Freshness Made Simple:

What is the shelf life? ▼

Each of the dry food formulas is stamped with a “best by date.” This is 18 months from the production date.

All canned products have a 3-year shelf life.

How should I store my bags? ▼

Handling of the food is very important. Natural preservatives are sometimes very sensitive to plastic or metal containers. It is important to keep the food in the original packaging. The bag can be stored inside any pet food container. The food should also be kept in a cool, dry place. Heat and humidity accelerate the spoilage process of foods.

Why does my kibble often change size from batch to batch? ▼

VēRUS has certain specifications on our kibble size that our facility follows. The food is created by going through a plate and die that cuts it into the specific shape for the kibble. Over time, the metal plates and dies can wear down, which means the kibble size can differ ever so slightly from batch to batch. Once the shape is not within our specifications anymore, new plates and dies replace the worn-down ones.

I Noticed Discoloration In My Pets Canned Formula. What Could This Be? ▼

Discoloration in your pet’s canned formula is no means an indication for concern. We recommend referring to the ingredients list on your pet’s can to see if it resembles an ingredient utilized in that specific formula. During the mixing process, it is not uncommon for the gums or other dry ingredients to clump together due to the fact that these ingredients tend to not mix as well. Rest assured, the product is sterile and safe for your pet to consume.

Your Pet, Our Passion:

What makes Vērus so different? ▼

The ingredients. Any label may read the same. It’s the quality that matters. VēRUS will NEVER sacrifice the nutrition and health of your pet. We are loyal to our customers. We believe that with a proper diet, pets will not only live a longer, healthier, happier life, but they will also have the opportunity to provide more love, memories and loyalty to you as well.

Who Owns VēRUS Pet Foods? ▼

VēRUS Pet Foods is a family-owned and operated business since 1993 by the original owner Russell Armstrong.

Why have I not heard of your food before? ▼

This is one of the most commonly asked questions. For the most part, popular consumable products in the U.S. are largely driven by advertising dollars. We prioritized our budget to focus on the highest-quality ingredients.

How do you source your ingredients? ▼

From the first ingredient in our formulas down to the very last, we want to provide the very best for your pet. That's why we source our ingredients from valued and trusted European Union (EU)-certified suppliers who are dedicated to providing the very highest-quality ingredients available in the market today.

What Process Does Your Kibble Undergo? ▼

Our goal is to maintain the nutritional integrity of the ingredients we use in our formulas, so our kibble undergoes a slow-cook process at lower temperatures. Our slow-cooking preparation retains nutrients and flavors and creates a higher starch conversion, which can lead to increased stamina and energy in pets. The higher the starch conversion, the higher the digestibility of a product. VēRUS aims for a 94% starch conversion rate for our formulas.

Good For Today, Good For Life:

My dog only eats grain-free because I bought food with grains and my dogs had many problems. Why should I go back to a grain product again?▼

Many factors may cause problems with dogs, including diet. All foods are not created equal, including ingredients, ingredient quality, cooking process and handling, which all may affect the performance of a food. Unless your dog was diagnosed with an allergy to a particular grain ingredient, it is most likely that your dog may have performed poorly on the food because of some other factor. Grains, like any carbohydrate, are indigestible for dogs unless they are ground and cooked properly. The most common cause of digestive problems associated with grains is undercooking. VēRUS adopts specific cooking procedures to maximize the starch conversion. Our normal cook is about 98%. This eliminates issues created by grains.

Should I supplement my dog with vitamins? ▼

Pet owners ask this question very often. The answer is: No, you do not need to supplement while feeding VēRUS. Our foods are formulated to exceed standards of nutrition than those established by AAFCO. If you do choose to supplement your pet's diet of VēRUS Pet Foods, we encourage you to add fresh foods like vegetables or a balanced supplement. Avoid adding excessive amounts of meat because excessive protein is filtered through the kidneys and can lead to kidney damage. We do not recommend the use of individual mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, etc., without professional direction because of the possibility of throwing off the mineral balance in your pet.

Can I mix formulas? ▼

Unless your pet experiences sensitivity to a particular ingredient, there is no problem mixing formulas.

The Right Diet For Your Pet:

When should I switch my puppy to an adult food? ▼

The age that you should switch your puppy to an adult formula will vary depending on the breed. When the growth plate in the leg joins, the demand for certain minerals diminishes; this is the time to move to an adult formula. For small breeds, switch at approximately 8-10 months, for medium breeds, at approximately 10-12 months and large and giant breeds at approximately 20 months.

My cat had crystals. Will Vērus Feline Life Advantage help with this problem? ▼

This is a very common problem in cats, particularly male cats. Crystals are a problem when the concentration level of crystals is so high that they irritate the urinary tract. As a result, the cat’s urinary tract becomes infected or may clog, which can prevent your cat from urinating properly. The best dietary management practice is to minimize the particular minerals in the food that form the crystals calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium to produce an environment and acidic pH, in the urinary tract that minimize the risk of infection. VēRUS Feline formulas are designed to accomplish both. Additionally, keeping your cat well hydrated and in proper weight are significant factors in the prevention of feline urological problems.

My Pet Is Allergic To Chicken. Can I Still Feed Him A Formula Containing Chicken Fat? ▼

The chicken fat that we use is purified, which means it has zero protein constituents, therefore it is free of chicken allergen reactions.

Can i Receive A sample of vēRUS Pet Food? ▼

We understand that the best way to experience the difference VēRUS Pet Foods can make for your furry family member is to try our product. Free samples of our formulas are available at your local authorized retailers, though they may not have every formula on hand. If you do not have a retailer local to you, we would be happy to provide you formula recommendation and mail samples for your pet to try.

Nutrition Without Compromise:

Do You Guarantee Your Products? ▼

VēRUS offers a 100% guarantee on all of our products. On the rare occasion that a pet will not eat or has a physical difficulty with one of our formulas, please return the bag to your local retailer where you purchased the product, along with your receipt, for a full refund or exchange.

Where are Vērus pet foods manufactured? ▼

VēRUS Pet Foods are manufactured in EU-certified facilities. Our dry food is manufactured in upstate New York, while our canned formulas are made in South Dakota (blue labels) and New Zealand (green and cat-faced labels).

What Is European Union Certification? ▼

EU (European Union) certification is a certification developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It was created in response to the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) crisis and is part of an international strategy to eradicate food-borne epidemics. EU certification requires that all animal products used in pet food be derived from animals declared fit for human consumption. This provides Vērus pet owners a level of guarantee that no fallen animals or 4D meats are used in the production of our products.

Does your company test on animals? ▼

The ingredients added to our formulas are simple and provide all nutrients necessary for a dog/cat. There are no artificial preservatives, hormones, bioengineered ingredients (commonly known as GMOs) or meat by-products. For this reason, we trust the product and the ingredients in it so much that when we do complete a routine palatability test, we simply take the product home and feed it to our own pets.

All the facilities that we purchase ingredients through follow good manufacturing and processing practices. The meats are all from USDA-inspected facilities, so we are not dealing with “backyard” processors that just raise meat for the pet industry. Purchasing higher-quality meat raised for human consumption means that the processors handle the animals with much greater care so as not to damage or bruise the meat. We recognize that all creatures, even those we use to produce our foods, deserve to be killed in a humane fashion.

Have you ever had any recalls? ▼

VēRUS Pet Foods has never been involved in any recall.

Are VēRUS Pet Foods product bags and cans recyclable? ▼

Our kibble packaging is made of polyester and the sealant layer is made of linear low-density polyethylene. Please check with your local recycling facility to verify they are able to properly recycle these materials.

Our canine cans are made of steel with a paper label. Please check with your local recycling facility to verify they are able to properly recycle these materials.

Our feline cans are made of aluminum with a paper label. Please check with your local recycling facility to verify they are able to properly recycle these materials.

Does VēRUS Pet Foods Offer Coupons? ▼

We know you like to save money – so here are a few tips to help you out! Keep an eye on our Facebook page; coupons are available periodically through contests and special events. Need another tip? Be sure to take advantage of our Buy 12 Get 1 Free Frequent Feeder Program offered at your local retailer.

Can I Order My Food From VēRUS? ▼

We sell our products through distribution channels to independent pet specialty retailers devoted to pet health and nutrition. If you live in an area where our products are not available, we do sell our product through select online dealers located on our Online Dealers Tab.

Frequently Asked Questions

VēRUS Most Frequently Asked Questions