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Merrick Backcountry Grain-Free Wet Dog Food 96% Real Chicken Recipe, 12.7-oz can, case of 12
Merrick

Backcountry Grain-Free Wet Dog Food 96% Real Chicken Recipe, 12.7-oz can, case of 12

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $4.76/lb

Merrick Backcountry Grain-Free Wet Dog Food 96% Real Chicken Recipe, 12.7-oz can, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 50/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Primary concern: no declared omega-3 source. fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. deboned chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared not stated. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI

Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 45% ⓘ
Protein
10%
min (as fed)
Fat
6%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 45%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

20 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    deboned chicken

    Real meat with the bones removed before grinding. The cleanest version of chicken on an ingredient label.

  2. 2
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

  3. 3
    chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

  4. 4
    dried egg product

    Whole eggs with the water removed. Same nutritional value as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.

  5. 5
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  6. 6
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  7. 7
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  8. 8
    locust bean gum

    Thickener from carob seed. Generally well-tolerated. Less controversial than carrageenan or guar gum.

  9. 9
    tricalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.

  10. 10
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet.

  11. 11
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  12. 12
    sodium tripolyphosphate

    Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.

  13. 13
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  14. 14
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  15. 15
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  16. 16
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  17. 17
    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

  18. 18
    potassium iodide

    Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  19. 19
    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

  20. 20
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

20 of 20 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.