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Member’s Mark Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Recalls, & FAQ

Written by: Jessica Rossetti

Last Updated on August 27, 2024 by Dogster Team

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Member’s Mark dog food a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. 

Member’s Mark is the brand of Sam’s Club. Named after its founder, Sam Walton, Sam’s Club is owned by Walmart. The Member’s Mark dog food is sold in large bags for a bargain price, appealing to dog owners who want to buy a good quality dog food in bulk. Owners of multiple dogs like this option, and those who shop at the store regularly find that buying their dog’s food there is convenient.

Since Member’s Mark is Sam’s Club’s brand, it’s only available for purchase at Sam’s Club. You can find some bags online from other sellers but likely for a higher price than at the store. To shop at Sam’s Club, you are encouraged to purchase a yearly membership to enjoy the bargain prices. If you don’t purchase this membership, you can still shop at the store, but you’ll be charged a service fee on your purchase total.

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At a Glance: The Best Member’s Mark Dog Food Recipes:

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
Member’s Mark Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Member’s Mark Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
  • Great value
  • Ideal for most dogs
  • Chicken as #1 ingredient
  • Second place
    Member’s Mark Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Member’s Mark Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe
  • Great flavor
  • Lamb as #1 ingredient
  • May be better for chicken allergies
  • Third place
    Member’s Mark Chicken & Vegetable Puppy Member’s Mark Chicken & Vegetable Puppy
  • High protein
  • Chicken as #1 ingredient
  • Great for dogs with grain allergies
  • Member’s Mark Dog Food Reviewed

    Member’s Mark dog food uses high-quality ingredients and real meat, like chicken, lamb, and salmon. It contains essential vitamins and minerals for overall health and uses no artificial fillers or preservatives.

    Who Makes Member’s Mark Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?

    Member’s Mark dog food is made in the United States. It’s rumored to be produced by Purina, but there is no real evidence of this being true or false.

    bernese mountain dog eating
    Image by: Kristesoro, Shutterstock

    Which Type of Dog Is Member’s Mark Dog Food Best Suited For?

    Member’s Mark dog food is best suited for a healthy dog without any specific medical concerns. The food is geared toward average healthy dogs and puppies. There are also grain-free options.

    Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    If your dog requires a specific diet, a different brand may offer what they need. For example, Member’s Mark doesn’t include specific foods for dogs with allergies, kidney issues, or urinary tract issues. This doesn’t mean that the food won’t be suitable for dogs with health issues, but it’s always best to speak with your vet before switching your dog’s food. Dogs that need a more tailored diet might do better with another brand. There are options for dogs with special concerns, like Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food or Royal Canin Renal Support Dry Dog Food.

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    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    The ingredients in Member’s Mark dog food offer quality nutrition with a great taste. Here are a few of the main ingredients that the brand uses in its recipes.

    Chicken, Lamb, or Salmon

    While real meat is used in the recipes and is always the first ingredient in each bag, the chicken is chicken meal. This means it’s a concentrated form of chicken that contains more protein than fresh chicken.

    One thing to be aware of is that chicken meal is present in the lamb and rice flavor. If your dog is allergic to poultry, it’s best to carefully read the ingredients of any food to make sure chicken isn’t in the recipe.

    Dog eating in a dog bowl
    Image by: Karsten Wineagart, Unsplash

    Menhaden Fish Meal

    Dogs get protein and fat from menhaden fish meal. It’s also a great source of omega fatty acids and fish oil. This gives dogs healthy skin and coats.

    Brown Rice

    Brown rice is less starchy than white rice and gives your dog an easily digestible carbohydrate for energy.

    Barley

    Barley provides a starchy carb along with nutrients and fiber.

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    A Quick Look at Member’s Mark Dog Food

    Pros
    • High in protein from real meat sources
    • Contains fatty acids for healthy coats and skin
    • Easy to digest
    • Available in large bags for bulk buying
    • Reasonable price
    Cons
    • No specialized diets for health issues
    • Large bags may be difficult to properly store
    • Only available at Sam’s Club for a bargain price

    Recall History

    There has been a small number of recalls issued for the brand regarding Member’s Mark Beef Stick Dog Treats. A recall was issued by Sam’s Club for these products with a certain UPC and sold since March 1, 2021. There was a concern that the treats may contain metal.

    In August of 2023, there was a voluntary recall of Member’s Mark Chicken and Rice Recipe Dog Food (35-lb and 40-lb bags) that were produced at the Nacogdoches, Texas, facility because of the risk of Salmonella.

    More recently, Mid America Pet Food at the Mount Pleasant facility in Texas had to, again, voluntarily recall certain recipes (Member’s Mark, Beef & Brown Rice Recipe and Member’s Mark, Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe) on October 30, 2023, due to the potential of Salmonella as well.

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    Reviews of the 3 Best Member’s Mark Dog Food Recipes

    1. Member’s Mark Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe

    The Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe is our favorite Member’s Mark recipe because most dogs should love this food. It comes in a 35-pound bag, so you get a lot of food for an affordable price. It has a 28% protein content and a 14% fat content, making it suitable for most adult dogs provided that they don’t need a certain amount of fat and protein in their diet. There are 355 kcal per cup of food, so it’s also great at preventing weight gain provided that you are feeding the appropriate amount of food based on your dog’s weight.

    We like that the first two ingredients are chicken and chicken meal. This food also contains brown rice, ground barley, and oat meal to round out the top five ingredients. However, this food won’t be suitable if your dog has a chicken allergy.

    Pros
    • Suitable for most adult dogs
    • A lot of food for an affordable price
    • Contains meat as the first ingredient
    Cons
    • Not suitable for dogs with a chicken allergy

    2. Member’s Mark Pasture-Raised Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe

    The Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe is our second choice for our favorite Member’s Mark recipe. It’s made with pasture-raised lamb as the first ingredient, followed by chicken meal, brown rice, ground barley, and grain sorghum to round out the top five ingredients. So, it may be better for dogs that have a chicken allergy, provided that they are only mildly allergic to chicken, but still won’t work for all dogs with a chicken allergy.

    This food also comes in a 35-pound bag, but it’s a little more expensive than the chicken recipe above, since lamb isn’t as common of a protein source as chicken. This food contains 26% protein and 14% fat, as well as 411 kcal per cup, so it’s a bit higher in calories. This may not be ideal if your dog is on a calorie limit for weight loss purposes. But overall, most dogs should love this food.

    Pros
    • Made with pasture-raised lamb
    • May be better for dogs with a chicken allergy
    • Most dogs will love the flavor
    Cons
    • A little more expensive
    • A bit higher in calories

    3. Member’s Mark High Protein Grain-Free Chicken + Vegetable Recipe

    The final dry food recipe from Member’s Mark is the High-Protein Grain-Free Chicken + Vegetable Recipe. This one only comes in a 28-pound bag, so it’s not as great of a deal as the other two recipes, but you still get a lot of food for the money. This recipe is higher in protein at 34% and fat at 15%, and it contains 404 kcal per cup. This food is suitable for more active breeds that may need a high-protein diet.

    It contains chicken, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, dried whole peas, and dried egg product as the first five ingredients. Since it’s a grain-free food, it’s suitable for dogs with sensitivities to grains, but this is rare in dogs, and most vets actually recommend grains in a dog’s diet. Grain-free diets are currently being investigated by the FDA for a potential link to heart disease in dogs, but it’s unclear if the link is the absence of grains or the inclusion of peas. That being said, you may wish to ask your vet if a grain-free diet is suitable for your dog before feeding this food to your dog.

    Pros
    • High-protein formula
    • Chicken as first ingredient
    • Great for dogs with a grain sensitivity
    Cons
    • Not as great of a value
    • Grain-free diets may contribute to heart disease

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    What Other Users Are Saying

    • All Pets Advisor — “Member’s Mark dog food contains only the highest quality ingredients.”
    • The Cold Wire — “Member’s Mark, being a successful brand, is able to provide dog food that your pet loves at an affordable price.”
    • Amazon — One of the best ways that dog owners can find out about certain dog foods is to read what other dog owners are saying about them. You can read more about Member’s Mark dog food here.

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    Final Thoughts

    Member’s Mark dog food offers quality nutrition at a bargain price, which is great for those who like to buy in bulk or have multiple dogs to feed. If you’re already a Sam’s Club member, you can pick this food up when you do your regular shopping.

    If you’d like to purchase this food outside of a Sam’s Club, you may be able to find it on some websites, but the price will be considerably higher. You can also purchase this food from the store without a membership, but you’ll have to pay a fee.

    The recipes include real meat and fish, easily digestible carbs, and healthy fats to give your dog the nutrition that they need. However, Member’s Mark doesn’t include specialized diets. If your dog needs more tailored nutrition, you will be better off looking for another brand.

    Overall, Member’s Mark dog food is a great option for healthy dogs that don’t need extra care in their diet. It’s a healthy food that will give your dog a balanced meal.

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