Blue Buffalo Homestyle vs Merrick Texas Beef: Wet Dog Food Compared
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables Wet Dog Food
Full review →The short answer. A one-point difference, so decide on protein source and price. Blue Buffalo Homestyle is $0.96 cheaper per pound and the more practical everyday topper. Merrick Texas Beef is a single-source beef recipe with a better safety score, which is worth the premium only if you specifically need beef-only protein.
Side by side
Every number below comes from the manufacturer's current label or current US retail listings, scored on the same 6-dimension model. Shaded cells mark the better value on that row.
| Attribute | Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables Wet Dog Food | Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 79 / 100 | 78 / 100 |
| Protein quality & source (30%) | 88 | 89 |
| Ingredient transparency (20%) | 80 | 80 |
| Nutritional standards (18%) | 76 | 77 |
| Recall history & safety (14%) | 75 | 83 |
| Value for money (10%) | 51 | 29 |
| Owner & pal feedback (8%) | 91 | 89 |
| Protein (as fed) | 8.5% | 9.0% |
| Protein (dry matter) | 38.6% | 40.9% |
| Fat (min) | 7.0% | 5.0% |
| Fibre (max) | 1.5% | 1.4% |
| Moisture | 78.0% | 78.0% |
| Calorie density | 1,230 kcal/kg | 1,123 kcal/kg |
| Price per lb | $3.84/lb | $4.80/lb |
| Price per 1,000 kcal | $6.88 | $9.42 |
| Owner rating | 4.6/5 (1,800 ratings) | 4.5/5 (595 ratings) |
| First ingredient | Chicken | Beef |
| Form | Wet (canned) | Wet (canned) |
| Life stage | Adult maintenance | Adult maintenance |
| Best for | Topping dry kibble, encouraging a picky or convalescing dog to eat, and adding moisture to the diet | Dogs that need a beef-only protein source, and owners topping kibble with a high-meat canned food |
Where the difference actually comes from
Wet food scores badly on value everywhere in this ranking because water is expensive to ship, and both of these are no exception: 51 for Blue Buffalo and 29 for Merrick. Comparing them on cost per pound is misleading unless you also compare calorie density, and here they are close — 1,230 kcal/kg against 1,123 — so the $3.84 versus $4.80 per pound difference is roughly a real 25% difference in cost per calorie.
The ingredient case differs in a way that matters for a specific buyer. Merrick's Texas Beef is a beef-centred recipe, which is useful if your dog cannot eat chicken or you are rotating away from poultry. Blue Buffalo Homestyle leads with chicken and includes garden vegetables, which is the more common topper profile and the one most dogs will accept.
On safety the positions are inverted from the dry foods: Merrick scores 83 against Blue Buffalo's 75, reflecting a shorter recall history than Blue Buffalo's. If manufacturer record is your deciding factor, this is the pairing where Blue Buffalo loses it.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Blue Buffalo if
You want a cheaper everyday topper, your dog accepts chicken, and you are mixing it over dry kibble rather than feeding wet exclusively.
Choose Merrick Pet Care if
You need a beef-only protein source, you are avoiding poultry, or manufacturer recall record is your deciding factor.
Pros and trade-offs
Blue Buffalo
What owners and our testing liked
- Chicken, chicken broth and chicken liver lead - a short, readable label with visible vegetables
- 78% moisture makes it a practical way to add hydration or topper appeal to a dry diet
- No corn, wheat, soy or by-product meals, and no carrageenan in this recipe
- Rated 4.6/5 by owners, most of whom use it as a kibble topper rather than a sole diet
Trade-offs
- About $6.88 per 1,000 kcal - feeding wet food exclusively costs several times a dry diet
- Formulated-to-meet only, with no feeding-trial evidence
- 8.5% protein as-fed is normal for wet food but looks low next to a dry label
Merrick Pet Care
What owners and our testing liked
- Deboned beef, beef liver and beef broth lead - about 96% of the protein comes from animal sources
- Merrick has never recalled a kibble or canned food; all five of its recalls were treat products
- Single animal protein (beef) makes it usable in an elimination-style rotation
- 4.5/5 from owners, with strong reports from households feeding it to dogs with poultry sensitivities
Trade-offs
- Roughly $9.42 per 1,000 kcal, the most expensive food per calorie in this ranking
- Formulated-to-meet only, and the label is thinner on micronutrient disclosure than Hill's or Purina
- 12.7 oz cans are awkward for small dogs - leftovers need refrigeration
Frequently asked questions
Is wet food worth the cost over dry?
Only for a specific reason: added moisture, higher palatability for a picky or convalescing dog, or encouraging a dog that has stopped eating. Fed as a sole diet it is dramatically more expensive per calorie than kibble, which is why both foods score poorly on value. Most owners get the benefit by topping kibble, not replacing it.
Why is the protein percentage so low on wet food?
Because it is measured as fed, and canned food is roughly 78% water. On a dry-matter basis these foods are around 38-41% protein, comparable to a premium kibble. Always compare wet and dry foods on a dry-matter basis, never on the as-fed number.
Can I feed canned food exclusively?
Yes nutritionally, if the label carries a complete-and-balanced AAFCO statement — both of these do. It is a budget decision more than a health one, and dental considerations and stool volume change as well.
Want to compare more than two? Use the comparison tool — up to four foods side by side. Individual animals vary; if your pet has a diagnosed condition, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.