Biling

[YUTHAPINABOY]

As a matter of interest I was wondering whether any of the greyhound trainer members could tell me whether the "biling" of greyhounds is still a common practice. I don't think I have even touched a greyhound for the best part of 20 years so I am right out of touch. Back in the "olden days" (1960s and 70s), biling was a common practice, very common. To be honest, I did do it (many times) but right or wrong, I was not an overly frequent user of this practice. It always seemed to be a bit harsh making a dog spew its guts up. I preferred to try to manage it through the daily diet and if the dog wanted to have a feed of safe grass then I let it which I suppose made it spew anyway. Some trainers e.g. Ernie Mobbs (owner of champion brood bitch Tamerine and of course many of her progeny) even had a special patch of grass for this purpose. Any advice you guys have about modern methods would be appreciated.

[TheChook]

No one i know does it nowadays - i have only on one occasion cause a rotten dog i trained liked to eat everything in its path.

[lilyflowerandroxy]

Yeah a family friend and my mum believe in the biling method (I've used it on occasions when I think it's necessary, however I hate seeing it as I feel real bad for the dog!) they like to bile out a new dog to rid its body of any 'dirty' stuff, and when they think it is required. I'd say they probably only bile a dog out maybe once every year.

We used to give "Bilex" powder in the dog's meals many many years ago, this meant we didn't need to 'bile' out a dog, however since Bilex was taken off the market, there's nothing I know of that is similar to this product, maybe someone can tell me if there's anything like it on the market now?

Nowadays practically most trainers I know of, use the tablet in a sterile water dissolved and injected under the skin, and the dog fed a big bowl of milk/water with soaked bread and honey. (I can't spell the name of the tablet lol it starts with an A... atapartmoste something lol)

[noelkeane]

only bile out if it has to be done but even that is rare use cider vinager twice a month added to the feed usually keeps everything in order

[Gippy]

I used to do it a bit when I trained dogs, mainly when a dog was a bit stale,eating alot of grass or off its tucker! I used to get tiny,tiny pills from the vet that you put under the eyelid or roll up little butter balls with a generous amount of salt in them and feed them one. Yes it seems a bit harsh at the time, but the dog feels alot better afterwards and I might of done it only 1-2 times a year!

[YUTHAPINABOY]

Do you know what Gippy, I had forgotten about the "eyelid" thing, it is so long ago.

[YUTHAPINABOY]

Yes Noel, use to do the "cider vinegar" thing too.