Biling
 

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.

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.

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)

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

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!

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

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