13 Best Dog Treats in 2025, Recommended by Vets

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Digestive Health Bites soft treats include beneficial ingredients; a soft, chewy texture; and hickory flavoring to give them high marks in palatability, which is why our expert panel spotlights this dog treat as Best in Show.

The fact that these treats come from a brand with a long history of research-backed products by board-certified veterinary nutritionists makes them appeal to our vets.

They also approve because the treats are only seven calories each and can still be portioned into smaller pieces for an even lower calorie count.

“I like that this treat ‘works’ for you and your dog with prebiotics for digestive health and vitamins C and E for immune support,” says Veronica Higgs, DVM.

For pups who need help with travel, separation anxiety, or noise sensitivity, our veterinarian experts single out Nutramax Solliquin Behavioral Health Soft Calming Chews for the best calming treat for dogs.

They appreciate that these soft chews support relaxation but not sedation and that they have undergone clinical trials to prove their effectiveness.

“[This product] contains ingredients that help promote calm in pets—L-theanine, magnolia, and phellodendron—which can be helpful to decrease fears, noise phobias, and anxiety,” says Jo Cornett, DVM. “It also contains whey protein, which can help dogs relax.”

Another expert uses this calming treat for their personal pets and finds it to be a palatable treat that they will consistently eat.

However, our panel notes that pet parents should also seek behavioral therapy and modification along with medical treatment and care for conditions that cause anxiety.

Our panel of experts select Hill’s Natural Training Soft & Chewy Treats as the top training treat due to their soft texture, low calorie count, and chicken protein.

The soft texture makes the treats easy to chew, while chicken is a lean yet high-value protein that dogs want to eat.

Our veterinary panel also finds the small size of the treats appealing.

“Since training treats are fed more frequently and at a higher volume than regular treats, finding an option like Hill’s Natural is helpful, because they are low in calories and small in size, and can be broken into even tinier pieces,” says panelist Tara Hansen, DVM.

Looking for an easy and healthy way to freshen your dog’s breath and reduce plaque and tartar? Our expert veterinary panel gives high marks to Virbac’s C.E.T. VeggieDent Fr3sh Dental Chews for those reasons and more.

They all appreciate how dogs can easily grasp the dental treat due to its Z-shape. They also like that the chews are plant-based with a highly palatable taste.

But the most important quality was the treat’s VOHC seal, representing endorsement from the Veterinary Oral Health Council regarding quality, effectiveness, and safety. “I would not recommend a dental treat without them,” says panelist Katherine Klast, LVT.

When giving your dog a chew of any kind, our vets recommend using a chew guard, like the Himalayan Pet Supply Bonehead Chew Guardian, to help prevent choking.

For the best puppy treats, our veterinarians like Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Lamb & Salmon Recipe, which are specially formulated for dogs under 1 year old.

Their beneficial ingredients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, their softness, and their small size meet important criteria for puppies.

One vet appreciates that these treats contain salmon and flax—two sources of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid.

“DHA is important in brain development and can also help with training, learning, and memory,” says Dr. Cornett.

The small size and low-calorie count (six per treat) make these treats especially well-suited for training puppies.

“You can help train and reward your puppy with less worry about causing tummy upset or weight gain,” says Molly Price, DVM.

For dogs who love the crunch, our veterinarian panel singles out Charlee Bear Natural Bear Crunch Grain-Free Crunch Bacon & Blueberry Dog Treats as the best.

Perfect for on-the-go training, these little dog biscuits won’t stain or leave smells or crumbles in your pocket.

“Their crunch can also help to remove some plaque or tartar from the teeth by the chewing actions needed to ingest them,” says Barri Morrison, DVM.

Vets also appreciate the lack of artificial colors or flavors and the fact that the treats are low in calories (2.1 calories per treat).

With their crunchy texture, single protein, and lack of added fillers, flavoring, or by-products, Vital Essentials Minnows Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treats swam to the top for the best natural dog treat.

Being freeze-dried gives these treats their crunchy texture and locks in nutrients that are otherwise removed by cooking.

Though freeze-dried treats have their benefits, they do come with some safety concerns, because not all bacteria are killed during the freeze-drying process.

As with raw meat, pet parents should wash their hands before and after handling and keep the treats separated from other foods. It is best to ask your vet if these are a good option for your pet and keep them away from small children who might put the treat in their mouths.

Made with a single-source protein, these treats make a great limited-ingredient treat for pets with grain, gluten, poultry, beef, or pork sensitivities, but they might not be ideal for pets with kidney issues who shouldn’t eat high-protein treats.

“I feed them personally to my dogs, because they are small dogs who can be a little picky about their treats, but they consistently love these minnows,” says Dr. Higgs, who notes that the treats do have a strong smell and slightly jarring appearance as they are, in fact, whole minnows.

This might turn off some pet parents but might also be why her dogs love them.

Dogs and pet parents love bananas and peanut butter, which helps make Hill’s Natural Soft Savories With Peanut Butter & Banana a favorite with our veterinarian panel.

Peanut butter is the first ingredient in these treats, which feature a soft texture that’s perfect for active puppies over 9 weeks, as well as adult and mature dogs.

Given that they are 27 calories per treat, our veterinarians appreciate that you can easily break these treats into smaller pieces for weight management.

“This is the best soft treat due to the nutritious ingredients, great taste, and high-quality name brand,” says Teresa Manucy, DVM.

Our experts gave top scores to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gentle Snackers for the best treat for dogs with sensitive tummies. Purina specially crafted these crunchy bites using hydrolyzed proteins to make them easier for dogs to digest.

As Tiffany Tupler, DVM, explains, hydrolyzed proteins are so small that the immune system doesn’t even detect them.

Filled with vitamins—such as D3, K, B1, B6, and B12—these treats are a healthy choice.

Dr. Price shares that they keep Gentle Snackers in the lobby and exam rooms at her animal hospital as a treat for their dog patients.

“Even dogs who are on strict hypoallergenic diets can eat Gentle Snackers, and they are low-fat and low-calorie, only 6 calories per crunchy treat,” she says.

For the best treats for small dogs, our vet experts pick Hill’s Natural Jerky Mini Strips With Real Chicken.

The enticing smell, chicken as the first ingredient, and the soft yet chewy texture meet with veterinarians’ approval as well as that of pickier small dogs.

The jerky strips don’t have artificial colors or preservatives and are specifically made for small dog breeds.

“These chewy treats can be torn into portions for easier feeding and for calorie management but still have a satisfying texture and flavor,” Dr. Hansen says about the jerky mini strips, which have 16 calories each.

Our experts agree that Purina’s DentaLife Daily Oral Care Large Dental Dog Treats deliver when it comes to beneficial, long-lasting treats for big dogs.

The chewy treats take time for large dogs to gnaw on, which is good for enrichment and for removing tartar and plaque. Dogs love the tasty chicken flavor, and vets appreciate the ridges that clean hard-to-reach teeth down to the gumline.

The VOHC seal of acceptance was a must for the panel, along with the chews’ large size.

“Large-breed dogs have a high risk of swallowing treats whole, which can cause blockage of the airway and GI tract,” Dr. Tupler explains. “It’s always good to have something they can chew without breaking.”

For our gray-muzzle friends, our veterinarians choose Hill’s Natural Flexi-Stix Jerky Dog Treats for the top spot.

Starring beef as the No. 1 ingredient, these tasty jerky sticks are formulated to help give senior dogs a boost with beneficial ingredients.

“These treats are great for senior pups, as they provide natural glucosamine and chondroitin, which are essential for joint health,” Dr. Morrison says.

Our experts also like the softer chewy texture for older dogs’ sensitive mouths and the fact that you can break the 29-calorie treats into smaller pieces.

Our expert veterinarians know that dogs deserve nutritious treats pet parents can afford, which is why they select Blue Buffalo’s Health Bars Baked With Apples & Yogurt as the best budget dog treats.

Oven baking allows for a big crunch, and these treats are fortified with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Our experts also appreciate that the 63-calorie biscuits can be broken into pieces for a lower-calorie treat.

“This treat is great for pet parents on a budget, since the bars contain natural ingredients and provide excellent protein in a crunchy treat,” says Dr. Manucy, pointing out that the bars cost just under $5 for a 16-ounce bag.