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Merrick Lil’ Plates Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Merrick Lil' Plates Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
Amarillo, Texas us-flag
Parent company
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Dry Dog Food
Cost per day: $0.16
Primary proteins
  • Deboned Lamb
  • Lamb Meal
  • Chicken Meal
  • Dried Egg Product

Ingredients

Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Quinoa, Carrots, Apples, Flaxseed, Whitefish Meal, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Chicory Root (source of Inulin), Organic Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Proteinate, Cobalt Carbonate), Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Niacin, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Mixed Tocopherols for Freshness, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Citric Acid, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product.

Breed sizes

size-1 Toy
size-2 Small
size-3 Medium
size-4 Large
size-5 Giant

Overall Score

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60%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 41%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 73%
? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 32%
? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 63%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 86%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 40%
? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 83%

Estimated Nutrient Content

To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.

Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Protein: 27%

Fat: 16%

Fiber: 3.5%

Moisture: 11%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 42.5%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 30.34%

Fat: 17.98%

Fiber: 3.93%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 47.75%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 24.92%

Fat: 35.86%

Carb: 39.22%

Our Review

Pros
  • Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
  • Made with fiber-rich flaxseed
  • Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
  • Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
Cons
  • Low in moisture
  • Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
  • The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
  • Some dogs may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Merrick since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Merrick - Pet treats for dogs (07/02/2010) -+
Date:07/02/2010
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Pet treats for dogs
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Merrick - Texas Hold'ems Beef Filet Squares for Dogs (08/03/2010) -+
Date:08/03/2010
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Texas Hold'ems Beef Filet Squares for Dogs
Recall Reason:Potentially contaminated with Salmonella
Merrick - Dog treats - Texas Hold'ems, Beef Filet Squares (08/16/2010) -+
Date:08/16/2010
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Dog treats - Texas Hold'ems, Beef Filet Squares
Recall Reason:Potentially contaminated with Salmonella
Merrick - JR Texas Taffy Pet Treats (01/28/2011) -+
Date:01/28/2011
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:JR Texas Taffy Pet Treats
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Merrick - Wishbone pet treat (08/08/2011) -+
Date:08/08/2011
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Wishbone pet treat
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Merrick - Beef dog treat varieties (05/23/2018) -+
Date:05/23/2018
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Beef dog treat varieties
Recall Reason:Ingredient Level

Ingredient Review

Our review of Merrick Lil' Plates Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Deboned Lamb. Deboned lamb is meat from a young sheep, with all the bones removed. In pet food, deboned lamb may be a primary protein source as well as a source of animal fat, amino acids, and minerals.

The second ingredient is Lamb Meal. Lamb meal is the rendered, ground, and dried meat from a young sheep. In pet food, lamb meal can be an important source of protein fat, vitamins, and minerals.

The third ingredient is Brown Rice. Brown rice is a name for whole-grain rice with its outer hull removed. The brown rice in pet food can be a source of carbohydrates and fiber. Brown rice also contains omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals

The fourth ingredient is Chicken Meal. In pet food, chicken meal is often listed as a source of protein. Chicken meal is produced by baking and grinding chicken meat and skin. As a dry form of animal protein, it is most often found in kibble and treats.

The fifth ingredient is Oatmeal. Oatmeal is made with oats that have had their tough outer hulls removed before further processing into a coarse high-fiber substance. The oatmeal in pet food is a source of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals to support your companion’s overall well-being.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Merrick Lil' Plates Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per lb

Product Price

$4.62

Market Price avg.

$3.69

% From the Avg

+25%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$0.27

Market Price avg.

$0.34

% From the Avg

-18%

Price per day

Product Price

$0.16

Market Price avg.

$0.20

% From the Avg

-18%

Merrick Lil' Plates Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dry dog food.

Nutritional Analysis

Because smaller dogs have higher metabolisms compared to their medium, large, and giant cousins, foods made for small breeds may have higher calorie density. Small dog breed foods also often have smaller kibble size for their smaller mouths.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Merrick Lil' Plates Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food to the other 1801 dry dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

30.34%

All Products avg.

30.14%

% From the Avg

+1%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

17.98%

All Products avg.

15.9%

% From the Avg

+13%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

3.93%

All Products avg.

5.46%

% From the Avg

-28%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

47.75%

All Products avg.

47.61%

% From the Avg

+0%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s moderate in protein with high fat and moderate carbohydrate content relative to other dry dog foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.

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