The 12 Best Treats for Senior Dogs

As dogs age, they might have different needs when it comes to snacks. The best treats for senior dogs might be those that are softer, have fewer ingredients, or address certain health needs.

“Senior dogs have varying needs when it comes to treats,” says Monica Tarantino, DVM, a veterinarian based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and founder of Senior Dog Revolution, which offers resources targeting senior dog health. “Many of them already have specific health issues like hip or joint discomfort, anxiety, or digestive regularity.”  

Our favorite overall treats for senior dogs are Get Naked Senior Health Biteables Dog Treats. They are softer than most other treats and have ingredients for joint health. 

Best Overall

Get Naked Senior Health Biteables Dog Treats

$8 at Amazon $8 at Chewy View on Naturalpetwarehouse.com

These soft and chewy treats are specifically formulated for senior pets. The treats are softer than many other chewy treats, so they’re easy to eat if your dog has missing teeth or a sensitive mouth. They also contain added ingredients to support your dog’s aging health. That includes New Zealand green-lipped mussel, a natural supplement that may support heart and brain health. These shellfish are full of omega-3s and other fatty acids that may reduce inflammation, lubricate joints, and improve mobility. The treats include chondroitin for healthy joints.

The senior version of Get Naked Biteables features chicken as the primary ingredient and also includes sweet potatoes. They are high in protein and the treats are made in the United States with globally sourced ingredients. 

The company offers several other senior-friendly recipes in this line including Biteables Joint Health, which contains glucosamine and chondroitin, and Biteables Digestive Health, which is packed with prebiotics and probiotics for a healthy gut. 

_{Calories Per Treat: 2.9 | Flavors: Chicken | Key Ingredients: Chicken, vegetable glycerin, sweet potatoes | Texture: Chewy}

Best Organic

Wet Noses Little Stars Dog Treats

View on Amazon $12 at Chewy View on Wet-noses.com

We love everything about all Wet Noses dog treats. They are USDA-certified organic and non-GMO verified with limited, whole ingredients. There are no byproducts, preservatives, or fillers, and no wheat, corn, or soy. These particular Little Stars treats are perfect for older dogs that still like a satisfying crunch but don’t need a ton of extra calories. 

These tiny treats come in peanut butter or sweet potato. Each contains only five or six ingredients and has just 1 calorie per treat. The stars truly are little—about the size of a pencil eraser—so they might not be the best choice for very large dogs. But for small or medium-sized older pets, it’s plenty for a tasty biscuit treat or for a training reward.

Although there are just two flavors of these small treats, Wet Noses has an impressive line of original biscuits that come in more than a dozen flavor combinations. They’re a little larger than a quarter, but you can break them into smaller pieces if your pup wants some flavorful variety

_{Calories Per Treat: 1 | Flavors: Peanut butter, sweet potato | Key Ingredients: Organic rye flour, organic ground peanuts, organic canola oil, organic molasses (peanut butter recipe) | Texture: Crunchy}

Best Flavors

Bocce’s Bakery Soft and Chewy Treats for Dogs

$8 at Amazon $8 at Chewy View on Boccesbakery.com

There are just so many interesting flavors from Bocce’s Bakery. What about berry cheesecake, campfire s’mores, or fireside apple pie? Bocce’s has traditional crunchy bites, but these soft and chewy treats are great for older pets that might have some dental issues or for those that have choosier palates as they age. There are dozens of flavors—including some that rotate seasonally—so there’s sure to be something your pup will love.

The B-shaped treats are made in small batches with whole, limited ingredients that are locally sourced. They are baked in the United States with no artificial anything. They average about 14 calories each, but they are easy enough to break into smaller pieces if you only want to give your pup a small tasty morsel.

_{Calories Per Treat: 14 on average | Flavors: Peanut butter and banana, berry cheesecake, Sunday roast, and lots more | Key Ingredients: Oat flour, peanut butter, rolled oats, blueberries (varies per recipe) | Texture: Soft and chewy}

Best Training Treats

Zuke's Mini Naturals

$8 at Amazon $8 at Chewy $17 at Walmart

These soft, tasty treats come in so many tempting flavors ranging from peanut butter and oats to turkey and cranberry. The main ingredient is always a specific meat protein—like salmon or chicken—typically followed by rice and lots of fruits and vegetables. The treats are easy to chew, which makes them great for seniors with dental issues or mouth sensitivity. They also have fewer than 3 calories each, which is great for older dogs who shouldn’t put on any weight.

Zuke’s Mini Naturals are bite-sized, but they can be torn into even smaller pieces. They contain no corn, wheat, soy, byproducts, fillers, or any artificial ingredients. They are made in the United States with globally sourced ingredients. They are a bit smelly, which your dog will find very attractive.

_{Calories Per Treat: Fewer than 3 | Flavors: Chicken, peanut butter and oats, salmon, beef, rabbit, duck, pork, turkey and cranberry | Key Ingredients: Meat protein, rice, vegetables, fruit | Texture: Soft}

Best Soft Chews

Wellness The Rewarding Life Training Rewards

$7 at Amazon $6 at Chewy $6 at Walmart

These chewy squares are great for older dogs with sensitive or missing teeth. They’re very soft and easy to tear, but each treat only has about 8 calories. The treats feature a meat protein like chicken, beef, or lamb as the primary ingredient, and they are packed with whole foods like chickpeas, carrots, and blueberries for well-rounded nutrition.

Formerly known as Soft WellBites, the treats have added DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid important for brain health, and other omegas for a healthy skin and coat. The treats come in five meaty flavors, which likely taste as good as they smell to your dog. They’re motivating to use as training treats when you’re working on teaching an aging dog a new trick.

_{Calories Per Treat: 8 | Flavors: Beef and turkey, chicken and lamb, chicken and venison, lamb and salmon, turkey and duck | Key Ingredients: Beef, turkey, chickpeas (varies) | Texture: Soft}

Best Freeze-Dried

Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

$38 at Amazon View on Openfarmpet.com View on Petfood.express

These soft and crumbly morsels are actually freeze-dried premium dog food that is meant to be fed as a meal or sprinkled on top of a dog’s regular kibble to make dinner more appetizing. But they are so tasty (according to dogs) that they can be used as high-value treats. The soft texture makes them easy for older dogs to eat and the food is high in nutrients so you’re not just plying your pup with empty calories.

The food is made of organic and responsibly sourced ingredients including humanely raised meats and wild-caught salmon. Those are combined with whole ingredients like organic fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, carrots, and squash. The food has no artificial preservatives, flavors, or fillers.

Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw food comes in six different proteins which means you should find something for even the pickiest senior with not much of an appetite. The food is relatively expensive—for example, about $50 for 22 ounces—but a little truly goes a long way. One morsel can be crumbled atop an entire meal or broken into pieces for treats. The food comes in a sturdy, resealable pouch.

_{Calories Per Treat: N/A | Flavors: Turkey, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, surf & turf | Key Ingredients: Meat protein, organic fruits and vegetables | Texture: Soft and crumbly}

Best Supplement

Zesty Paws 11-in-1 Multifunctional Bites for Senior Dogs

$40 at Amazon $33 at Chewy $33 at Walmart

These heart-shaped chewy supplements are filled with ingredients to promote healthy aging in senior dogs. They address 11 bodily functions including hips and joints, skin health, gut health, immunity, heart, brain, liver, eye health, and urinary and kidney health. The laundry list of ingredients is impressive. There’s chondroitin and glucosamine for joint stiffness, cod liver oil and vitamin E for skin health, and psyllium husk, cranberry extract, and vitamins A and C for gut, immune, and bladder support.

The supplements come in chicken or beef flavors and have no artificial flavors, preservatives, or synthetic colors. Give one chew for dogs up to 25 pounds, three for dogs more than 75 pounds, and two for any pup in between. They have the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) seal of approval which means they must meet certain requirements including quality control, product monitoring, and strict labeling guidelines. Dogs seem to really like these bites so you can give them as a treat or with dinner.

_{Calories Per Treat: 21 | Flavors: Chicken, beef | Key Ingredients: Beef liver or chicken coconut glycerin, flaxseed | Texture: Chewy}

Best Calming

Vetriscience Golden Years Calm and Confident

$40 at Amazon $40 at Chewy $40 at Target

As dogs get older, sometimes they face age-related issues such as confusion, separation anxiety, and disorientation. These chews contain colostrum and L-theanine to support cognitive function and calmness, as well as other ingredients that may promote brain function, memory, and learning in aging dogs.

The chicken-flavored supplements are a little less than one inch big. You give one chew each day for dogs up to 30 pounds, three for dogs over 60 pounds, and two for pups that tip the scales in between. The chews are formulated in hopes of easing stress and helping your senior pup stay calm. They can be used together with Vetriscience Composure calming supplements. They can be given daily or as needed and are for dogs age 7 and up.

_{Calories Per Treat: N/A | Flavors: Chicken | Key Ingredients: Phosphatidylserine, colostrum calming complex biopeptide blend, l-theanine | Texture: Chewy}

Best for Digestion

Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuits

$26 at Amazon $10 at Chewy View on Portlandpetfoodcompany.com

When your dog has an upset stomach, you may give them canned pumpkin for digestive health. These crunchy bone-shaped biscuits are made with just a handful of ingredients and are designed for senior dogs and those with sensitive stomachs. The recipe only includes garbanzo bean flour, pumpkin, peanut butter, molasses, and cinnamon with no artificial flavors, colors, or fillers.

The crunchy biscuits can be broken into smaller pieces if you just want to give your pup a little taste. All ingredients are sourced from the Pacific Northwest and the treats are baked in the U.S. They are free from grain, gluten, and wheat and are twice baked for a serious crunch. 

Portland Pet Food Company also makes other biscuits as well as meal toppers for finicky seniors. 

_{Calories Per Treat: 12 | Flavors: Pumpkin | Key Ingredients: Garbanzo bean flour, pumpkin, peanut butter, molasses | Texture: Crunchy}

Best for Joints

Old Mother Hubbard Hip and Joint Treats

$8 at Amazon $8 at Chewy

These crunchy little bone-shaped treats are made with a short list of natural ingredients including. chicken and oatmeal, as well as eggs, apples, and carrots. The satisfying crunchy texture helps clean teeth while your pup chews.

The treats contain 750 mg/kg of glucosamine and 250 mg/kg of chondroitin, two ingredients that promote healthy joints. Old Mother Hubbard treats are oven-baked, with a recipe that dates back to 1926. The company offers dog treats in loads of flavors and several different sizes. They’re made in North America from globally sourced ingredients. There are no artificial preservatives or byproducts.

_{Calories Per Treat: 23 | Flavors: Chicken | Key Ingredients: Whole wheat flour, oatmeal, chicken liver | Texture: Crunchy}

Best Dental

Ark Naturals Gray Muzzle Brushless Toothpaste

$20 at Amazon $15 at Chewy

Some senior pups may have difficulty chewing traditional dental chews. This “brushless toothpaste” from Ark Naturals is specifically for dogs age 5 and up to work on fresher breath. Instead of being a really chewy treat, it’s more of a crunchy air-filled puff. That’s easier on senior teeth so they don’t have to gnaw so hard.

As a dog chews, the chomping action helps work on tartar and plaque and cleans debris along the gumline. The treats have low sodium and low fat to complement senior diets and address health concerns. The chews come in two sizes: small/medium for dogs up to 30 pounds and large for dogs over 30. The one negative is that the treats do not have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal which shows products have met certain standards for effectiveness.

_{Calories Per Treat: 9 | Flavors: Vanilla | Key Ingredients: Rice flour, oat fiber, natural flavor | Texture: Crunchy}

Best for Picky Eaters

Hill's Natural Soft Savories Dog Treats

View on Chewy View on Petflow.com View on Petsupermarket.com

Even for dogs with finicky palates, the tantalizing smell of Hill's dog treats might just win them over. They featured limited ingredients in three varieties—peanut butter and banana, chicken and yogurt, beef and cheddar—so you can find the best flavor combination for your picky eater. Plus the short ingredient list makes it easier to avoid allergens or digestive issues.

The soft and tender texture of these treats makes them ideal for senior canines with dental issues, and also means they're easier to break apart. Since each treat is about the size of a quarter and higher in calories than some other treats on this list, you may want to split it up into smaller pieces.

_{Calories Per Treat: 27.3 per treat | Flavors: Peanut butter and banana, chicken and yogurt, beef and cheddar | Key Ingredients: Potatoes, wheat flour, peas, natural flavors | Texture: Soft}

What to Look For in Treats for Senior Dogs

Senior Nutritional Needs

Nutritional needs are unique to each pet. The ideal amounts of fat, protein, and calories depend on how active they are, their current body condition, and any health concerns. In most cases, older dogs should have moderate to high amounts of protein so protein-rich treats can be a good idea to help build muscle mass that dogs can lose as they get older. However, if your dog has kidney disease, your veterinarian might suggest a low-protein diet.

If your dog is overweight, then every calorie counts. But even if your dog is well-conditioned, you never want to overload them with too many treats that are high in fat or calories. As always, check with your vet to make sure your dog is getting the right nutrition.

Ingredients

“Ingredient lists for treats can really vary based on the type of treat. Obviously avoid anything that your pet has a known sensitivity to,” says Kathy Baker, DVM, of Lucy’s Veterinary Care in Smyrna, Georgia. Some treats can have a long and complicated ingredient list while others have very limited ingredients.

“Anytime I try something new, I recommend monitoring your pet while they eat and ensure that it doesn’t create any GI upset,” Baker says.

Some treats may have ingredients that may address the needs of senior dogs. Your vet can give you guidance on which added nutrients might help your dog.

Some common extras:

• Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
• Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
• Fiber for easier digestion

Texture

Treats can be hard and crunchy dog biscuits or soft and chewy morsels. What you choose can depend on the health of your senior dog’s mouth including whether they have any gum sensitivity or are missing teeth.

“Many senior dogs have dental issues that need to be accounted for with regular dental cleanings at the vet even in their old age,” says Tarantino. “Because of that, I often suggest treats that can aid in their oral comfort such as soft and chewy treats over crunchy especially for dogs with few teeth left.”

Your dog may also have a preference for soft, chewy treats or hard, crunchy biscuits. “Paying attention to what your senior dog likes is important as many older dogs still love their crunchy treats and that is okay too!” Tarantino says. 

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This article was researched and written by Mary Jo DiLonardo who has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than 60 dogs and puppies. Her own rescue dog is a spry senior who absolutely loves treats. To find the best treats for senior dogs, she asked owners, trainers, and veterinarians for input. She also read ingredient labels and sourcing information and checked customer reviews and availability. Mary Jo is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use with them such as best dog toys and best dog treats.