Merricks

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

I asked the owner of a small pet shop we go to about this and she said that the chicken bone in this and in other whole bone canned food (can't remember the brand name), are pressure cooked. When pressure cooked, the bones become very soft and you can take a fork and it will crumble. So no splintering or sharp points. She said she tried it with her dogs and used a spoon to mash it up well and she mixed it in with the rest of the can.

Thanks for checking on that bc I was really wondering!

Maybe I was in a nitpicky mood when I posted that loll. Glad to hear that some of the pups are doing well on it, that's all that matters.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Thanks for checking on that bc I was really wondering!

Maybe I was in a nitpicky mood when I posted that loll. Glad to hear that some of the pups are doing well on it, that's all that matters.

lol. I don't think it was being nitpicky at all! The only reason I knew about it was because a friend bought the can and she called me to say there was a whole bone! We were both freaking out! We both agreed she better throw the bone out. The next time I went to the pet store, I asked. I have Sachi on a raw diet so I haven't tried it myself, but I was very interested to find out what was the reason.

[Nipper]

Merrick is very good at marketing but the food is very low quality and very cheap to make. My local store always has it on sale for $39.99 for a 25lb bag and when I asked my friend that works there she said it is very inexpensive compared to other foods and they can afford to mark it down. Not that it matters much for small dogs, but the foods have enormous amounts of calcium, which tells you the ingredients are low quality, lots of bones in the ingredients.

I read a story recently that an employee fell into the mixer and lost some limbs and the company fought tooth and nail to pay damages.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Nipper

Merrick is very good at marketing but the food is very low quality and very cheap to make. My local store always has it on sale for $39.99 for a 25lb bag and when I asked my friend that works there she said it is very inexpensive compared to other foods and they can afford to mark it down. Not that it matters much for small dogs, but the foods have enormous amounts of calcium, which tells you the ingredients are low quality, lots of bones in the ingredients.

I read a story recently that an employee fell into the mixer and lost some limbs and the company fought tooth and nail to pay damages.

Just a rumor until you provide links...you always trash talk other food companies, what's up w/ that?

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Just a rumor until you provide links...you always trash talk other food companies, what's up w/ that?

[Ellie May]

Don't like the company, the ridiculous amount of recalls (don't care if it was for just treats - there is obviously a quality control problem), etc.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Don't like the company, the ridiculous amount of recalls (don't care if it was for just treats - there is obviously a quality control problem), etc.

That's how I feel

[jdonica]

I fed Merrick for about a year and a half. Started Harley (now 5 1/2) out on it. After about 8 months on it, he got to where he just didn't like it, so I transitioned him over to the BG line. He liked this line much better but it seemed like about once a month he would have problems with soft stool while on it. I began to read questionable information on the brand (a lot of it came from people I trusted on this site) and switched over to Acana. I switch back and forth between the Acana Ranchlands and Prairie Harvest. I have fed Acana since he was a little over 18 months old and have not had any problems with his loosing interest or causing stomach issues.

Jerilyn and Harley

[tokipoki]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Merrick Introduction

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?

I want to know what the 'family secret' is...don't you? I want to know what I'm giving my dogs. For them to answer this way, is very misleading & holding back ingredient info.

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.


I thought cooked bones splinter & should NEVER be given to dogs, esp cooked chicken bones?


The only positive thing I found about Merrick was that they claim to use all USA ingredients, including their vitamin premix. But they can purchase the vitamin premix in the USA from a company that imported the individual synthetic vitamins & minerals from China & made it in the USA & say it's from the USA. Think You Can Avoid Pet Foods Made In China? Think Again! | Dogs Naturally Magazine

I grabbed a can of the Wingaling last time I was at the store because I was curious about the whole chicken wing being in there. The bones are "soft"...sort of...I was able to mash them with my fingers but the little crushed pieces of bone felt so sharp to me! I did not feel comfortable feeding it and just tossed it. I've fed other canned Merrick varieties with no issues but Wingaling is something I just wouldn't feel comfortable feeding and will not purchase again.

It's like when I feed S & C freeze-dried, I always crumble it with my fingers and occasionally I find small sharp pieces of bone that I just throw out. I'm not sure how/if these sharp pieces are handled by the GI tract without causing some damage but it's not something I want to find out. I guess I was expecting Wingaling's chicken bone to be similar to the bones in cans of sardines that you can just mash up and not even know are in there...not the case though.

[BabieChloe]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Don't like the company, the ridiculous amount of recalls (don't care if it was for just treats - there is obviously a quality control problem), etc.

I feed my 11 week old puppy Merrick kibble and wet food but I didn't know there we're recalls on it? I've found 2 cans that had "black" chicken that made me a little weary about feeding the brand to chloe. I threw those cans out and haven't found black chicken anymore but now after hearing about the recall.. I'm not sure if I want to feed this to her anymore. What other brands are high quality? I've heard about wellness, is it very good.. And royal canin?