question about the anal sacks

Question
My male poodle is 5 years old and very small...4 1/2 lbs.  Occasionally he will scoot in circles on the rug.  6 months ago when he went to the vet for check up, the vet said his anal sacks were full and that is why he scooted around then.  I paid $25. for the staff to empty the sacks.  I can't afford to pay an office call plus $25...plus half a dozen things they manage to add on.    I do my own grooming also.  Can you tell me how I can tell if the sacks are full and how to empty them myself.  Is it serious that it be done and if he stops scooting, does that mean they are empty somehow?  Thank you for any info.

Answer
Hello Chris,
Nothing like talking Anal Glands to a Poodle loving stranger.  Hee hee.  But it is a subject that one should have knowledge of in any case.  

The anal glands are two scent sacs located on either side of the anus.  They hold the dogs scent markers that they use when they are afraid, excited, nervous, angry or when they are marking their territory.  
The contents of these glands are usually liquid and squirt out easily when the dog has a bowel movement or when the glands are manually squeezed (either by the dogs anal muscles or by hand).  Sometimes, either by lack of use or by other factors, the liquid in the glands becomes thick and the dog can't express them on their own.  

When expressing the dogs anal glands, its best to do it in the tub or confinded area because it can be a messy job.
I would suggest wearing gloves because the anal liquid is kind of oily and tends to leave an afterscent if it gets on the hands or face (yes, it has been known to squirt in the face and hair).

Start by lifting the dogs tail and locating the anal glands on either side of the anus.  If they are really full, you should be able to see a slight bluge there, but if they aren't as full, you will have to feel for them.  
Once you locate them, gently squeeze them together, away from your body or face.  You should extract either a liquid or a thick substance.  Use a tissue to wipe the extracted material away.  Keep squeezing until you can't get any more or you feel the sac go down.  
You might also want to tie the dogs head up or put a muzzle on because some dogs don't like having this procedure done.  

If this is just too much for you, most Groomers will do it for a small fee. (most that I know are around $10 or so)
I usually do a Bath, Nails, Ear Cleaning and Glands for $20, or just Nails and the Glands for $10.

I hope this has helped you some.  If you have other questions (even if its like this question, :)  Please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim