Rating: 
Taste of the Wild canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Taste of the Wild product line includes three canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth and maintenance.
- Taste of the Wild Wetlands Formula
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula
- Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Formula
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Formula dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Salmon, fish broth, water, egg, peas, potato starch, sweet potatoes, potatoes, ocean fish, smoked salmon, guar gum, tomatoes, sodium tripolyphosphate, natural flavor, salt, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, chicory root, iron proteinate (source of chelated iron), zinc proteinate (source of chelated zinc), Yucca schidigera extract, vitamin E supplement, cobalt proteinate (source of chelated cobalt), blueberries, raspberries, copper proteinate (source of chelated copper), manganese proteinate (source of chelated manganese), riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food is salmon. Salmon is a fatty marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient lists fish broth. Like water (the next item), broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The fourth ingredient lists egg… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fifth item lists peas. Peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The sixth item lists potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used here more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
The seventh ingredient lists sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.
The eighth ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The ninth ingredient is ocean fish. Like salmon, this fish item can also be considered a protein-rich meat addition.
Unfortunately, this particular ingredient is anonymous. The phrase “ocean fish” does little to adequately describe this item. We would have preferred a named fish species.
The tenth ingredient is yet one more fish item… smoked salmon.
The eleventh ingredient is guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With one notable exceptions…
We also note this food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Taste of the Wild Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Taste of the Wild appears to be a very good canned dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38%, a fat level of 15% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 40%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and an average fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate portion of 39% for the full product line.
Below-average protein. Low fat. And high carbohydrates… when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a wet food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Taste of the Wild canned dog food is a grain-free wet product using a moderate amount of bison, salmon or duck as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice grain-free kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Taste of the Wild dry dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Other spellings: TOTW
Notes and Updates
12/10/2009 Original review
07/22/2010 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.