Merrick vs Wellness
Merrick against Wellness, measured across 58 and 67 kibble recipes: 30.3% vs 30.6% protein and 32% vs 35% starch, as fed.
How They Differ
- Protein is close: 30.3% for Merrick and 30.6% for Wellness as fed.
- Starch is similar, about 32% for Merrick and 35% for Wellness as fed.
Side by Side
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Merrick | Wellness | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 58 | 67 | 1,742 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 30.3%23.0% to 38.0% | 30.6%21.0% to 38.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 15.5%9.0% to 18.0% | 13.4%8.0% to 18.0% | 14.4% |
| Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. | 32%25% to 42% | 35%24% to 48% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 421352 to 522 | 416334 to 510 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 100% | 100% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 64% | 46% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 71%, Fish 64%, Turkey 45% | Chicken 64%, Turkey 48%, Fish 37% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | |
| By-products | 0% | 0% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None1 older in the archive | None2 older in the archive | |
| Made by | Nestlé Purina | Wellness Pet Company |
Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead, which takes the water out so foods of different moisture compare evenly. Why we use as fed.
The Closest Matching Recipes
Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe + Grains Dry Dog Food
Protein 32%
Fat 16%
Starch 31%
Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Protein 32%
Fat 16%
Starch 31%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Merrick runs from 23% to 38% protein as fed and Wellness from 21% to 38%, so the right recipe matters more than the name on the bag.
Recall History
FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.
Merrick
No FDA recalls in our record for Merrick in the last five years.
Archive: 1 older recall
Castor & Pollux, Merrick. Beef dog treat varieties
Wellness
No FDA recalls in our record for Wellness in the last five years.
Archive: 2 older recalls
Wellness. Beef Topper for Dogs
Wellness Complete Health. Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy dry dog food (made by Diamond)
About the Brands
Merrick
Merrick is a dog and cat food brand that is part of the Nestlé Purina family of brands. It sells dry food, wet food and treats under lines such as Backcountry, Healthy Grains, Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diet, Full Source and Lil' Plates. The company says its recipes use real, whole-food ingredients and no artificial preservatives, and that its dry dog recipes contain omega fatty acids plus glucosamine and chondroitin.
Based in Hereford, Texas, since 1988. Every Merrick food we review
Wellness
Wellness is a dog and cat food brand made by Wellness Pet Company, which also owns WHIMZEES, Old Mother Hubbard, Holistic Select, Sojos and Eagle Pack. Its dog food lines include Complete Health and CORE, and the company says its recipes use natural, protein-forward ingredients. Wellness Pet Company is owned by the private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
Based in Burlington, MA, since 1997. Every Wellness food we review
More Brand Comparisons
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed October 20, 2026.
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