Chicken And Sweet Potato	4.2	Maintenance
→ Grain Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.3	Maintenance

This dog food line has 11 recipes. Reviewing all isn’t possible. The review of Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe shows the quality, nutrition, and composition of the whole line.

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Ingredients

Deboned duck, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, chicken fat, fish meal, potato protein, chicken, pea protein, flaxseed, natural flavor, dried yeast, miscanthus grass, sunflower oil, potassium chloride, salt, alfalfa meal, choline chloride, apples, blueberries, MINERALS [iron amino acid complex, zinc amino acid complex, zinc sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, cobalt proteinate, cobalt carbonate], taurine, mixed tocopherols for freshness, salmon oil, yucca schidigera extract,

VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), niacin (Vitamin B-3), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin D-3 supplement], rosemary extract, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product.

Ingredient Analysis

The first five ingredients are highlighted as the primary ingredients in this Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food Review.

Primary Ingredients

→ Deboned duck is a novel protein used in limited-ingredient dog foods formulated for pets with food sensitivities. As raw, skinless meat, each 100 g provides 18.99 g of high-quality protein to support lean muscle and 5.95 g of fat for sustained energy.

Additionally, it is a natural source of selenium (≈14 µg per 100 g), essential for metabolism, energy production, and thyroid health.

→ Chicken meal is rendered chicken meat that has been dried and ground, and it typically includes clean flesh, skin, and bone.

It has a higher protein concentration—approximately 65%—compared to deboned chicken, making it beneficial for muscle development.

Additionally, chicken meal is a natural source of glucosamine, a key component in supporting cartilage and joint health.

→ Turkey meal is a highly concentrated protein source created by rendering and drying whole turkeys or turkey parts (flesh, skin and bone). This process removes most fat and moisture, resulting in a dense ingredient that typically contains about 60–65% protein (dry-matter basis) to support lean muscle mass.

It can also contain naturally occurring glucosamine from cartilage and connective tissue, though amounts are variable and often supplemented separately in finished pet foods.

→ Sweet potatoes are a starchy, nutrient-dense root vegetable prized for their sweet flavor and versatility. They provide fiber and steady energy, support eye and immune health with beta-carotene, and are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Each 100 g of raw sweet potatoes (without skin) contains approximately 17.3 g of carbohydrates and 4.44 g of fiber.

→ Potatoes serve as a gluten-free carbohydrate source, providing energy, fiber (2.2g per 100g), and nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. They are easy to digest and often used in grain-free formulas.

However, their high starch content and glycemic index (which causes rapid blood sugar spikes) may not be suitable for dogs with diabetes.

Secondary Ingredients

The three ingredients immediately following the primary ingredients are highlighted as the secondary ingredients in this review of Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food.

→ Peas are a common part of commercial pet foods. They provide fiber, vitamins (A, C, K), minerals (iron, manganese, phosphorus), and antioxidants.

Raw green peas have 5.42 g of protein and 14.4 g of carbohydrates in each 100-gram serving.

→ Chicken fat is the fat separated from chicken tissues during rendering. It is commonly used in dog food as a concentrated energy source and flavor enhancer.

It is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, and is often preserved with mixed tocopherols to maintain freshness.

→ Fish meal is a concentrated protein source made by cooking, drying, and grinding fish (often whole fish or leftover parts) into a powder.

It retains many benefits of whole fish, like omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and fur, but its quality depends on the fish species and its processing method.

Other Ingredients

→ Potato protein is derived directly from the tuber or from an industrial byproduct called potato fruit juice. It provides superior nutrition compared to many cereal proteins, particularly in terms of essential amino acids.

It can be readily extracted using techniques such as ion exchange and is commonly used to enhance the protein content of dog food.

→ Chicken is a high-quality protein used in premium dog foods. It’s made by removing the bones from fresh chicken, leaving nutrient-rich meat. It supplies essential amino acids for muscle maintenance and energy, and it’s easy to digest.

However, since chicken is a common allergen, it may not suit pets with poultry sensitivities.

Deboned chicken (raw, skinless) provides about 22.5 grams of protein per 100 grams.

→ Pea protein is a plant-based protein extracted from peas, commonly used in dog food to increase protein content, especially in grain-free formulas.

The Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe includes other beneficial ingredients further down the list to support your dog’s health. However, we won’t explore them in detail here due to the scope of this Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food Review.

Nutrient Sources - Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Nutrient	Sources
Protein	Deboned Duck, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Fish Meal, Potato Protein, Chicken, Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal
Fat	Deboned Duck, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Chicken Fat, Fish Meal, Chicken, Flaxseed, Dried Yeast, Sunflower Oil, Salmon Oil
Carbohydrate	Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Flaxseed, Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal, Apples, Blueberries
Fiber	Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Flaxseed, Dried Yeast, Miscanthus Grass, Alfalfa Meal, Apples

Vitamins

This recipe includes a complete, synthetically supplemented vitamin profile.

Vitamins A, D, E, K (as menadione), and all essential B vitamins are present in stable, bioavailable forms, supporting adequacy throughout the product’s shelf life. Vitamin C is not listed, as dogs synthesize it naturally.

The inclusion of a complete vitamin profile suggests the formula is designed to meet canine nutritional requirements.

Minerals

Key minerals such as iron, zinc, manganese, and copper are chelated as amino acid complexes, enhancing bioavailability and supporting superior absorption. Cobalt is included in both proteinate and carbonate forms.

Other mineral forms, such as sulfates, carbonates, and iodides, are effective but generally less efficiently utilized.

Overall, this is a high-quality, well-considered mineral profile.

Ingredient Concerns

While this dog food recipe is nutritionally complete and well-formulated with high-quality markers, it presents several considerations for specific canine needs.

The inclusion of multiple animal proteins (duck, chicken, turkey, and fish) enhances the amino acid profile but may increase the risk of triggering sensitivities in predisposed dogs and renders the food unsuitable for elimination diets.

Ingredients such as chicken meal, turkey meal, and fish meal are concentrated protein sources, but their quality depends on sourcing and processing, which is not clearly disclosed.

The use of “natural flavor” remains a transparency issue. Furthermore, the significant proportion of carbohydrate-rich ingredients like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peas, while nutritionally valuable, results in a formulation that is not ideal for dogs requiring low-carbohydrate or grain-free diets due to specific health conditions.

This Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food Review highlights both the strengths and potential concerns in the formulation, giving pet owners a clearer picture of what to expect from this popular dry dog food line.

Nutrient Analysis

Moisture=11% Max

Method of Analysis	Protein	Fat	Carbs	Fiber
→ Guaranteed Analysis	34%	17%	26.5%	3.5%
→ Dry Matter Basis	38.2%	19.1%	29.8%	3.9%
→ Calorie Content Basis	33.4%	40.6%	26%	NA

Normal dog food typically contains (18-35)% protein, (30–50)% carbohydrates and (9–25)% fat on a dry matter basis.

However, Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe contains 38.2% protein, 19.1% fat, and approximately 29.8% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis.

This makes it High in protein, Moderate in fat, and Low in carbohydrates.

Compliance with AAFCO and FEDIAF Standards

The Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe contains 38.2% protein and 19.1% fat on a dry matter basis.

These levels exceed the minimum requirements for adult maintenance set by AAFCO and FEDIAF standards, ensuring the food provides sufficient protein and fat to support your dog’s overall health.

Every recipe in Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food line meets AAFCO and FEDIAF standards.

AAFCO Statement

“Merrick Grain Free Real Duck + Sweet Potato Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.).”

The statement indicates that the recipe meets AAFCO nutrient requirements based on laboratory nutrient analysis, but it does not confirm that the food has undergone AAFCO-approved feeding trials.

Lab analysis verifies that the nutrient levels meet the required standards on paper, whereas feeding trials demonstrate real-world performance in dogs, including digestibility, palatability, and overall health outcomes.

Cost Analysis

Cost Metrics	4-lb bag	22-lb bag
→ Cost per Unit	$26.99	$77.98
→ Cost per Pound	$6.75	$3.54
→ Cost per Serving	$1.76	$0.92

While the 4-lb bag of Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food has a lower upfront price, it results in much higher recurring costs at $6.75 per pound and $1.76 per serving.

In contrast, the 22-lb bag requires a larger initial investment but significantly reduces long-term expenses, costing only $3.54 per pound and $0.92 per serving.

For dedicated pet owners who feed consistently, the 22-lb bag offers better value by providing meaningful savings and greater convenience over time.

Chewy Autoship offers 35% off (upto $20) on your first order. For a 22-lb bag, the cost is $77.98, but on Autoship, it drops to $57.98, saving $20.

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Note: Prices are subject to change based on retailer, location, and availability.

Pros and Cons - Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Pros

Real deboned duck as the first ingredient
Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (salmon oil, flaxseed)
Added joint support (glucosamine & chondroitin)
Enhanced with probiotics for digestion
Grain-free (no corn, wheat, soy, or gluten)

Cons

Higher allergy risk due to multiple animal protein sources
Fish meal and natural flavor lack ingredient transparency
Use of synthetic vitamin K (menadione sodium bisulfite complex)

Recalls and Safety

Merrick has had a few past recalls affecting specific dog treats: 2010 beef filet squares (Salmonella) and 2018 beef treats (high thyroid hormone). These were limited incidents, and none of their other dog food lines have been affected since.

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Our Rating

Our dog food rating system rated the Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe at 4.5 out of 5, while the Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food line received an overall rating of 4.12 out of 5.

Final Verdict

This article gives a basic look at dog food ingredients, but you should always ask your vet for specific advice. Your dog may have different needs, and an expert’s help is important.