In this article
Review Summary
We give VeRUS Dog Food a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
VeRUS (officially stylized as VēRUS) dog food is holistic dog food made from all-natural ingredients. It is formulated for active, high-energy dogs, with grain-free recipes and one made for overweight dogs. Its foods are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics to promote healthy digestion. As premium dog food, VeRUS is a little higher priced than many other options. If you find yourself wondering whether VeRUS dog food is the right choice for your pet, look no further! Here is an overview of the most popular VeRUS dog food recipes, including their ingredients, quality, and customer reviews.
At a Glance: The Best VeRUS Dog Food Recipes
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Favorite
|
|
VeRUS Life Advantage Dry Food |
|
Check Price |
|
|
VeRUS Puppy Advantage Dry Food |
|
Check Price |
|
|
VeRUS Adult Maintenance Dry Food |
|
Check Price |
|
VeRUS Weight Management Dry Food |
|
Check Price | |
|
VeRUS Life Virtue Grain-Free Dry Food |
|
Check Price |
VeRUS Dog Food Reviewed
VeRUS dog food is a holistic dog food company that makes food appropriate for all life stages. All its recipes are nutritionally balanced for all sizes of dogs, from puppies to seniors. Freeze-dried probiotics are included to improve digestion. The company prides itself on using all-natural ingredients. It appears to be an above-average quality dog kibble based on ingredients alone.
Who Makes VeRUS, and Where Is It Produced?
VeRUS Pet Foods is a family-owned business that was founded in 1993. All of the pet food is manufactured in the United States and only uses suppliers that have been inspected and approved by the USDA. The company is committed to making quality holistic pet food.
Which Type of Dog Is VeRUS Best Suited For?
VeRUS dog food is appropriate for all different breeds of dogs but is specifically formulated to support the needs of active dogs. All the recipes are nutritionally appropriate for all life stages and all sizes of dogs.
There are several recipes to choose from including puppy food, food for overweight dogs, and grain-free options.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?
VeRUS isn’t hypoallergenic food, and there are no recipes that address health issues. If your dog has a specific health issue with treatment that involves their diet, VeRUS is likely not the best option.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Let’s look at the ingredients in VeRUS Life Advantage dog food. This is the most popular recipe for VeRUS food, so we’ll use it as a gauge to evaluate food quality.
Is It Made With Real Meat?
The first ingredient in VeRUS Life Advantage is lamb meal. This meat concentrate contains 300% more protein than fresh meat. Meat should always be the first ingredient in dog food, and VeRUS provides this.
Does This Dog Food Contain Any Fillers or Artificial Ingredients?
The first eight ingredients are all real food. After lamb meal, there are oat groats, ground brown rice, rice bran, sorghum, menhaden fish meal, and beet pulp.
No artificial flavors, additives, or preservatives are listed on VeRUS dog food’s ingredient list.
Are There Any Controversial Ingredients in VeRUS Food?
Beet pulp is a high-fiber byproduct that comes from processing sugar beets. It’s not necessarily unhealthy, but some dog food critics shun it as an inexpensive filler. Others say that it has benefits for your dog’s gut and blood sugar.
The inclusion of beet pulp in dog food is acceptable, but there is debate over it that’s worth noting. Still, this ingredient is far enough down the ingredients list on VeRUS dog food that there’s likely very little of it in its recipes and there’s certainly not a high enough volume to be concerned about it.
Summary of Ingredient Quality
Based on the ingredients analysis, VeRUS appears to be an above-average quality dog kibble. However, it has a fat-to-protein ratio of approximately 57%. This means it has near-average protein content and below-average fat content. With a carbohydrate content of 52%, it has an above-average level of carbohydrates.
VeRUS recipes contain several plant-based protein sources, such as alfalfa, flaxseed, lentils, chickpeas, and peas. While the protein content is acceptable, it does not come primarily from meat sources. This doesn’t make the food unhealthy, but for it to receive a higher rating, we would prefer that the protein in dog food be primarily from animal sources.
A Quick Look at VeRUS Dog Food
- Designed for all life stages
- Appropriate for active dogs
- Lower fat content than many other recipes
- Average protein content
- Quality ingredients with no fillers or additives
- Protein is not all from animal sources
- Includes beet pulp, a controversial ingredient
Recall History
Looking at dog food recall history from 2009 onward, there have been no significant events or recalls on VeRUS dog food.
Reviews of the 3 Best VeRUS Dog Food Recipes
Let’s look at the top 3 VeRUS dog food recipes In more detail.
1. VeRUS Life Advantage Dry Dog Food
| Flavor: | Chicken meal, oats, and brown rice |
| Appropriate for: | All life stages |
VeRUS Life Advantage Chicken Meal, Oats, and Brown Rice dog food is an all-life stages food that’s appropriate for active dogs. The holistic recipe contains no corn, wheat, or rice and has added freeze-dried probiotics to support your dog’s gut health.
Customer reviews of this food suggest that it is well-liked by picky dogs. This food has a high enough calorie content to support weight maintenance in dogs that struggle to keep weight on or actively compete in sports. Many customers also report that their dog’s gut issues have been resolved since starting VeRUS food.
The biggest complaints about this VeRUS recipe are that it’s expensive and difficult to find. VeRUS is not available in retail stores, so you will have to order it online. This is true of all VeRUS recipes.
- Helps resolve gut issues
- Supports weight maintenance for active dogs
- Holistic recipe
- All life stages
- Expensive
- Hard to find
2. VeRUS Puppy Advantage Dry Dog Food
| Flavor: | Chicken meal, oats, and brown rice |
| Appropriate for: | Small and medium breed puppies under 1 year of age and 70 lbs. or less |
VeRUS Puppy Advantage is remarkably similar to the VeRUS Life Advantage Recipe. There are no differences in the ingredients list, but this food is slightly higher in calories. This makes it a good option for growing puppies, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers who need to keep their energy up. As with all VeRUS dog food, it includes all-natural ingredients and no additives or fillers. The kibble size is smaller in this recipe to make it easy for small mouths to chew.
- Small kibble size for small puppies
- Appropriate for pregnant and nursing mothers
- All-natural ingredients
- Hard to find
3. VeRUS Adult Maintenance Dry Dog Food
| Flavor: | Lamb meal, oats, and brown rice |
| Appropriate for: | Adult dogs over 1 year of age |
For dogs that are less active, VeRUS has an Adult Maintenance formula. This one is not designed for active dogs and is slightly low in overall calories. This makes it more appropriate for dogs that are more sedentary.
VeRUS Adult Maintenance is also labeled as hypoallergenic dog food. It contains protein sources that can eliminate diet-related allergies and food sensitivity reactions. If you suspect that your dog may have an allergy to the protein source in their food, this food is a good option.
As with other VeRUS recipes, you’ll need to source this food carefully because it can be difficult to find.
- Contains a novel protein
- Hypoallergenic food
- Eliminates major allergens in the recipe
- Hard to find
What Other Users Are Saying
- Chewy — “My dog loves it! We will never purchase anything else! My dog’s coat is beautiful and virtually no shedding.”
- Pet Flow — “My puppy’s stomach issues are gone; he loves the taste and size of the kibbles. I even use this food as a treat.”
- Amazon — “Yes, this dog food costs a little more than most. But if you want quality, you will get it with VeRUS.”
We always check Amazon customer reviews when evaluating dog foods. You can read these by clicking here.
Conclusion
Overall, VeRUS receives 4 out of 5 stars. It is a high-quality food that provides appropriate nutrition for all breeds and life stages of dogs. It seems to appeal to picky eaters, can resolve GI and allergy issues, and comes highly recommended by customers. The downsides are its cost and availability. VeRUS can only be purchased online from specific websites or at a VeRUS retailer. This makes it less convenient for dog owners who wish to try it.
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Verus Dog Food
