Can rabbits eat guava? This is the first question that should come to mind before sharing this delicious fruit with your fluffy pet. Rabbits are excellent beggars and usually get whatever they want, but as a responsible pet owner, you must make sure your bunny only eats rabbit-safe foods.
Rabbits can eat guava, but only as a treat. Guava fruit has a high sugar content, and the seeds can be a choking hazard. You can also let your rabbits eat guava leaves. The leaves are much safer than the fruit and can be fed daily.
Make sure to read our article on how to feed your rabbit properly. Your cotton-tailed friend needs more than just fruits to stay healthy.
To get back on track, let's look at a few details you should know before feeding your rabbits guava.
Definitely, but it should be fed as a treat. You should take a few precautions when feeding guava to your rabbits. Guava is rich in sugar, and the seeds can be a choking hazard. Baby rabbits should never be fed guava since their sensitive digestive systems aren't ready to handle the sugar content.
Guava, also called common guava, lemon guava, or apple guava, and scientifically referred to as Psidium guajava, is an evergreen shrub or small tree that produces safe fruit for rabbits to eat. Keep in mind, like all fruits, guava is only a treat and should not be fed as a staple food source in your rabbit's diet.
Most fruits are very high in sugar. Overfeeding fruits can cause dental problems, weight gain, digestive upset, and joint issues in rabbits. Excess amounts of sugar cause bad bacteria in the digestive system to multiply out of control, leading to diarrhea, bloat, and other stomach problems.
Don't get me wrong, guava is still safe for rabbits, but only if fed in the right amounts. The general rule for feeding fruits is one teaspoon of fruit per kilogram (about two pounds) of body weight two to three times a week. This rule also applies to guavas.
Here's what you should know to safely prepare and feed guava to your rabbits:
It is best to feed a rabbit guava with a yellowish-green color. This color indicates the guava is ready to be eaten but not yet overripe.
Unripe green guava is too hard for a rabbit to eat and may damage its teeth or cause choking and digestive system problems like blockages.
Overripe, yellow guavas, on the other hand, are very high in sugar, which may lead to diarrhea, weight gain, stomach upset, and, in the worst case, gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis).
It's also very important to stick to feeding organic guava if possible. Pesticides are very dangerous to bunnies. This brings us to the next point:
If you can’t find organic guava, you will need to be extra diligent when preparing this fruit for your rabbits. Bunnies are very sensitive to pesticides and may get very sick if they eat guava covered in dangerous chemicals.
Make sure to properly wash your guavas in lukewarm water to remove any pesticide remnants. This goes for both organic and other guavas—rather safe than sorry, right? I would even go so far as to use a mild dishwashing soap to make sure all the pesticides are gone.
Cut the guava into four quarters. You can remove the seeds if you want to avoid this potential choking hazard. Depending on body size, your rabbit should be able to eat one quarter safely.
If you have a very small breed, like a Netherland Dwarf, you will need to adjust the portion further to avoid overfeeding on guava. If you're feeding a fruit salad-type meal, make sure to adjust the amount of guava to accommodate any other fruits in the meal.
Remember the general rule for fruits: One teaspoon of fruit per kilogram (roughly two pounds) of body weight two to three times a week. This goes for all the fruit together, not just the guava.
This is the most important step. Feed only a very small amount when introducing any new foods. Observe your rabbit for 24 hours after the introduction.
Stop feeding guava immediately if you notice any signs of diarrhea or pain. You should also contact your veterinarian immediately if the symptoms don't go away after a week or seem to get worse.
You can continue to feed this fruit in safe quantities if nothing bad happens after the initial introduction.
Not all parts of all fruits are safe for rabbits to eat. Fortunately, the guava is completely safe; but you should keep a few things in mind.
Guavas contain many important nutrients that will help your rabbit stay healthy. Some of these nutrients are:
The leaves of the guava tree are more beneficial to your rabbit than the fruits. They are high in fiber and low in sugar, making them an ideal rabbit treat. Guava leaves are quite tough, which will help with keeping your rabbit's teeth and gums healthy. You can also feed leaves more regularly without any negative effects.
Remember to take care when introducing this food since rabbits have sensitive stomachs and don't always do well when changing diets. If your rabbit isn't used to eating leaves, do a slow introduction with three or four leaves and then wait 24 hours to see how your rabbit reacts. Guava leaves can be added to your rabbit's regular feed as a supplement.
The branches of the guava tree are not rabbit safe. They are extremely hard, which means they will damage your rabbit's teeth, get stuck between the teeth, and can cause choking and stomach upset. Too much fiber from these branches can cause diarrhea in your rabbit and may potentially cause internal damage and bleeding—nobody wants that!
To be safe, avoid giving your rabbit guava branches. Rather keep to the fruits and leaves as safer alternatives.
The seeds of guava are not toxic to rabbits. Just make sure you don't feed them on their own. Seeds from guava fruits can be a choking hazard. Rather be safe than sorry!
If you can, rather feed the skin of the guava; or even skip the fruit completely and go straight for the leaves. Unlike fruits, guava leaves are much healthier for bunnies and can be fed regularly without any stomach upset.
The skin of guava is the healthiest part of the fruit, at least for bunnies. It contains the least amount of sugar and plenty of fiber. Your cotton-tailed friend will thank you for occasionally adding guava skin to their daily food since they love a sweet treat every once in a while.
So, can rabbits eat guava? These fruits are definitely safe for your rabbit to eat, and they are also quite healthy if fed in moderation. Make sure you take the necessary precautions to avoid stomach problems and other risks. Every rabbit is different, so do keep an eye on your bun-bun when you introduce this juicy treat.
If you'd rather not let your furry friend eat guava, you can try banana, melon, mango or kiwi fruits as alternatives. Remember that bunnies can't just eat guava, they also need unlimited hay, rabbit pellets, vegetables, and leafy greens to breed healthy stomach bacteria.
As a final farewell, here's a cute video of rabbits eating guava from @RabbitvideosUS:
If you want to know more about rabbit diets, check out our other articles by clicking here.
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