The scores
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy: B (78/100) — Water buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product, garbanzo beans. Salmon oil DHA for brain development, five probiotic strains, dried yeast.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie: B (78/100) — Water buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas. Roasted bison and venison, five probiotic strains, chelated minerals.
How the ingredients compare
Puppy: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Product, Garbanzo Beans
Adult: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Both formulas open with water buffalo + lamb meal — the same novel-protein anchor. The adult formula follows with chicken meal (a third animal protein source, concentrated), while the puppy formula swaps in egg product (one of the highest biological value proteins available, ideal for rapid growth) and garbanzo beans (plant protein + B vitamins for accelerating metabolism). Both are legitimate formulation choices optimized for their target stage.
Where the Puppy formula differs
Egg product in position #4: Whole egg protein has a biological value near 100 (essentially the gold standard). For a puppy whose amino acid demands are higher than adult maintenance, egg product delivers amino acid completeness no plant protein can match.
Salmon oil for dedicated DHA: The puppy formula includes salmon oil as a separate ingredient — a richer DHA source than the fish meal that's shared across both formulas. Puppies need DHA for brain, eye, and nervous system development during the first 12 months, and salmon oil delivers it in a bioavailable form.
Garbanzo beans + dried yeast: Adds both plant protein (garbanzo beans) and B vitamins plus palatability (dried yeast). Growing puppies benefit from the broader micronutrient coverage these ingredients provide. Shop on Amazon →
Where the Adult formula differs
Chicken meal as a third animal protein: The adult formula includes chicken meal in the #3 slot, giving it three concentrated animal protein sources in the top five (water buffalo + lamb meal + chicken meal). For an adult dog, this denser protein profile is ideal maintenance nutrition.
Peas in the #5 slot: Rather than the garbanzo beans of the puppy formula, the adult formula uses peas earlier in the list. Peas add plant protein and fiber but contribute to the legume load the FDA has flagged for ongoing DCM investigation. Both formulas include legumes, but the adult has more prominent pea content.
Tighter mineral chelation: The adult formula relies more heavily on chelated mineral forms (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate) throughout the formula. Puppies get these too, but the adult formula's broader chelation suggests optimization for long-term nutrient absorption. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
This is a life-stage decision, not a quality decision. For puppies under 12 months, TOTW Puppy is the right choice because of the egg product protein upgrade, dedicated salmon oil DHA, and garbanzo bean micronutrient coverage. For adult dogs 1+, TOTW High Prairie Adult is the right choice because of the triple animal protein anchor (water buffalo + lamb meal + chicken meal) and the chelated mineral package. Both formulas earn the same B/78 score — same clean foundation, different life-stage tuning. Owners of DCM-susceptible breeds (goldens, cockers, Dobermans) should discuss grain-free choices with a vet before committing long-term to either.