Can dogs eat Guava?
Yes - ripe guava flesh is safe in small amounts. Remove the seeds and skin, and keep portions modest because guava is high in sugar and fibre.
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What happens
Guava is not toxic to dogs. The flesh is exceptionally high in vitamin C, along with fibre, potassium and antioxidants, and a small piece of ripe fruit is a perfectly reasonable treat. Two things need dealing with before serving. The seeds are hard and numerous, and while a few swallowed are unlikely to cause harm, a mouthful is a choking and obstruction risk in a small dog and the seeds of some varieties contain trace cyanogenic compounds. The skin is tough and harder to digest. Beyond that, guava is one of the sweeter fruits, so it is not a good choice for a diabetic or overweight dog, and its fibre content means a generous portion will loosen stools quite reliably.
How much is safe?
A small cube or two of de-seeded flesh for a small dog, a few for a large one, occasionally.
How to prepare it
Ripe fruit, peeled, seeds scooped out completely, flesh cut into small pieces. Nothing tinned, nothing in syrup, no guava juice and no dried guava, which is heavily sweetened.
Symptoms to watch for
Loose stools from the sugar and fibre if too much is given. Seeds or skin in quantity can cause gagging or, rarely, an obstruction in a small dog.
When to call the vet
Only if a quantity of seeds or skin has been swallowed and your dog is vomiting repeatedly, straining or off its food.
Can dogs eat these?
Common questions
Are guava seeds safe for dogs?
Scoop them out. A few swallowed are unlikely to do harm, but they are hard and numerous, which makes a mouthful a choking and obstruction risk for a small dog.
How much guava can a dog eat?
A small cube or two for a small dog and a few for a large one, occasionally. It is one of the sweeter fruits and high in fibre, so more than that tends to mean loose stools.
Can dogs eat guava skin?
Better not. The skin is tough and harder to digest than the flesh, so peeling it makes guava an easier treat, particularly for a small dog.
Looking for a food to feed instead? browse the directory or read the guides.
This is label analysis, not veterinary advice - if your dog has a health condition, talk to your vet before switching foods.