Brussels Griffon nutrition: puppies, breathing and weight

Two conditions shape how a Brussels Griffon should be fed and handled. More than half of the dogs in an MRI study of American Brussels Griffons had syringomyelia, fluid cavities in the spinal cord, and in a UK study of 14 flat-faced breeds the Griffon Bruxellois fell in the moderate-risk group for obstructed breathing. Across all breeds in that study, overweight dogs were more likely to have obstructed breathing, so for this 3.6 to 4.5 kg dog, keeping lean is the dietary priority.

Size and calorie needs

The American Kennel Club gives the breed a weight of 8 to 10 pounds (3.6 to 4.5 kg), a height of 7 to 10 inches and a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Small dogs need more energy per kilogram than large ones, because energy use scales with body weight to the power 0.75. The Merck Veterinary Manual's standard estimate uses that relationship: resting energy requirement (RER), in kcal a day, is 70 multiplied by body weight in kilograms to the power 0.75. Adult dogs are fed about 1.6 times RER if neutered, 1.8 times if intact and 1.4 times if prone to obesity. Rounded to the nearest 5 kcal:

A quiet indoor Griffon often needs less than the table suggests. The daily ration is small, so weigh it on a kitchen scale and count every treat; a single dental chew for a toy dog can hold a tenth of the day's calories. Weigh the dog every few weeks and judge body condition by feel under the rough or smooth coat. The ribs should be easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, and there should be a waist from above. Two or three meals a day suit most healthy adults.

Puppies and low blood sugar

Very small puppies of toy breeds can develop hypoglycemia. Veterinary Partner's guide to hypoglycemia in toy breeds explains why: toy puppies often cut teeth late and struggle with kibble, lose body heat easily, and eat less as a result, and the brain depends almost entirely on sugar. Signs progress from listlessness to incoordination, loss of consciousness and seizures. Young toy puppies may need 4 to 6 meals a day, soft or moistened food until they can chew, and warmth. If a puppy is listless but conscious, offer food. If it is too weak to eat or is collapsing, rub a small amount of corn syrup on the gums and go straight to an emergency vet. The same approach is covered in more detail in the Chihuahua nutrition guide.

Breathing and eating with a short face

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is the breathing obstruction caused by a shortened skull, narrow nostrils and crowded soft tissue in the throat. A UK study that graded the breathing of 898 dogs from 14 brachycephalic breeds, including 52 Griffon Bruxellois, placed the Griffon in the moderate-risk group: only 25% to 50% of dogs were free of any detectable breathing abnormality. Griffons also had more narrowed nostrils than most breeds, including some severe cases. Across all the dogs, a higher body condition score was one of three factors linked to BOAS, alongside narrowed nostrils and a flatter face.

Body fat is the one factor on that list an owner can change. Beyond weight control:

• Small, flat or irregular kibble is easier for an undershot jaw to pick up than large round pieces. Soaking kibble briefly also works.
• Slow feeders help a dog that gulps and swallows air, which can show as burping, wind or regurgitation.
• Shallow, wide bowls let the dog eat without pressing its face into the dish.
• Heat and exercise are a risk for any flat-faced dog, which cools itself less efficiently by panting. In warm weather, walk in the cool of the day, avoid hard play around meals, and keep water available.

Snoring while awake, noisy breathing at rest, tiring quickly, collapsing after exercise or waking at night to breathe are signs to raise with a vet. Frequent regurgitation also deserves an examination rather than a change of bowl. Some dogs benefit from airway surgery, and an overweight dog should be slimmed down as well.

Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia

In Chiari-like malformation (CM), the back of the skull is too small for the brain, which crowds the opening where the brain meets the spinal cord. That can disturb the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and lead to syringomyelia (SM), fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord. In the MRI study of 84 American Brussels Griffons, 65% had CM and 52% had SM. Neurological deficits were found in 28% and neck pain in 20%, syrinx size increased with age, and larger cavities went with more deficits. Just over half of the dogs with SM showed no signs at all. A 2009 MRI study of 56 Griffon Bruxellois found similar numbers, with CM in 60.7% of the dogs.

Signs that deserve a neurological examination include:

• Scratching at the neck or shoulder without touching the skin ("phantom scratching"), often on walks or when excited.
• Yelping, crying out or sudden reluctance to be picked up or touched around the head and neck.
• Rubbing the face or ears on the floor, or an unusual head or neck posture.
• Weakness or clumsiness in the legs.

No diet treats CM or SM, and supplements sold for nerve health have no evidence for this condition. Diagnosis is by MRI, and pain from SM is managed with medication. Practical care helps: a lead attached to a chest fitting rather than a collar, food and water bowls at a comfortable height if bending the neck seems painful, and a lean body weight. For breeding dogs, MRI screening is the only way to know a dog's status.

Eyes and teeth

The Griffon's large, prominent eyes are exposed to scratches and ulcers, and a short face gives less protection. A squinting eye, tearing, cloudiness or pawing at the face needs a vet the same day, because corneal ulcers can deepen quickly. A bulging or displaced eye after a knock is an emergency. Diet has no proven role in preventing these injuries.

A toy dog with a short, undershot jaw has little room for its teeth, so crowding and rotated teeth are common and trap food. Daily brushing with a small brush and dog toothpaste is the most effective home care. Choose dental chews sized for toy dogs, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, and count them in the calorie total. Regular dental examinations, with cleaning under anesthesia when the vet advises it, are normal care for this breed.

Kneecaps and joints

Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of its groove, is a common orthopedic problem in small dogs. In records of more than 210,000 dogs in England, it was diagnosed in 1.3% of dogs, and toy breeds such as the Pomeranian, Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier had the highest odds. The Griffon was not among the breeds reported, so its own risk is unknown. A dog that skips on a back leg for a few strides, or holds it up and then carries on normally, should have its knees examined. Keeping the dog lean and fit is the practical support; the grade of luxation, not the diet, decides whether surgery is needed.

Sources

1. Brussels Griffon dog breed information. American Kennel Club.
2. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.
3. Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in Toy Breed Dogs. Veterinary Partner, VIN, revised 2025.
4. A cross-sectional study into the prevalence and conformational risk factors of BOAS across fourteen brachycephalic dog breeds. PLOS ONE, 2026.
5. Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia in American Brussels Griffon dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2014.
6. Chiari-like malformation in the Griffon Bruxellois. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2009.
7. The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2016.