Can dogs eat guava?

Wash the guava and cut it in half. The center is packed with small, hard seeds. For medium and large dogs, a few seeds will pass without trouble, but scooping them out is kinder to smaller dogs and reduces the chance of stomach upset.

Cut the remaining flesh into cubes of 1 to 2 cm (under 1 in).

Guava has around 68 calories per 100 g and a lot of fiber and vitamin C. Dogs make their own vitamin C, so the main appeal is taste and texture. Two or three cubes suit a medium dog of 15 kg (33 lb). A 4 kg (9 lb) dog needs just one.

Pink and white guava varieties are handled the same way. Strawberry guava, a smaller red fruit grown in some warm gardens, is also safe in small amounts but has proportionally more seeds.

Guava paste, known in some countries as goiabada or membrillo-style blocks, is mostly sugar. Guava juice and nectar are sweetened drinks. Guava jelly and pastries add sugar and fat. None of these are suitable for dogs.

Offer a single small piece the first time and wait a day. If stools stay normal and your dog shows no itching or vomiting, you can add guava to the list of occasional treats. If your dog is overweight, lower-calorie options such as cucumber may suit better.

Store cut guava in the fridge and use it within two days, as it softens and ferments quickly once opened.