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As our dogs get older, they may become less tolerant of regular treats, even the ones they used to love. Simultaneously, while senior dogs become pickier, they may also have more sensitive teeth, gums, and digestive tracts, narrowing down their selections. They’ve likely slowed down quite a bit, too, requiring fewer calories.
If you’re in the market for a senior-friendly snack and not sure where to start, we’ve curated a list of the best treats for senior dogs to help you make the right choice for your pup.
Best for Digestibility: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Dog Treats
These Royal Canin treats are formulated for adult dogs with sensitive digestive systems, making them a choice pick for seniors who have difficulty tolerating regular treats. Brewers rice leads the fiber-rich ingredient list and is known for being easily digestible. Powdered psyllium seed husk also helps promote digestive regularity and adds to the high 9.4% fiber content. (All nutrients on our list are measured on a dry-matter basis to better compare treats with differing moisture levels.)
These treats also have a fairly low-calorie count, at 4.5 calories per piece.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 4.5 kcal/treat
- Protein: 22.2%
- Fat: 6.1%
- Fiber: 9.4%
Best Dental Chew: Get Naked Senior Heath Dental Sticks
Chewing is a form of enrichment, helping dogs calm down and reduce anxiety. Just because your senior dog may have lost a tooth or two doesn’t mean they can’t still have a good chomping session. Dental chews are often softer than regular chews, making them a great solution for seniors.
Featuring natural chicken flavor and gelatin for added enticement, these dental sticks have ridged edges to help clean your dog’s teeth between brushing. At 25 calories per stick, they also have significantly lower calories than many other dental chews.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 25 kcal/stick
- Protein: 19.4%
- Fat: 2.4% fat
- Fiber: 7.6%
Best for Joint Health: Bark&Spark Senior Advanced Hip and Joint Care Treat
More supplement than treat, these soft bites feature human-grade and maximum-strength glucosamine and chondroitin to soothe joint pain and inflammation. Hyaluronic acid and omega 3s from fish oil also help support your senior dog’s mobility.
Still, each soft chew features a tasty bacon flavor, which pet parents say their senior pups love.
Key Nutrients:
- Glucosamine: 1200 mg
- Chondroitin: 300 mg
- MSM: 300 mg
- Omega-3: 177 mg
- Yucca: 90 mg
- Vitamin C: 75 mg
- Omega-6: 48 mg
- Vitamin E: 75 IU
- Hyaluronic Acid: 15 mg
Best for Heart Health: Ark Naturals Gray Muzzles Heart Healthy Treats
These heart-shaped treats are formulated to support your senior dog’s heart. Key ingredients include taurine, which helps regulate heart rhythm and heart muscle function, and acetyl-l-carnitine, an essential amino acid that improves heart, brain, and muscle function.
These soft bites are not only heart-healthy, but they’re also free of common allergens such as corn, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors. This makes them a safe and gentle option for seniors with sensitive stomachs. The dried poultry liver flavor also adds palatability.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 6 kcal/treat
- A Proprietary Blend of Taurine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Dandelion Extract, Hawthorne Berry Extract, Bilberry Extract, Egg Albumin, Coenzyme Q10: 325 mg
Best for Brain Health: Ark Naturals Gray Muzzle Brain’s Best Friends
Also by Ark Natural, these treats are formulated for senior dogs with cognitive issues due to the aging process. These issues include disorientation, recognition problems, and memory loss.
Fish oil (omega-3), acetyl-l-carnitine, and ginkgo balboa all combine to provide canine cognitive support. They also make for a low-calorie snack at just three calories per treat.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 2.97 kcal/treat
- Proprietary Blend of Fish Oil (Omega-3), Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Resveratrol, L-Theanine, Phosphatidylserine, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (a Source of Vitamin B6), Ginkgo Biloba: 320 mg
Best Prescription: Hill’s Prescription Diet Soft Baked Soft & Chewy Dog Treats
Hill’s soft-baked treats have a chewy, fun, waffle-shaped texture that’s easy on your senior dog’s gums and teeth. Additionally, this recipe supports kidney and heart health. Like many of Hill’s prescription diets, the formula includes fish oil to support healthy joints.
However, they do have a relatively high caloric content, at 35 calories per treat. So, you may want to use them sparingly for special occasions.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 35 kcal/treat
- Protein: 11.25%
- Fat: 7.5%
- Fiber: 5%
Best for Immune Support: Marly and Dan Senior Healthy and Function Snacks
Made of 50% salmon pulp, these senior treats are rich in fatty acids and veggie-derived antioxidants for immune support. Sweet potato, pumpkin, and apple cider vinegar powder also promote healthy digestion. Each treat contains a moderate amount of protein and just seven calories, making them a relatively low-calorie option for everyday feeding.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 7 kcal/treat
- Protein: 20.5%
- Fat: 23.9%
- Fiber: 5.5%
Best Soft: Get Naked Biteables Senior Soft Dog Treats
It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. And these soft treats are perfect for training sessions with your smart senior, coming in at just 2.9 calories per treat. The soft texture makes them easy to chew between reinforcing behavior, and the chicken and mussel flavors boost motivation. The turmeric powder also adds inflammation properties to the mix.
Key Nutrients:
- Calories: 2.9 kcal/treat
- Protein: 21%
- Fat: 12.3%
- Fiber: 3.7%
Best Organic: Lord Jameson Golden Health Organic Dog Treats
These chewy peanut butter and honey balls feature a short list of 100% USDA-certified organic ingredients. If your senior dog is sensitive to gluten, the oats featured are also certified gluten-free. Along with the tasty ingredients, these treats include flaxseed and turmeric to help soothe arthritic flair-ups and achy joints.
Key Nutrients:
- 19.9 kcal/treat
- Protein: 10.6%
- Fat: 10%
- Fiber: 2.9%
How We Chose
We selected the food products featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews. We selected treats that offer nutrients especially useful for senior dogs. We’re also guided by the experience of living alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
