Brand Comparison · 2026

Merrick vs Orijen

Merrick (premium-tier kibble from a Nestlé Purina brand that meets 1 of WSAVA's 5 questions on its own published evidence) and Orijen (high-protein, high-meat-inclusion boutique kibble; named in 12 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Orijen meets 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Merrick is roughly 17% less than Orijen.

The verdict

Orijen costs $80-130/month and meets 2 of 5 WSAVA questions. Merrick costs $60-115/month and meets 1 of 5. Champion Petfoods, which makes Orijen, reports a full-time PhD animal nutritionist and owns kitchens in Canada and Kentucky. Merrick is made in Purina-run Hereford plants, and its FAQ stops short of stating a full-time PhD nutritionist. Orijen's label and Merrick's FAQ both say formulated to AAFCO profiles, and neither cites feeding trials. Merrick and Orijen both appear in the FDA's 2019 DCM update.

Orijen's draw is its high meat-inclusion percentages. Because both brands appear in the FDA's DCM reports, a dog with any cardiac risk factor should get a veterinarian's opinion first. Merrick costs less and carries less evidence. For an owner set on premium kibble, that is a trade worth making consciously. Purina Pro Plan meets all 5 at $40-75/month for anyone willing to look beyond these two.

Key differences at a glance

Different makers: Merrick is Nestlé Purina; Orijen is Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods).
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: Orijen meets 2 of 5 criteria vs 1 of 5 for Merrick.
Monthly cost: Merrick runs roughly 17% less than Orijen for a typical 50 lb dog.
Heart-health context: both Merrick and Orijen appear in the FDA's diet-related DCM investigation, which has not established that any food caused the disease.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Merrick	Orijen
Parent company	Nestlé Purina	Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)
Category	Premium dry kibble	Boutique dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	1 of 5	2 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Partial	Yes
Credentialed formulator	Partial	Partial
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Partial	Partial
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$60 – $115 / month	$80 – $130 / month

Nestlé Purina

Merrick

Premium-tier kibble from a Nestlé Purina brand that meets 1 of WSAVA's 5 questions on its own published evidence.

Strengths

Made in the Hereford, Texas plants that Nestlé Purina runs
Merrick's FAQ says trained animal nutritionists, including PhDs, formulate the food
The Hereford plant earned SQF Level 3 certification in 2013

Watch-outs

No nutritionist is named and no board certification is stated
The FAQ says formulated to AAFCO profiles, with no feeding-test claim
Quality-control evidence is a 2013 certificate. Merrick's current pages describe no testing program
Named in 16 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease

Best for: Owners shopping the premium kibble tier who accept thinner public evidence on nutrition staff and testing.

Avoid if: You want a named nutritionist, feeding-trial substantiation or a published testing program.

Visit Merrick ↗

Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)

Orijen

High-protein, high-meat-inclusion boutique kibble; named in 12 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update.

Strengths

Some of the highest meat-inclusion percentages on the market
Strong brand-quality narrative and consumer trust
Owns manufacturing in Canada and Kentucky

Watch-outs

Named in 12 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease
Formulation-only AAFCO substantiation
Premium price

Best for: Owners who prioritize ingredient panel aesthetics and accept the DCM-risk and WSAVA-compliance trade-offs.

Avoid if: Your dog has any cardiac risk factor or breed predisposition to DCM.

Visit Orijen ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Merrick is the better choice when: Owners shopping the premium kibble tier who accept thinner public evidence on nutrition staff and testing. Orijen is the better choice when: Owners who prioritize ingredient panel aesthetics and accept the DCM-risk and WSAVA-compliance trade-offs.

On cost, Merrick is roughly 17% less than Orijen at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Orijen meets 2 of 5 vs 1 of 5 for Merrick.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Merrick WSAVA-approved or is Orijen WSAVA-approved.

Where to buy

Made your pick?

Check current pricing on whichever brand fits your dog. Prices and promotions change frequently, so it is worth comparing both before you commit to a bag or a subscription.

Shop Merrick on Chewy →Shop Orijen on Chewy →

Disclosure: these are affiliate links and IntelliBowl may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission does not influence the comparison above. See our methodology.

Personalized recommendation

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Compare these brands against others

Methodology: WSAVA criteria reflect each brand's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of October 2026, scored against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. AAFCO substantiation reflects the dominant method used across the brand's main retail product line. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. Recommendations are editorial and not influenced by affiliate relationships. See our recommendation methodology for IntelliBowl's quiz-engine ranking logic.