Can Dogs Eat Guava? Is Guava Good For Dogs?

Bydanail

We all love fruits, and our dogs might share the same curiosity when they see us eating some of them. I love guavas, and since my dog likes eating what I eat, I wondered, can dogs eat guavas? This article will show you all I discovered about the health benefits and potential drawbacks of feeding guavas to your dog.

What is a Guava?

It is a small, sweet fruit, mostly cultivated in subtropical and tropical regions. The guava tree is from the myrtle family, native to the Caribbean and Central America.

Though guava comes from Central America, the fruit has grown to become popular, especially in Asian countries. As of 2022, 45% of the world’s total guavas were cultivated in India.

Guava fruits are 2 to 4 inches long and are oval or round-shaped, depending on the cultivated species. The fruit’s outer skin is either soft with a sweet taste or a bit rough with a bitter and sour taste. The pulp inside the fruit is pink when mature and may be sweet or sour.

Is Guava Safe for Dogs?

The short answer is, yes, they are. However, like any other human food or fruit, you should practice moderation when feeding guavas to your dog. The exotic tropical fruit is packed with healthy nutrients that are beneficial to your dog’s health.

Guava has a lot of natural sugars and carbohydrates that are beneficial to your pup’s health and development. The fruit can balance your existing dog’s diet by providing low fats and carbohydrates. A single piece of guava has enough vitamins and minerals to help dogs get the required nutrients in their diet.

A few guava feedings here and there can benefit your dog without resulting in any alarming consequences. A recommended dose of small slices twice a week will be enough. You can adjust the amount you give to your dog depending on their size; just make sure you don’t overfeed them.

Benefits of Guavas for Dogs

Benefits-of-Guavas-for-Dogs

Considered a super fruit, guavas are all rounded when it comes to health benefits to your dog. The fruit is filled with essential nutrients and is full of minerals and vitamins. Some of the nutrients you can find in guava include:

Sodium

It is a mineral known to help regulate blood pressure. This will, however, work well in a dog if given in moderation. Vets are against sodium supplements given to dogs, as they risk irregular blood pressure.

However, some sodium supplements are used to treat vitamin deficiencies in dogs. Guavas come in handy in such a situation as they will provide natural sodium supplements to the dog. Ask your vet if it is safe for your dog to eat guavas before you start feeding them; it is, after all, better to be safe than sorry.

Magnesium

In dogs, magnesium helps in the absorption of excess potassium and zinc. It also helps in the regeneration of muscles and provides energy. Additionally, it works as a relaxant for a dog when it is in stress or physical pain by calming it down.

Potassium

We can’t miss potassium in the list of important minerals and vitamins. Guavas hold a generous amount of potassium. To be more precise, every 100 grams of guava contains 417 milligrams of potassium.

The mineral is very helpful in boosting muscle growth, especially in puppies, and maintaining healthy organs. It also helps dogs break down fats and carbohydrates, promoting a better digestive system.

Other useful benefits include boosting proper organ functioning and elevating their cognitive functioning.

Fiber

Guavas are rich in fiber, which promotes good digestion in dogs. Having additional fiber in a dog’s diet increases the weight and size of stool while at the same time softening it. This leads to a better bowel movement.

Iron

Adding guavas to a dog’s diet will add iron to its body. Iron helps form red blood cells in both humans and dogs. It also helps the blood cells carry the nutrients and oxygen in the body.

Vitamin C

Vets recommend consuming this type of vitamin, especially for lactating or pregnant dogs. It boosts your dog’s immune system.

Dogs can produce Vitamin C by themselves, but an additional external dose of the nutrient through guavas is a good option, particularly for sick dogs that cannot produce it independently. It strengthens the dog’s body functions by fighting all harmful elements that enter a dog’s body as it acts as an antioxidant against them.

Vitamin C also helps dogs deal with post-operation stress. Therefore, feeding your dog guavas can be beneficial if your furry friend has had a recent surgery or vaccination.

B – Vitamins

They are essential nutrients in a dog’s body that help in many cellular functions, including transporting other nutrients and breaking down carbohydrates. The vitamin is essential for neurological functions by maintaining the proper balance and production of neurotransmitters.

Vitamins A and K

There are a lot of vitamins in guava, and Vitamin A and K are among them. Vitamin A develops cell and immune function, while Vitamin K helps form blood clots and assists in healthy bone formation.

The vitamins are important in maintaining your dog’s metabolism. Dogs that suffer from Vitamin A and K deficiency can benefit from adding guavas to their diet. Furthermore, Vitamin A helps in the normal functioning of a dog’s reproductive system and process.

How to Feed Guavas to Dogs

Now that we know you can feed your dog guavas, let us look at the best way to do it. Below are the detailed ways you can follow to ensure that you feed your dog nutritious guava correctly.

  1. Thoroughly wash the fruit with running water before giving it to the dog.
  2. Cut the guava into small pieces.
  3. Always pick ripe and fresh guava for your furry friend.
  4. Ensure that you peel all the skin and remove all the seeds.

Only feed the pulp to a puppy. For medium-sized dogs and large dogs, you can occasionally feed them the skin as well.

Feed them a maximum of 2 bite-sized pieces of guava twice a week. You can feed full guava to larger-sized dogs. However, be careful with this to ensure you don’t overdo their portions.

If your dog does not like the fruit, you can blend and add it to their favorite food so that they don’t miss out on all the guavas’ nutritional values.

Can Dog Eat Guava Seeds?

Though guava seeds are healthy and contain more Vitamin C and Manganese, they can be quite difficult to digest. Guava seeds contain a trace amount of Cyanide which is harmful, especially to young dogs. Cyanide poisoning symptoms are itchy skin, difficulty in breathing, and dizziness.

Call the vet if you see your dog showing any of these signs.

Can Dogs Eat Guava Leaves?

There are conflicting statements about the ingestion of guava leaves by a dog. Some people have found damaging effects on dogs eating guava leaves, while others suggest that the leaves have antidiarrheal effects in dogs.

The health benefits of guava leaves to humans are well known, but a dog may not react similarly. Vets advise against feeding guava leaves to a dog as to how they react will be unpredictable. I recommend feeding your dog a small amount of guava once in a while, but only with your vet’s approval.

Conclusion

Guava is a healthy fruit that you can occasionally feed your dog. It is non-toxic and safe for dogs, making it the best treatment for your dog to enjoy.

Guavas are not very high in sugars and have a normal amount of natural sugars good for your dog’s overall health.

Monitor your dog’s reaction to the fruit to help you determine whether you can include it in their diet or not. Also, contact a vet immediately if you notice any signs of discomfort or allergic reaction.

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