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Healthy Bites Grain Free Chicken & Bone Broth Soft Dog Treats
Merrick

Healthy Bites Grain Free Chicken & Bone Broth Soft Dog Treats

Verified Aug 28, 2026

Dog · Treat Adult All Breed Sizes

A soft, grain-free dog treat featuring deboned chicken as the primary ingredient and chicken bone broth for added flavor. Pumpkin, pea fiber, and potato ingredients provide structure and some fiber, while added vitamin E and zinc support overall nutritional value. This treat is designed for adult dogs of all sizes as a tasty reward rather than a balanced daily diet.

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Over-the-counter No recalls

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Official product page
KibbleLab Score
8.5 out of 10

Strong Choice

From a nutritional standpoint, this is a thoughtfully formulated soft treat that uses real deboned chicken as the first ingredient and avoids grains for dogs that do better on grain-free options. It includes bone broth, pumpkin, and small amounts of blueberries and spices, along with added vitamin E and zinc. It’s best viewed as a moderate-calorie reward (about 9 calories per treat) that can fit into most adult dogs’ diets when used in appropriate amounts.

Calorie and portion clarity 10.0
Ingredient composition 5.5
Health considerations 10.0

Computed from 3 of 3 applicable checks. Missing data is skipped, never counted against a food.

The KibbleLab Score (1–10) is assessed from publicly available product data. Our evaluation is science-based, not marketing-based.

Nutritional profile Protein, fat, fiber on a dry-matter basis, for the stated life stage and format
Adequacy substantiation Complete and balanced substantiation; feeding trials valued higher
Ingredient composition Screened for unnamed sources, artificial additives, and label protein inflation. Not a quality ranking.
Health considerations Pulse-heavy grain-free (DCM) pattern and recall history
Verified manufacturer evidence A small bonus when we can verify evidence addressing WSAVA selection criteria
9.0 - 10 Top Pick
8.0 - 8.9 Strong Choice
7.0 - 7.9 Solid Option
6.0 - 6.9 Worth a Conversation
Below 6.0 Review Carefully

KibbleLab may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through a link. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.


At a Glance

Marketed Benefits
Where these benefits come from Benefits the manufacturer highlights in its own product marketing. KibbleLab lists them for reference and does not verify these claims.
Immune Support
Suitable For
Adult All Breed Sizes
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We'll check every ingredient against your pet's sensitivities and avoidance list.

Nutritional Perspective

KibbleLab Review

Strengths

  • Deboned chicken as the first ingredient provides a clear, high-quality animal protein source for a treat.
  • Relatively modest calories per treat (about 9 kcal) make it easier to fit into daily calorie allowances when portioned correctly.
  • Includes pumpkin and pea fiber, which can contribute some fiber, and added vitamin E and zinc to support general nutritional value.
  • Grain-free formulation may be helpful for dogs that need to avoid grains specifically, and the soft texture can be useful for training or for dogs with dental issues.

Considerations

  • Contains chicken, dairy (dried cultured whey), and peas, which can be problem ingredients for dogs with known food allergies or sensitivities to these items.
  • Uses several starch and sugar sources (potatoes, potato starch, cane sugar, molasses, glycerin), so these should be counted toward your dog’s daily calorie intake, especially for dogs prone to weight gain.
  • This is a treat, not a complete and balanced food, so it should make up only a small portion of the overall diet and not replace a balanced dog food.
Scored using the rubric of an NAVC Certified Pet Nutrition Coach (PNCC). This is informational, not veterinary advice.

Full Ingredient List

Deboned Chicken, Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Potato Protein, Potato Starch, Glycerin, Cane Sugar, Molasses, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Lecithin, Dried Cultured Whey, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Citric Acid, Vinegar, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Zinc Proteinate, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Blueberries, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols. A276924

Ingredients and analysis reflect manufacturer data at the time of our last update and can change without notice. Always check the actual product packaging before feeding.

Ingredient filtering helps identify compatible options but is not a substitute for a veterinary elimination diet.

Top 5 Ingredients Explained

01
Deboned Chicken
Deboned chicken is a common primary animal protein in pet foods, providing highly digestible essential amino acids and nutrients such as B vitamins and iron that support muscle maintenance, growth, and overall health in both dogs and cats. It is generally palatable and relatively lean, but can be a common food allergen for some animals and its nutritional and fat content varies with inclusion of skin or fat—ensure proper sourcing and handling to reduce contamination risk and consult a veterinarian if you suspect a food sensitivity.
02
Potato
Potato is commonly used in pet foods as a digestible carbohydrate source and functional binder, supplying starch, fiber, and modest amounts of vitamins (B6, C) and potassium—often included as cooked or dehydrated flakes, starch, or protein concentrates. While it provides energy and helps formulate grain‑free recipes, potatoes are not a primary protein for dogs or cats (and are not nutritionally required for obligate‑carnivore cats), can contribute to excess calories or affect blood glucose in diabetic animals, and must be cooked and free of green skins or sprouts to avoid solanine toxicity; allergies are uncommon but possible.
View ingredient
03
Pea Fiber
Pea fiber is an insoluble plant fiber derived from peas commonly used in pet foods as a source of dietary fiber and as a texturizer/binder to help form kibble, increase stool bulk, and reduce calorie density; it provides little protein, fat, vitamins, or minerals but can aid satiety and regularity in dogs and cats. While pea fiber can support digestive health and weight management, it may cause gas or looser stools in some pets and — because pea-derived ingredients have been discussed in the context of concerns about grain‑free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy — it should be used as part of a balanced, veterinarian‑approved formulation rather than in excessive amounts.
04
Potato Protein
Potato protein is a concentrated plant-based protein used in pet foods as a protein source, binder and texture enhancer, offering a highly digestible amino acid profile with relatively good lysine content compared with other plant proteins. It can be a useful hypoallergenic alternative for dogs and a supplement in balanced formulas, but it should not be the sole protein for obligate carnivores like cats because it lacks certain nutrients (e.g., sufficient taurine and other animal-derived factors) and must be used within complete, nutritionally formulated diets; quality processing also minimizes potato-specific compounds such as glycoalkaloids.
05
Potato Starch
Potato starch is a highly digestible carbohydrate commonly used in pet foods as a binder, thickener and texture agent to help kibble formation, stabilize wet formulas and create chewy treats. It provides readily available energy but is low in protein, fat and micronutrients, so while generally safe, its high glycemic load and limited nutritional value mean it should be used sparingly—particularly for overweight pets, diabetic animals or cats on low‑carbohydrate diets, and excessive amounts can sometimes contribute to loose stools.

Nutritional Breakdown

How to read As Fed versus Dry Matter As fed shows the numbers straight off the label, water included. Dry matter removes the water so you can compare a wet food and a dry food fairly.
As Fed
Crude Protein (min)
8.00%
Low High
Crude Fat (min)
2.00%
Low High
Crude Fiber (max)
3.00%
Low High
Moisture (max)
28.00%
Low High
2886
kcal / Kg
9
kcal / Treat
Low
Calorie density category
What is calorie density How many calories the food packs per unit. Denser foods mean smaller portions for the same calories.

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Product Details & Brand

Product Specs

Lifestage Adult
Breed size All Breed Sizes
Texture Soft Chew
Food type Treat

Brand

Merrick offers premium dog and cat food made with real, whole ingredients and regional produce. The brand is known for its recipes such as 'Grain Free', 'Backcountry', and 'Classic'. Merrick targets pet owners seeking natural and grain-free diets for their pets, with an emphasis on U.S.-sourced meats and fresh, farm-to-bowl ingredients.

Price tier $$$$

Manufacturer

Company name Merrick Pet Care
Parent company Nestlé Purina PetCare
Founded 1988
Headquarters Amarillo, Texas, USA
Manufacturing type In House
Manufacturing country United States
Manufacturing region Texas
Manufacturing oversight

Merrick Pet Care manufactures its food in company-owned facilities in Hereford, Texas. The company maintains in-house quality control and safety testing, adhering to USDA, FDA, and AAFCO standards. Merrick emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and audits suppliers for quality and safety.

Manufacturing details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing.

Recall History

No recalls on record

No recall is listed for Merrick Healthy Bites Grain Free Chicken & Bone Broth Soft Dog Treats.

Source: FDA animal food recall listings back to January 2019 · Checked daily, last on Aug 31, 2026

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KibbleLab food report
GREAT BOWL.
8.5 /10 Grade A
Healthy Bites Grain Free Chicken & Bone Broth Soft Dog Treats
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Frequently Asked Questions

Has Merrick ever been recalled?

We have no recalls on record for Merrick. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

How does KibbleLab rate foods?

Our scores are based on ingredient composition, nutritional profile, AAFCO compliance, and health considerations. We don't penalize by-products, grains, or synthetic preservatives. Brands cannot pay for higher scores.

Is KibbleLab a substitute for veterinary advice?

No. KibbleLab provides data-driven food analysis, not medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes, especially for pets with health conditions.

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KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through product links. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.

Product data sourced from manufacturer websites, AAFCO statements, and FDA recall listings. Last verified dates reflect our most recent data check. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.