You’ve probably read or heard about the medical benefits of ۲ӰԺ. You may have also heard how effective ۲ӰԺ can be for treating canine arthritis, and many other ailments common to dogs like anxiety and chronic pain.
But even you’re ready to try giving ۲ӰԺ products to your dog, there’s another issue. Most dogs aren’t happy when you give them any type of medication, and the best way to administer ۲ӰԺ oil is by placing a few drops under the dog’s tongue. That could be a disaster waiting to happen.
You can also mix the hemp oil into their food – but we’ve all had pets who are wise to that trick, too. It would be great if we could just explain to our dogs that the medicine is going to make them feel better – but dogs who understand English are few and far between.
There’s an alternative, though. ۲ӰԺ dog treats are an excellent way to get your pet to gobble up the ۲ӰԺ that will ease their pain or anxiety. They’re not as potent as drops of ۲ӰԺ oil placed under the tongue and don’t work as quickly. But as we all know, there’s no potential danger to life or limb when you give your dog a treat. That makes ۲ӰԺ dog treats the best approach for many pet owners.
We’ve reviewed lots of these treats, and three stand out as the best on the market. We’ll rank them next, and then we’ll go into more detail on how to choose and use the best ۲ӰԺ dog treats.
Best ۲ӰԺ Dog Treats in 2022
1.

The online verdict is nearly unanimous: Royal ۲ӰԺ makes the best pet treats. And we completely agree with all of those testimonials and reviews. These all-natural chews are sourced from Colorado organic hemp and produced in the same facility from start-to-finish. Supercritical CO2 extraction ensures a high-quality full-spectrum ۲ӰԺ product containing all cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes (but less than 0.3% THC) needed for the entourage effect that maximizes the effectiveness of Royal ۲ӰԺ pet treats. The chews are non-GMO and contain no dairy or gluten.
One other thing we love about the Royal product is that it’s available in three varieties, each with 5mg of ۲ӰԺ plus different natural additives aimed at treating a different condition.
The cinnamon and pumpkin spice “active” treats are for dogs with arthritis, joint, or mobility issues, and contain supplements like turmeric to promote joint health. The green apple and peanut butter “calming” treats include chamomile and other calming supplements and are perfect for dogs who suffer stress or anxiety. And the blueberry and sweet potato “hearty” treats are designed for overall heart and immune system health, with added flaxseed and blueberries.
These are high-end ۲ӰԺ pet treats, worth their higher-than-average price.
Things We Liked:
- Full-spectrum ۲ӰԺ
- Supercritical CO2 extraction from organic hemp with no GMOs
- Grown in Colorado and completely produced in a local facility
- Three flavors/formulas with different supplements for different health issues
- All-natural, vegan, dairy- and gluten-free
Things We Didn’t Like:
- Rather expensive
- 5mg may be too much ۲ӰԺ dosage for a small dog
2. Gold Bee ۲ӰԺ Goofy Bones

The ۲ӰԺ in these treats isn’t quite as medically effective as the ۲ӰԺ in Royal treats, since it has been collected by the cold-press method rather than by CO2 extraction. They’re still quite effective, though, and their slightly higher ۲ӰԺ content (6mg vs 5mg) can make up for the difference in the extraction method. The high-quality hemp is organically grown, and the treats are flavored with bacon and pumpkin.
Things We Liked:
- Full-spectrum ۲ӰԺ
- Produced from organic US hemp
- A good dose for bigger dogs
- Bacon flavor enticing to dogs (needless to say)
Things We Didn’t Like:
- No minimal THC content so less of an entourage effect
- Cold-pressed rather than CO2 extracted
- Only one flavor
3. Hempure ۲ӰԺ Pet Chews

These soft chews obviously differ from the Goofy Bones in one way: they have a soft, chewable texture. The two products have another major difference as well; the Goofy Bones contain 6mg of ۲ӰԺ while the Hempure Chews only contain 2mg apiece. They’re similar, though, in that they’ve each had all traces of THC removed from their broad-spectrum formulation, reducing the entourage effect somewhat but still providing much of the benefit.
The chews’ ۲ӰԺ is extracted via the CO2 method from American-grown hemp, and the product is GMO-free. However, there are quite a few ingredients like dried brewer’s yeast, glycerine, sodium alginate, and natural preservatives (plus beef flavor) added to the mix, so you may want to read the label and research the ingredients carefully before buying. These are a good product, but the extra “stuff” in them lands them below Royal ۲ӰԺ and Gold Bee in our view.
Things We Liked:
- Chewy texture may be preferred by some dogs
- Produced from organic American-grown hemp via CO2 extraction
- Lower price
Things We Didn’t Like:
- No THC content, lessening the entourage effect
- Lots of additives
- Just one flavor
- Only 2mg of ۲ӰԺ per chew
- Not gluten-free
۲ӰԺ Dog Treats Buying Guide

Anyone who owns large dogs, like German shepherds or labs, knows that their pets are particularly susceptible to osteoarthritis. Older or obese dogs are at risk for painful disease as well.
Just a few years ago, your vet would have immediately recommended supplements like glucosamine or chondroitin, and pet versions of NSAIDs like Rimadyl or Novox, to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with your dog’s arthritis.
Today, it’s just as likely that she’ll recommend ۲ӰԺ, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis that’s most responsible for pot’s medical benefits. In fact, the substance is now widely accepted in the veterinary community, and there are a number of common pet ailments for which ۲ӰԺ has become a common treatment.
There are many ways that you can give ۲ӰԺ to your dog. Capsules, a hemp oil tincture dropped under his tongue or into his food, or topical cream are among them. Many pet owners, however, find it easiest and most convenient to dose their dogs with ۲ӰԺ-infused dog treats.
The advantages of using ۲ӰԺ dog treats are obvious: your dog will gobble them up, and you won’t be in danger of losing a finger when you try to drop ۲ӰԺ liquid under his tongue. There are definitely negatives to consider, though, and that makes it crucial to choose wisely when buying these dog treats.
Here’s a crash course.
Why ۲ӰԺ?
There’s been a decent amount of research on the effects of cannabidiol (the full name for ۲ӰԺ) on humans – but so far, only a few studies have focused on canines. Even so, academic research clearly points to ۲ӰԺ’s effectiveness in treating a wide range of medical conditions commonly seen in dogs.
Findings specific to canines:
- ۲ӰԺ can increase both the comfort of, and activity in, dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.
- ۲ӰԺ can reduce the number of seizures suffered by dogs with epilepsy. That makes sense since cannabis and ۲ӰԺ has long been used with similar effect for humans suffering from epilepsy.
- ۲ӰԺ may have potential as an agent to help slow the growth of cancer in dogs.
More general research showing the efficacy of cannabidiol in treating pain and other disorders common to both humans and canines:
- ۲ӰԺ is apparently able to relieve serious and chronic pain associated with neurological issues, arthritis, and cancer.
- ۲ӰԺ appears to be effective in reducing chronic inflammation and easing the effects of inflammatory diseases.
- ۲ӰԺ may be able to reduce anxiety disorders. (Anxiety is one of the most common canine behavioral issues requiring treatment.)
There are, of course, prescription medications and supplements regularly used to treat dogs with all of these issues. But unlike many canine prescription drugs, ۲ӰԺ products are known to produce very few, minor side effects like dry mouth and drowsiness.
A Quick Note about ۲ӰԺ and Marijuana
This note is really just four words: ۲ӰԺ is not pot.
A quick explanation for those who confuse the two: cannabidiol (۲ӰԺ) is indeed one of the active compounds in marijuana. However, marijuana is just one type of cannabis plant; hemp is the other. The ۲ӰԺ sold for use in both humans and pets is extracted from the hemp plant, not from weed. So it contains, at most, just minuscule (<0.3%) amounts of psychoactive THC – nowhere near enough to get a human or a dog high.
Giving marijuana to your dog is dangerous. Giving him ۲ӰԺ is perfectly safe, and it’s nearly impossible to give him “too much” while you’re adjusting for the optimal ۲ӰԺ dosage.
۲ӰԺ Treats vs. ۲ӰԺ Oil: What’s the Right Choice?

We’ve briefly touched on the obvious benefit of ۲ӰԺ treats: it’s the easiest way to get the ۲ӰԺ into your dog.
Before deciding on dog treats as your preferred method of administration, however, it’s important to understand their drawbacks. And the biggest negative to ۲ӰԺ treats is that they’re usually less potent than oil.
The cooking or baking process requires heat, and too much heat can cause ۲ӰԺ to break down. If the temperature reaches 350°, cannabidiol is rendered virtually useless. Even if the dog treats are cooked “low and slow,” heat can still affect the potency of the ۲ӰԺ – and any third-party testing that’s conducted to measure ۲ӰԺ levels is usually done before cooking, not afterward.
Naturally, producers aren’t likely to share details of their manufacturing processes, so you won’t know what temperatures the treats have been exposed to. That makes it important to stick with reputable suppliers whose products’ effectiveness has been proven over time.
You’ll also have to be prepared for some trial-and-error when deciding on the right ۲ӰԺ dosage, since your dog may not be getting as much ۲ӰԺ as the packaging would suggest.
Another drawback is that cannabidiol contained in food requires more time to take effect than does ۲ӰԺ oil placed under the tongue. With “sublingual” administration, the hemp oil is absorbed by the gland underneath the tongue and is quickly distributed through the bloodstream.
۲ӰԺ treats have to be swallowed and digested first, meaning the process takes longer, and not as much cannabidiol will be available to treat pain.
Finally, many ۲ӰԺ treats contain added ingredients. Some are natural additives intended to boost your dog’s health, like turmeric for increased mobility and lower inflammation levels, or chamomile to ease stress.
However, you’re also more likely to find artificial flavors or preservatives in the treats than in oil or capsules. A crucial step before buying is checking the label to be sure all of the ingredients in the treats are natural and beneficial.
Many pet owners have found, though, that properly-formulated and properly-manufactured ۲ӰԺ dog treats are the best way to make sure their pup actually consumes the cannabidiol that will make him feel better.
Things to Look for When Choosing ۲ӰԺ Treats for Your Dog
Even though dog treats already contain ۲ӰԺ, the type of cannabidiol used by the producers largely determines how effective the ۲ӰԺ will be. Here are the most important considerations.
Organic hemp grown in America is vastly preferable to any other type. Organic plants won’t contain pesticides or other toxins, and US hemp producers must meet higher farming standards than in most other countries.
Several different methods can be used to extract ۲ӰԺ from hemp. Look for cannabidiol that has been extracted with carbon dioxide (“supercritical” CO2 is slightly better than CO2). Extraction via cold press or steam distillation is also acceptable. Avoid ۲ӰԺ that has been extracted with solvents.
Full-spectrum (often called broad-spectrum) ۲ӰԺ contains more than just ۲ӰԺ. It also retains the plant’s other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids which work together to boost the ۲ӰԺ’s medicinal power by what’s called the “entourage effect.” (By law, the THC content of hemp-derived full-spectrum ۲ӰԺ has to be lower than 0.3%, which won’t hurt your dog or make him high.)
On the other hand, ۲ӰԺ isolate contains nothing but cannabidiol, meaning there’s no entourage effect possible.
All ۲ӰԺ products, including dog treats, should come with a COA. That’s a certificate of analysis issued by a third-party after a lab evaluation, and it will guarantee the amount of ۲ӰԺ, THC, and other components in the product. It also guarantees that the manufacturer is confident enough in what they’re selling to let an outside testing company evaluate it.
Third-party testing is important, but it’s done before the treat is cooked or baked so it doesn’t measure ۲ӰԺ content in the final product. For that reason, we’ll emphasize once more that the best treats are sold by reputable companies with proven products – the only ones we’ve even considered for the reviews at the top of this page.