This post will show you if it is ok for your dog to eat guava including guava skin, paste, leaves, juice, and jelly.
There are many fruits available to humans, one of the most tempting being guava. Guava is a tropical fruit that grows from trees of the Myrtle family, and we place it in the “exotic” fruit category. Guava is a distinct fruit with green skin and pink flesh. It is well-known for its sweetness and pleasant taste, which is best described as the hybrid of a pear and a strawberry.
If you are enjoying some delicious guava and you want to share some with your dog, you may be wondering if you should. Is guava safe for dogs? Learn the facts in this article about dogs and guava. This post will show you if your dog can have guava, guava seeds, guava juice, or guava jelly.
Can dogs eat guava?
If you’re pondering whether it would be all right to feed your dog guava, the answer is that generally, guava of any type should be safe to feed your dog. The truth is that guava would only harm your dog if they were allergic to it, or if you fed them too much. When given in small amounts, guava is generally ok for dogs and can be a good option as a healthy snack in moderation.
As will be shown below, the type of guava is something to consider.
Is eating guava healthy for dogs?
Dogs love many types of fruit, and guava is on that list. You don’t have to feel bad about giving your dog a little guava either, as guava holds many health benefits for your dog like the following.
Plenty of Vitamins A, C, K, and B-Vitamins
Guava is full of vitamins A, C, K, and B-vitamins. Vitamins A and K aid in maintaining your dog’s best possible eyesight, healthy skin, a prime number of red blood cells, and thriving, healthy bones. Vitamin C (of which guava has several times that of an orange) works as an antioxidant warring against free radicals that can damage your dog’s cell structure and weaken their immune system.
B-vitamins help your dog maintain their equilibrium. They also make neurotransmitters in your dog’s brain through a process called “neurochemical synthesis”.
Magnesium and Potassium
Guava is also full of magnesium and potassium. Magnesium aids in your dog’s absorption of all the other nutrients they take in. Potassium promotes strong teeth and bones, as well as healthy organs.
Iron and Sodium
Your dog must have a healthy amount of iron in their system to properly form hemoglobin and red blood cells. Proper sodium levels aid your dog in regulating their blood pressure. This sodium, though, is one of the reasons why you must not feed your dog too much guava but only feed them guava in moderation.
Fiber
Guava is full of fiber, which everyone needs, and if you give your dog too much, you may notice that you have contributed to them having a bout with diarrhea.
Other Nutrients
Guava contains other nutrients, too, like calcium, phosphorus, and lycopene, which each play a vital role in keeping your dog at peak health.
When giving your dog guava as a healthy treat, it is important to remove the leaves since they are toxic to dogs. Also, the seeds and skin can present a choking hazard and should be removed as well.
Is eating guava bad for dogs?
Eating guava isn’t bad for your dog, as long as you feed it to them in moderation. You should be aware that guava is rich in carbohydrates and sugars. In every 3.5 ounces of guava, there is 0.5 ounce of carbohydrates and 0.3 ounce of sugar. Too much sugar in your dog’s diet can lead to obesity and even type 2 diabetes.
If your dog does eat guava, it is important to look out for health problems and signs of complications such as digestive issues or gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting or diarreha.
Also, it is important to consider your specific dog. If you know that your dog has a sensitive stomach or other issues with its health, it would likely be best to stick to what you know is ok for your dog.
How much guava can a dog eat?
Guava fruit and other types of guava should only be used as a small part of your dog’s diet and you should avoid giving your dog large quantities of guava. The reason for this is that guava is moderately high in sugar and having too much sugar can cause health issues in dogs such as weight gain and raised blood sugar. In general, it is best to only feed your dog a few small pieces of guava each week.
Can dogs eat different types of guava including Thai guava, red guava, or pineapple guava?
Dogs can eat different types of guava including Thai guava, red guava, pineapple guava, Mexican white guava, apple guava and ripe guava. However, as mentioned, dogs should not be eating large amounts of guava and the exotic fruit should be a very small part of your dog’s diet.
Can dogs have guava juice?
Your dog actually needs nothing but clean, fresh water to drink. That is the healthiest thing you can give them. It does the best job keeping them hydrated and helping their bodies filter out waste. While drinking guava juice won’t hurt your dog unless they are allergic or you give them too much, it is probably not the best choice for them as a beverage.
It is much more beneficial for your dog to give them water to drink, and offer them the actual whole fruit (after you de-seed it, of course). At least, that way, they get the fiber and greater benefit for their canine body. Also, guava juice can be bad if there is added sugar since too much sugar will not be good for your dog’s health and can lead to weight gain in dogs.
Can dogs eat guava seeds?
Seeds are problematic for people, so they are also problematic for dogs. First, guava seeds are a choking hazard to dogs due to the small pieces. It’s easy to choke on a seed if it happens to go down the wrong pipe. Two, seeds have been known to get trapped in your gastrointestinal system and cause infection and other issues. Third and most importantly, many fruit seeds contain cyanide, a quick-acting and often deadly chemical, so feeding guava seeds to your dog is not recommended.
Can dogs eat guava jelly?
Guava jelly, like other jellies, is chock-full of sugars, additives, preservatives, and pectin. We should be feeding our dogs fresh foods to keep them at peak health, not foods with additives and preservatives. Also, feeding your dog sugary foods increases their chance of getting obese and becoming diabetic. Pectin is also a problem, as it is a thickener and feeding it to your dog can easily cause them to become constipated. Constipation is not good for dogs since it can develop into more serious issues such as obstipation. Also, a dog’s digestive system is not designed to be eating large amounts of sugar.
What happens if a dog has guava?
If you feed your dog guava in moderation, there should be no side effects unless they turn out to be allergic. However, if you feed them too much, you will see the results in their digestive system. They may cramp or vomit, become bloated, or get diarrhea.
The first time you feed your dog guava, don’t give them very much at all, because you need to test to see if they are allergic. If your dog turns out to be allergic to guava, you might see signs of hives or notice them scratching. Other signs of an allergic reaction are facial swelling, and infections of the ears or paws.
What to do if my dog eats guava?
If your dog has eaten guava and is in severe gastrointestinal distress, their face is swelling, they get hives or start scratching like crazy, and get a paw or ear infection soon after they eat it, they’ve had an allergic reaction, and you need to consult a vet. Also, if they ate the whole fruit including the seeds, they may have been exposed to cyanide, a potentially-lethal chemical, and may be in mortal danger, so definitely call a vet. Otherwise, your dog should be fine eating guava.
Can dogs eat guava paste?
It is unlikely to cause issues to your dog if they eat guava paste. However, your dog should only eat it in small amounts. This is due to relatively high sugar content which can cause weight gain, an upset stomach, and other issues. In general, it is best to avoid giving your dog guava paste. If you want to give your dog a healthy treat, consider something such as natural peanut butter.
Can dogs eat guava leaves?
Dogs should not eat guava leaves. The reason for this is that the leaves have been reported as being toxic to dogs. This also means that guava leaf extract should be avoided as well in order to limit potential health complications.
Can dogs eat guava skin?
Guava skin is not bad for dogs. However, the skin can present a choking hazard to dogs. So, in general, it is best to skip on giving your dog guava skin.
Can dogs have guava yogurt?
It is ok for dogs to eat guava yogurt. However, your dog should have at most moderate amounts since the sugar content is not good for dogs. If you do give your dog guava yogurt make sure that it does not have added sugar.
Additional things to consider
If your dog does show any concerning symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, it would be best to call your local veterinarian so that they can advise you on how to proceed. Also, it is important to monitor your dog when eating any new kind of food. Even if it is supposedly a safe food for dogs, it may be the case that your particular dog has an allergic reaction or eats it in a way that is not good for your dog.