Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

VeRUS Dog Food Review 2025: Pros, Cons & Recalls

Dogster_VeRUS Dog Food Review

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

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.

Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

At a Glance: The Best VeRUS Dog Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
VeRUS Life Advantage Dry Food VeRUS Life Advantage Dry Food
  • All life stages
  • Holistic recipe
  • Helps resolve gut issues
  • Second place
    VeRUS Puppy Advantage Dry Food VeRUS Puppy Advantage Dry Food
  • All-natural ingredients
  • Small kibble size for small puppies
  • Appropriate for pregnant and nursing mothers
  • Third place
    VeRUS Adult Maintenance Dry Food VeRUS Adult Maintenance Dry Food
  • Hypoallergenic food
  • Contains a novel protein
  • Eliminates major allergens in the recipe
  • VeRUS Weight Management Dry Food VeRUS Weight Management Dry Food
  • Healthy weight control
  • Highly digestible formula
  • Freeze-dried live probiotics
  • VeRUS Life Virtue Grain-Free Dry Food VeRUS Life Virtue Grain-Free Dry Food
  • Antibiotic-free chicken
  • Innovative freeze-dried live probiotics
  • No meat by-products
  • 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.

    Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

    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.

    chow chow dog eating
    Image by: Ivan Marjanovic, Shutterstock

    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.

    Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

    A Quick Look at VeRUS Dog Food

    Pros
    • 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
    Cons
    • 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.

    Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

    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.

    Pros
    • Helps resolve gut issues
    • Supports weight maintenance for active dogs
    • Holistic recipe
    • All life stages
    Cons
    • 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.

    Pros
    • Small kibble size for small puppies
    • Appropriate for pregnant and nursing mothers
    • All-natural ingredients
    Cons
    • 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.

    Pros
    • Contains a novel protein
    • Hypoallergenic food
    • Eliminates major allergens in the recipe
    Cons
    • Hard to find

    Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

    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.

    Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

    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

    How useful was this post?

    Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

    Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

    Your feedback really matters.

    What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

    Join the conversation

    Leave a Reply

    You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

    Talk With A Vet Online

    Peace of mind,
    anywhere, anytime

    Affordable vet advice

    Is Lemon Essential Oil Safe for Dogs? Vet-Approved Health Facts

    You’ve probably noticed the surge in the use of essential oils in the past decade or so. You might even use essential oils...

    Why Dogs Lick Themselves Before Sleeping? 6 Vet-Reviewed Causes

    It’s not unusual for dogs to lick themselves at bedtime (or for some, in the middle of the night). More often than not,...

    Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter Crackers? Vet-Approved Facts

    Dogs love food and they don’t seem to be too discerning when it comes to what they chow down on. Most owners have...

    Poodle vs Labradoodle: The Differences (With Pictures)

    Poodles and Labradoodles are adorable, fluffy, teddy bear-like dogs. They are both intelligent, easy to train, and great with kids. They also tend...

    More related

    How Smart Are Corgis? Canine Intelligence Explained (Vet-Verified Info)

    There’s nothing wrong with a “dumb”- but loving dog, but some owners have a special place in their hearts for the smart ones....

    Shar Pei Great Dane Mix: Info, Pictures, Care & More

    The Shar Pei Great Dane mix is a cross between a Great Dane and a Shar Pei. Great Danes are known for their...

    Can Westies Swim? Facts, Training & Safety Tips

    Very few dogs are as cute as the West Highland White Terriers. They are cheerful, playful, and tough, despite their size. Like most...

    8 Best Dog Leashes for Running in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

    For us pet parents, a dog leash is an accessory we can’t do without, especially if you can’t live without that morning or...

    Keep reading

    10 Best High-Protein Dog Foods in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

    Just like humans, different types of dogs benefit from different kinds of diets. Most dogs don’t require a high-protein diet, but dogs that can do well with protein-dense meals are puppies, athletic dogs, and pregnant or lactating dogs. For dogs...

    boston terrier eating dog food

    Can Dogs Eat Gourds? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

    Gourds are often used for decorative displays in autumn, both in the home and the garden. They’re all part of the Cucurbita family, which includes pumpkins and squash. Gourds are generally safe for dogs in small quantities. Still, there are...

    Can Dogs Eat Gourds

    Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? Vet-Reviewed Safety & Health Facts

    We know that our dogs love all things food, but what about a nice, meaty portobello mushroom? Can dogs eat mushrooms, and are they healthy for them? Yes, dogs can safely eat most mushrooms that we purchase from our local...

    Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms

    Can Dogs Eat Crunchy Peanut Butter? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Info

    Check with your veterinarian before adding any new foods to your pet’s diet, particularly if your pet has any underlying health conditions or is on a special diet. While the advice in this article has been fact checked and approved...

    Dogster-Can-Dogs-Eat-Crunchy Peanut Butter

    True Chews Dog Treats Review 2025: Pros, Cons, Recalls & FAQ

    Review Summary True Chews dog treats are part of the Blue Buffalo line (though they weren’t always) and can be located in most pet stores and online, so you may be familiar with them. The brand offers a fairly good...

    Dogster_True Chews Dog Treats Review

    10 Best Stainless-Steel Dog Bowls in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

    There are many different dog food bowls, but stainless-steel bowls are some of the best options for many dogs. They’re more durable than other materials and can also be more hygienic. There isn’t much variety in stainless steel bowls, but...

    two fluffy dogs eating from the triple stainless steel feeders

    Can Dogs Eat Garlic? Vet Reviewed Risks & Nutrition Advice

    Garlic has more of an impact on humans than just causing bad breath. It has medicinal properties, boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and detoxes the body. However, some foods that positively impact the human body can have the...

    Can Dogs Eat Garlic

    Honest Paws CBD Pet Products Review 2025: An Expert’s Breakdown

    Review Summary If you’ve ever owned a cat or dog, you know how much they love to play. But both dogs and cats can suffer from anxiety, joint pain, or decreased mobility due to arthritis. This is where Honest Paws...

    DOG_SAPR_Honest Paws CBD Dog Treats