Welcome to the ABGA Breed Health Information Center
The ABGA, as the AKC parent Club, is dedicated to the health, welfare, and the future of the Brussels Griffon breed.
The purpose of this site is to encourage and promote the owning, breeding and training of purebred Brussels Griffons as well as to provide support that enables this unique and amazing breed to excel for years to come.
Please click on the ABGA Mission Statement and Goals used to guide our Club, membership, owners and enthusiasts.
Newest Research: Coat Color Genetics
The ABGA Education Committee completed a two year long project regarding the Color genetics in Brussels Griffons. More specifically, what does our color Belge look like genetically? Click here to view the study.
Ambassadors of Health
We are proud to officially launch a program that celebrates the marriage of Conformation and Health. Breed type and Soundness should go hand in hand. Health testing in a breeding program is a wonderful TOOL that can help mitigate and lessen the impact of problems over the lifetime of our dogs.
This tiered system is aimed at making the smartest decisions for our future litters and programs. There is no such thing as a perfect dog, but breeding intentionally can lead to remarkable progress. At this time, the ABGA only requires two tests to receive a CHIC number through OFA. Since many of the health tests in this Ambassadors program is not a part of routine testing, we cannot expect people are going to have perfect scores. The flexibility in this will hopefully allow people to get a little credit for screening, and provide valuable information so they can “breed up.” We have all heard the phrase, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Each individual breeder has to make their own decisions on how much weight each health test holds for them.
Accepted Program Health Tests
- Patellar Luxation
- ACVO Eye Examination/CAER (formerly known as CERF)
- DNA Bank Submission or DNA Health Panel
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cardiac (basic or advanced)
- Respiratory Function (RFGS)
- MRI (CM/SM)
- ERG (PRA)
Levels for the program include Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.
Are you an ABGA member that would like to apply? Submit your information here.
Health Issues in the Brussels Griffon
Every breed of dog, like humans, has genetically based health advantages as well as inherent health risks or problems. Brussels Griffons have some common health issues that can be found as well in many other dog breeds but there are a few health concerns that are more predominate in the Brussels Griffon breed. Health tests current allow us to screen breeding stock for some of these problems, and with today's exciting scientific based DNA testing technology we are in a position to benefit from research that identifies abnormal genes via testing that thereby will aid in the eradication of genetic inheritable disease. Below are some health issues of particular concern to Brussels Griffon breed, breeders and owners.
Click the below link for a list of specific tests that ABGA recommends breeders screen for and that new puppy buyers should be aware of when selecting their new canine family member.
CanineHealthInfo.org
Syringomyelia in Brussels Griffon For more information on the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) study of Syringomyelia in Brussels Griffon
DOG FOOD RECALLS - Know the foods you are feeding:
Recalls
The Mission of the OFA
To promote the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease
The OFA is guided by the following four specific objectives:
- To collate and disseminate information concerning orthopedic and genetic diseases of animals.
- To advise, encourage and establish control programs to lower the incidence of orthopedic and genetic diseases.
- To encourage and finance research in orthopedic and genetic disease in animals.
- To receive funds and make grants to carry out these objectives.
For CERF the Canine Eye Registration Foundation should be contatcted directly for the appropriate submission forms, procedures, and service fees.
Canine Eye Registry Foundation
Lynn Hall
625 Harrison St
Purdue University
W Lafayette, IN 47907-2026
Phone: 765-494-8179
Fax: 765-494-9981
Email: [email protected]
Home Page: vmdb.org
The Canine Health Information Center, also known as CHIC, is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The Mission Statement of CHIC is to provide a reliable source of health information that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. Health tests required for a dog to obtain a CHIC number are established by the parent club to reflect health issues in that breed, and in Brussels Griffon’s the health testing is recommended for a variety of genetic conditions but requirements can be viewed as follows: