Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

Name: Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Brand: Merrick

Dry food for dogs · Senior · by Merrick

67/100 · Good

We have not seen this label’s AAFCO statement yet.

See the full breakdown in Beagly

What to watch for

Peas Moderate risk
Peas add plant protein, starch and fiber. The FDA has been investigating reports of heart disease (DCM) in dogs eating diets high in peas, lentils and other legumes, often grain-free. No cause has been proven, but it is worth knowing when legumes sit near the top of the list.
Pea protein Moderate risk
Protein extracted from peas, used to raise the protein number without more meat. The FDA has been investigating reports of heart disease (DCM) in dogs eating diets high in peas, lentils and other legumes, often grain-free. No cause has been proven, but it is worth knowing when legumes sit near the top of the list.
Sweet potato Low risk
A starchy root vegetable that supplies carbohydrate, fiber and beta-carotene. Potatoes and sweet potatoes were common in the grain-free diets reported in the FDA DCM investigation.
Potatoes Low risk
Cooked potato is a digestible starch used in many grain-free kibbles. Potatoes were common in diets reported in the FDA DCM investigation.
Potato protein Low risk
Protein extracted from potatoes, used to raise the protein number in grain-free foods.
Natural flavor Low risk
Flavoring from natural sources. Normally safe, but the term can hide which animal or plant it came from, which matters for allergies.
Salt Low risk
Salt supplies sodium and chloride, which dogs need. Pet foods use small amounts; high salt is mainly a concern for dogs with heart or kidney disease.
Copper sulfate Low risk
A source of copper, an essential trace mineral. Some breeds accumulate copper in the liver, and vets have raised concern that some dog foods supply more than dogs need.

What it does well

High protein 36.0%
30% or more on a dry-matter basis.
Named meat first
First ingredient is deboned chicken.

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Salmon Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Potato Protein, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Apples, Blueberries, Inulin (from chicory root), Gelatin, Salt, Organic Dried Alfalfa Meal, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate), Choline Chloride, L-Carnitine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate), Dried Bacillius coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product.

Guaranteed analysis

Crude protein (min)	32%
Crude fat (min)	12%
Crude fiber (max)	3.5%
Moisture (max)	11%

What the label cannot tell you

Ingredient order is by weight before cooking; fresh meat counts water.
Mineral levels are not printed on this label.
We could not find the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for this product. Scan the bag to confirm it is complete and balanced.

Sizes and barcodes

Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food - 12-lb UPC 022808260110
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food - 4-lb UPC 022808260080

Higher-scoring dry food for dogs

Acana Wholesome Grains Dry Food for Dogs - Sea to Stream 94/100 · Excellent
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 94/100 · Excellent
Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey & Chicken 93/100 · Excellent
Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey 93/100 · Excellent
Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 92/100 · Excellent

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Informational, not veterinary advice. The score is our opinion of a food, built from the facts on its label with our published method. No brand pays to rank higher. Recipes change: check the bag you have, or scan it in the app.

Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03