Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice
Owners who want deboned meat first with grain-inclusive quality at a premium price
Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley
Owners who follow veterinary recommendations and want science-backed formulation
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice
Owners who want deboned meat first with grain-inclusive quality at a premium price
Merrick puts deboned chicken — not chicken meal — as the first ingredient, which is a meaningful quality distinction. No corn, wheat, soy, and made in the USA with solid transparency. The Nestlé Purina ownership is a consideration for brand-conscious buyers, but the formula quality remains strong.
Strengths
- Deboned chicken is the #1 ingredient — real meat, not meal
- No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives/colors/flavors
- Made in the USA with locally sourced ingredients and clear labeling
Limitations
- Premium pricing at ~$1.50/day for the ingredient quality level
- Smaller 25 lb bag increases per-serving cost compared to larger formats
- Now owned by Nestlé Purina — corporate ownership may concern some buyers
When to Choose Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley
Owners who follow veterinary recommendations and want science-backed formulation
Hill's Science Diet is the other pillar of veterinary-recommended nutrition alongside Purina Pro Plan. The formulation is precise and backed by feeding trials. However, corn gluten meal and by-product meal at ~$1.24/day makes it expensive for what you get ingredient-wise. You're paying for the research, not the ingredients.
Strengths
- Developed by veterinary nutritionists with extensive feeding trial validation
- Precise nutrient balance designed for optimal adult maintenance
- Clean safety record for dry food lines over the past 5+ years
Limitations
- Contains corn gluten meal and chicken by-product meal — not premium ingredients
- Higher price (~$1.24/day) for ingredient quality that trails premium competitors
- Minimal sourcing transparency — ingredient origins are not disclosed
