Merrick Dog and Cat Foods - Q & A

DRY DOG FOOD

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?

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 cite the feeding guidelines on the back of the can for each entree to learn what amount you should feed your dog.

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, gestation, lactation and growth. Merrick Pet Care does not perform any invasive testing.

Do you use organic meats in Merrick Pet Foods?
We use human grade meats and vegetables, which enables us to be a holistic diet. We do not use, at this time, exclusively organic protein sources.

What is the percentage of meat in all the dog dry and cans?
Formulas are proprietary; however, the dry products will contain more than 25% meats. The can products are essentially meat, as meat comprises more than 80% of the ingredients.