Can Dogs Eat Guava

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If you love guava, you may want to share the taste of this delicious fruit with your pup.  Or, perhaps, your dog took it upon himself to steal a taste, and now you’re wondering if he’ll be OK.  So, can dogs eat guava?  Continue reading, and we’ll learn more about whether you should share this delicious fruit with your pup or keep it all to yourself.

can dogs eat guava

Table of Contents

What is Guava?

Guava is a type of tropical fruit that originates from the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico.  It has a distinct appearance with green or yellow skin and pink or red flesh.  Guava grows on a member of the myrtle tree family called the Psidium guajava tree.  

Guava has a sweet and tasty flavor that is sure to make you smile.  But, what happens if my dog eats a guava?  We’ll look at the answer to this question in the next section.

Can Dogs Eat Guava?

As dog owners, we want to keep our furry friends safe.  Part of that involves making sure they’re eating a healthy diet and not getting into foods that could be potentially dangerous or toxic.  You’ve probably spent a lot of time searching for whether edamame beans are safe for dogs, whether dogs can eat olives, and other similar topics over the years.

What about guavas?  Are guavas poisonous to dogs?  No, guavas are not poisonous and are generally safe for dogs to eat.  Guava can actually offer some health benefits for your dog.  It contains a lot of healthy nutrients, including vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, iron, magnesium, calcium zinc, copper, phosphorus, and manganese.  

Eating small amounts of guava can also help keep a dog’s digestive system regular and help keep their eyes healthy.

The key is to limit the amount of guava you feed your dog.  Guavas do have a decent amount of sugar, so you shouldn’t feed your dog more than a few pieces every couple of days.  You can consult with your veterinarian if you’re worried about feeding him too much guava.

cute white puppy

Specific Types of Guava

Now that you know that guava is generally considered safe for dogs, you may have questions regarding specific types of guava.  Let’s address some of the most common ones now:

  • Can dogs eat Thai guava?  Yes, Thai Guava is fine for dogs to eat in moderation.
  • Can dogs eat pink guava?  Pink guava is also safe for dogs to eat in moderation.
  • Can dogs eat pineapple guava?  Pineapple guava is yet another type of guava that is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities.
  • Can dogs eat dried guava fruit?  Yes, dried guava is safe for dogs.  However, dried fruit does have higher amounts of sugar, so you should limit how much dried guava you give your pup.
  • Can dogs eat guava paste?  The answer to this is actually no.  While guava paste is made from guava, it has very high levels of sugar.  Too much sugar can be dangerous for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Guava Seeds and Peels?

Can dogs eat guava seed?  Guava seeds are edible for humans, but what about for dogs?  The information related to guava seeds and dogs seems to be more mixed.  Many fruit seeds are not safe for dogs because they can contain cyanide.  It is probably safest to just avoid feeding your dog the seeds. 

What happens if my dog eats guava seeds?  If they only ate a few, there likely won’t be any real problem.  If you’re concerned, you should contact your veterinarian to make sure they don’t want to try to induce vomiting.

Guava peels also shouldn’t be fed to dogs.  The peels are higher in sugar and can lead to increased glucose levels.  

If you wish to feed your dog guava, just stick to the flesh of the fruit, and avoid the seeds and peels.

a pair of guavas

Guava for Dogs

Now you should know that the answer to, “can my dog eat guava” is yes.  In moderation, guava isn’t harmful for dogs.  In fact, it can even offer some health benefits, including digestive regularity, healthier eyes, protection against free radicals, and healthier bones.

FAQs

Is guava good for Shih Tzu?

As with other dog breeds, Shih Tzus can have small amounts of guava.  Just take care not to feed your Shih Tzu too much guava, as it can lead to constipation.  You should also avoid feeding a Shih Tzu (and other breeds) the skin or seeds from a guava.