Despite the name, this line is not all grain free. The three grain-free recipes are all kibbles, while Small Breed Fish, Core Advantage and all four patés contain grain. Fish is the most common protein, appearing in four of the five kibbles, with chicken, egg and turkey in others. Each paté is built on one meat: chicken, turkey, beef or fish.
On the kibble side, protein runs 23% to 26% and estimated starch 39.5% to 42%, as fed. The kibble averages of 24.4% protein and 41.4% starch compare with catalog kibble averages of 26.9% and 37.4%, and the line averages 413 kcal per cup against 395. The grain-free kibbles use lentils, chickpeas and peas. The two grain-inclusive kibbles rely on oats, barley and rice and have no peas or lentils. Every paté shows 8% protein, against a catalog wet average of 8.3%.
The trade-off: owners looking for a higher-protein or lower-starch kibble will find every recipe here below the catalog protein average and above the catalog starch average. In return, the line puts grain-free and grain-inclusive kibbles under one label, alongside four simple single-meat patés.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canine Small Breed Fish Formula | 26% | 11% | 42% | 409 | Menhaden Fish Meal, Oat Groats, Dried Potato |
| Grain-Free Cold Water Fish Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal & Herring Formula | 26% | 15% | 39.5% | 419 | Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lentils |
| Grain-Free Life Virtue Chicken, Lentils & Yams Formula | 24% | 15% | 41.5% | 418 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Lentils |
| Canine Core Advantage Formula | 23% | 14% | 42% | 420 | Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley |
| Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Chicken, Lentils & Yams Formula | 23% | 15% | 42% | 399 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Lentils |
| Line average | 24.4% | 14% | 41.4% | 413 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
26% protein · 11% fat · 42% starch · 409 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for small breed adults, this kibble starts with menhaden fish meal, oat groats, dried potato, pearled barley and herring meal, and it has no peas or lentils. It ties for the most kibble protein at 26% and has the least fat in the line at 11%, so it suits small dogs that eat fish.
Full review of Canine Small Breed Fish Formula26% protein · 15% fat · 39.5% starch · 419 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
This grain-free kibble leads with salmon and menhaden fish meal ahead of lentils, chickpeas and peas, and fish is its only animal protein. It has the least estimated starch in the line at 39.5%, ties for the most kibble protein at 26%, and suits owners who want a fish-only grain-free kibble.
Full review of Grain-Free Cold Water Fish Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal & Herring Formula24% protein · 15% fat · 41.5% starch · 418 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Life Virtue shares its first five ingredients with the puppy recipe (chicken, chicken meal, lentils, chickpeas, peas) but is sold for all life stages, with 24% protein, 41.5% estimated starch and 418 kcal per cup. It suits multi-dog homes that want one grain-free chicken kibble for dogs of any age.
Full review of Grain-Free Life Virtue Chicken, Lentils & Yams Formula23% protein · 14% fat · 42% starch · 420 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
This is the only kibble here built on turkey, listing turkey meal, brown rice, pearled barley, oat groats and chicken fat first, with no peas or lentils. It has 23% protein and 420 kcal per cup, the most per cup among the kibbles, and is sold for all life stages.
Full review of Canine Core Advantage Formula23% protein · 15% fat · 42% starch · 399 kcal/cup · Puppy
Made for large breed puppies, this grain-free kibble starts with chicken, chicken meal, lentils, chickpeas and peas, and it also lists fish and egg. It has 23% protein, 15% fat and 399 kcal per cup, the fewest per cup among the kibbles, so it suits growing big dogs.
Full review of Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Chicken, Lentils & Yams Formula| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canine Chicken & Rice Paté Formula | 8% | 5% | 78% | 1,102 | Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver |
| Canine Turkey & Veggie Paté Formula | 8% | 5% | 78% | 1,086 | Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver |
| Canine Beef & Barley Paté Formula | 8% | 5% | 78% | 1,103 | Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver |
| Canine Fish & Potato Paté Formula | 8% | 4% | 78% | 993 | Salmon, Fish Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Line average | 8% | 4.8% | 78% | 1,071 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
8% protein · 5% fat · 1,102 kcal/kg
This is the line's only chicken paté, built on chicken, chicken broth and chicken liver, with brown rice and barley as its grains. It has no peas or lentils and 1,102 kcal per kg, so it suits owners who want a chicken wet food that includes grain.
Full review of Canine Chicken & Rice Paté Formula8% protein · 5% fat · 1,086 kcal/kg
The turkey paté pairs turkey, turkey broth and turkey liver with brown rice and oats, and unlike the chicken and beef patés it contains peas or lentils. At 1,086 kcal per kg, it suits turkey-eating dogs whose owners are fine with legumes.
Full review of Canine Turkey & Veggie Paté Formula8% protein · 5% fat · 406 kcal/can
Beef, beef broth and beef liver lead this paté, followed by pearled barley and brown rice. It is the only recipe in the line with beef, and its 406 kcal per can and 1,103 kcal per kg are the most calories in the line, so it suits dogs that prefer beef.
Full review of Canine Beef & Barley Paté Formula8% protein · 4% fat · 367 kcal/can
This paté leads with salmon, fish broth, vegetable broth, ocean fish and potatoes, and it has the least fat (4%) and fiber (1.5%) of the patés. At 367 kcal per can and 993 kcal per kg, it has the fewest calories in the line and suits owners who want a fish wet food.
Full review of Canine Fish & Potato Paté FormulaNot entirely. Only the Large Breed Puppy, Cold Water Fish and Life Virtue kibbles are grain free. Small Breed Fish, Core Advantage and all four patés contain grain.
Among the kibbles, Small Breed Fish and Grain-Free Cold Water Fish tie at 26% protein. All four patés show 8% protein.
The Large Breed Puppy, Cold Water Fish and Life Virtue kibbles list lentils, chickpeas and peas in their first five ingredients, and the Turkey & Veggie and Fish & Potato patés also contain peas or lentils. Small Breed Fish, Core Advantage, Chicken & Rice and Beef & Barley do not.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.1% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 41% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
33% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Verus Canine Small Breed Fish Formula Dry Dog Food
28.9% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Verus Grain-Free Cold Water Fish Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal & Herring Formula Dry Dog Food
40% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Verus Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Chicken, Lentils & Yams Formula Dry Dog Food
399 kcal per cup
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Verus has never had one. See the recall log
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