Can rabbits eat guava? This is the first question that should come to mind before sharing your delicious guava with your fluffy pet. Rabbits are excellent beggars and usually get whatever they want, but as a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to make sure your bunny only eats rabbit safe foods.

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 be aware of before you feed your rabbits guava.

Can Rabbits Eat Guava fruit?

Definitely, but it should be fed in moderation and 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 also never be fed guava since their sensitive digestive systems aren’t ready to handle the sugar content. 

How To Safely Add Guava To Your Rabbit’s Diet

Guava, also called lemon guava or apple guava, is a fruit and should thus only be fed as a treat. Fruits are generally very high in sugar which causes dental problems in rabbits as well as digestive upset if overfed. Excess amounts of sugar cause bad bacteria in the digestive system to multiply out of control which leads to diarrhoea and other 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 (2 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:

• Pick the right kind of guava

It is best to feed a rabbit green, ripe guava. Unripe guava is too hard for a rabbit to eat and may damage its teeth or cause choking and intestinal problems. Overripe, yellow guavas, on the other hand, contain too much sugar which may lead to diarrhoea. 

• Wash it properly

If you can find organic guava, it is the best kind to feed your rabbits. Rabbits are very sensitive to pesticides and may get very sick if fed anything with pesticides on it. If you can’t find organic guavas, make sure to properly wash your guavas in lukewarm water to remove any pesticide remnants. 

• Prepare the serving

Cut the guava into four quarters. If you want to avoid the choking hazard posed by the seeds, you can remove the seeds and only feed the skin and flesh. 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 further adjust the portion 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.

• Observe

This is the most important step. When introducing a new food, feed only a very small amount. Observe your rabbit for 24 hours after introducing the fruit. If you notice any signs of diarrhoea or pain, stop feeding guava immediately. If the symptoms don’t go away after a week or seem to get worse, contact your veterinarian immediately. If nothing happens after the initial introduction, you can continue to feed this fruit in its correct proportions. 

Which Parts Of Guavas Can Rabbits Eat?

Not all parts of all fruits are safe for rabbits to eat. Fortunately, the guava is completely safe but there are a few things you should pay attention to. 

The parts of guava:

• Skin – The skin of the guava is the healthiest part for a rabbit but do make sure to wash it. Pesticides can be present on the skin so organic is always safer. 
• Flesh – The flesh contains a lot of nutrients but is also high in sugar. Feed in moderation. 
• Seeds – The seeds are completely safe to consume, but they can pose a choking hazard. It is best not to feed a lot of seeds or to avoid them completely to prevent any danger to your rabbit. It is ok if there are a few seeds on the flesh, but never feed guava seeds on their own. 

The Benefits Of Guava Nutrients

Guavas contain a lot of healthy nutrients that will help your rabbit to stay healthy. Some of these nutrients are:

• Dietary fibre – Dietary fibre is necessary to keep your rabbits’ digestive system healthy and their teeth worn down to a healthy length. 
• Phosphorus – This mineral is very important for bone health and development in rabbits.
• Beta Carotene – This nutrient is an antioxidant that is very important for skin, eye and brain health. 
• Niacin – This nutrient has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps to keep your rabbit’s skin, digestive system and nervous system healthy. It is also known as vitamin B3.
• Vitamin B6 – This vitamin is very important for the proper functioning of the immune system. It also improves red blood cell health as well as the nervous system. 
• Folate – Also known as vitamin B9, improves red blood cell production and aids the immune system. It is also used to improve fertility in rabbits and helps to convert glucose into energy.
• Vitamin K – This vitamin is very important for injured rabbits since it promotes recovery and nerve regeneration. 
• Magnesium – Magnesium is very important to prevent and treat bladder sludge in rabbits. 
• Potassium – This nutrient helps to reduce stress and improve the quality of sleep. It also assures maximum growth in rabbits and improves heart health.

Can Rabbits eat Guava Leaves?

The leaves of the guava tree are more beneficial to your rabbit than the fruits. It is high in fibre and low in sugar which makes it 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 on a more regular basis without any negative effects. 

Remember to take care when introducing this food since rabbits have very sensitive stomachs and don’t always do well when their diets are changed. 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. 

Can Rabbits Eat Guava Branches?

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 digestive problems. Too much fibre from these branches can cause diarrhoea in your rabbit and may potentially cause internal damage and bleeding, nobody wants that!

To be safe, avoid giving your rabbit guava tree branches. Rather keep to the fruits and leaves as a safer alternative. 

Can Rabbits Eat Guava Seeds?

Definitely. The seeds of a guava is completely harmless to bunnies. 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. Guava leaves are much healthier to bunnies and can be fed on a regular basis unlike the fruits. 

Can Rabbits Eat Guava Skin?

The skin of a guava is the healthiest part of the fruit, at least for bunnies. It contains the least amount of sugar and plenty of fibre. Your cotton-tailed friend will definitely thank you for occasionally adding guava skin to its daily food. 

Conclusion

So can rabbits eat guava? This fruit is definitely safe for your rabbit to eat, and if fed in moderation, it is also quite healthy. Make sure you take the necessary precautions and you shouldn’t experience any problems. Every rabbit is different, however, so do keep an eye on your bun-bun when you introduce this fruit. You can also try banana as an alternative. 

If you want to know more about rabbit diets, check out our other articles by clicking here.