Merrick vs Wellness Dog Food: Side by Side Specs
Merrick's recorded recipes publish protein, fat, food type, life stage, and (for 43 of 43) an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, with a calorie density figure on 35 of them and a manufacturer origin address on 43 of them. Wellness's recorded recipes publish the same fields, with an AAFCO statement on 45 of 45, a calorie figure on 38, and an origin address on 45 of 45. A source link back to the manufacturer's own product page is on file for 43 of 43 Merrick recipes and 45 of 45 Wellness recipes. Both sets are read from each manufacturer's own product pages, not from a lab test we ran ourselves.
Published ingredient list length for Merrick runs 8 to 53 ingredients (43 recipes). For Wellness it runs 8 to 55 ingredients (45 recipes). Both figures come from the ingredient panel printed on each brand's own product page, counted item by item as published, with no editing or reordering on our part.
| Field | Merrick | Wellness |
|---|---|---|
| Recipes in the library | 43 | 45 |
| Published protein range | 8% to 38% across 43 recipes with a figure published | 8% to 38% across 45 recipes with a figure published |
| Published fat range | 1.5% to 18% across 43 recipes with a figure published | 3% to 18% across 45 recipes with a figure published |
| Published calorie range | 812 to 3,827 kcal/kg (35 recipes) | 855 to 3,812 kcal/kg (38 recipes) |
| AAFCO text published | 43 of 43 | 45 of 45 |
| Types offered | Dry Kibble, Wet/Canned | Dry Kibble, Wet/Canned |
| Life stages offered | Adult, Puppy, Senior | Adult, Puppy, Senior |
The table above lines up what each brand publishes. Merrick lists 43 recipes across 2 types and 3 life stages. Wellness lists 45 recipes across 2 types and 3 life stages. Every figure in this table is copied from the manufacturer's own published label or product page.
Three matched recipe pairs, same type and life stage
- Merrick Backcountry Big Game Recipe (Dry Kibble, Adult): 34% protein, 17% fat vs Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken Oatmeal Adult Dry (Dry Kibble, Adult): 22% protein, 12% fat
- Merrick Backcountry Game Bird Recipe (Dry Kibble, Adult): 34% protein, 17% fat vs Wellness Complete Health Beef Barley Recipe Adult Dry Kibble (Dry Kibble, Adult): 24% protein, 12% fat
- Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Puppy Recipe (Dry Kibble, Puppy): 28% protein, 14% fat vs Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Deboned Chicken Brown Rice Salmon Meal Recipe Puppy Dry Kibble (Dry Kibble, Puppy): 29% protein, 12% fat
This page compares the specifications each brand publishes. We do not rate nutrition, and we do not rank or recommend one brand over the other. See the full recipe list and ranges for each brand at Merrick Dog Food Compared and Wellness Dog Food Compared. You can also open Merrick in the comparison tool or open Wellness in the comparison tool, and read how we compare dog foods for how each figure was recorded.
If you want a single ingredient treat to go with any of these, our freeze dried dog treats are made in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Questions from this page
How many recipes does each brand have in this library?
Merrick has 43 recorded recipes. Wellness has 45 recorded recipes.
What protein and fat ranges are published for each brand?
Merrick publishes protein 8% to 38% across 43 recipes with a figure published and fat 1.5% to 18% across 43 recipes with a figure published. Wellness publishes protein 8% to 38% across 45 recipes with a figure published and fat 3% to 18% across 45 recipes with a figure published.
Is an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement published for both brands?
Merrick publishes an AAFCO statement on 43 of 43 recorded recipes. Wellness publishes one on 45 of 45 recorded recipes.