Karen is very right, she describes the situation correctly. Vets in India are in a medium income group, they have just about enough, and many things are not available or only rarely. For example, we once had to wait weeks for sterile urine jars to arrive. Thank you for putting it into perspective!
But rubber gloves ARE available - for humans they are used all the time (my dentist for example always takes fresh ones out of a box - at least I HOPE they were fresh!! ). But many other things aren't available - diagnostic tools, well trained staff, machinery etc ... or they are simply too expensive. For example, there is no vet here that has his own x ray machine.
Well, Shida is still not happy, still rubbing herself on the floors ... Should there be an immediate improvement after the procedure, or can it take a couple of days?
Traci would be much more qualified to tell you what to expect - I've only had one dog who had anal gland problems, but I would think that any inflammation would take a while to subside, and that the dog might continue to scoot as long as it is still uncomfortable. That's the only thing she knows to do to try to take care of the problem.
Something else to think about re: washing disposable gloves. It wasn't that long ago that some medical institutions were asking their employees to to the same. Most not directly, of course, but when mandatory glove use was instituted, the added cost was quite significant, and we were encouraged to be 'fugal' and were constantly reminded how expensive the gloves were. That was just over 20 years ago - this policy and the OSHA regs that require it did not exist when I started in the field 30 years ago. During the first years of the requirement, the stress was placed on protecting the employee, not the patient. Wearing the same pair of gloves while going from patient-to-patient was not uncommon. You may not see it, but this is, unfortunately, still done. Now, not because of policy, but rather just not understanding the multiple reasons why the gloves are needed, abd being in a hurry and due to lack of time because of understaffing. Don't get me wrong, I most definitely do not agree and do not condone this practice, but if you work in medicine, you see it. And even if the staff is stringent about changing gloves, they don't wash their hands - just put on a new pair of gloves. I had to ask a staff member to change their gloves when they were taking care of my dad soon after he was just diagnosed with cancer and was on chemotherapy. They put on gloves to empty his urinal, then came back to check his NG tube without changing the gloves. I hate to say it, but things like this happen too often.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
That's interesting. 20 years back - that's about the point where India is today in many respects, I would say.
I sometimes saw the dentist adjusting the light above me with the gloved hand he had just put in my mouth. I suspect he does that every time he works on a patient, and so although he changes the gloves he could still transfer bacteria easily. But I guess they simply don't think that far or don't take it serious enough. I once pointed it out and then the assistent got the job of adjusting the light.
If Shida doesn't stop scooting (thanks for the expression, I couldn't think of any!) soon, I'll ask the vet to give her something for inflammation.
If the anus is red, swollen or inflamed, then you might opt for a short course of antibiotics (clavamox or amoxicillin), I'd give it at least two days to see improvement before asking for antibiotics. Also try helping her to keep the area clean by wiping her with a clean cloth and warm water. I'd also look at the vaginal area to ensure she doesn't have a problem there, since the scooting could be mistaken for a urinary tract infection or infection of the vulva, etc.
Just looking from the outside I can't see any redness or swelling, neither at the anus nor at the vagina. But the vet had said one gland is slightly swollen, but he wanted to wait if it subsides on its own.
There was a little bit redness at the vagina - from all the scooting I guess. I have been wiping it gently and put antiseptic powder on it twice a day. Once she understood that I'm not going to poke or squeeze anything she liked it
She still scoots, but much less than last week, so I'm keeping my hopes up that we'll get over this without meds!
If you're comfortable with the idea, you could try to express her anal glands yourself....but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are comfortable with the idea.
I'd be alittle concerned with the vaginal redness....if it seems swollen or irritated in another day or two, don't hesitate to have your vet take a look (although I can't imagine what he'd prescribe this time, sorry). Keep an eye on her, Ash.
I don't think it's swollen, the skin looks a little red which is why I thought it's from rubbing on the floor. Unfortunately she gets very hectic when I try to examine it closely and I don't get her to lie still long enough ... when we both tried, equipped with a flash light and a too large grin, she simply peed all over the place and ran ... Don't want to scare her more. I will try again later ...
Well, yesterday evening she was again very uncomfortable (scooting a lot) so I called the vet today. He said he doesn't want to give her any oral medication (yet), so he told me to get a jelly to apply locally on the rectum. It's called Xylocaine (lygnocaine hydrochloride) 2% jelly. I got it and read the leaflet and it sounded just very dangerous and moreover, it only works for 20 minutes - am I supposed to put this on her every 20 minutes? As far as I can make out from the leaflet it's dangerous to use too much of it. So I called him and told him I'm not gonna use it. He said people use it for piles all the time. Well, I'm not going to use it on Shida.
Instead he prescribed an anti-inflammattory ointment (betamethasone). He feels we should wait another week to see if she improves.
Ash, I am not a vet but have worked in the field over 14 years. Please try to seek another vets opinion. I do understand that vets have to work with what they have BUT for him to wait another week sounds very very incorrect and dangerous. Is her rectum inflamed,swollen,red,raw? She is scooting for a reason. Since her vagina from what you say looks ok, i can only imagine that it is some sort of fecal problem, or anal gland problem. Is she passing stool ok? Is her stool hard,white? Right now as a food what are you feeding her? Please let us know. And please find another vet, i hope he isnt the only one around. (Xylocaine from what i remember,numbs there area but not for long) This isnt going to help the problem it will only mask it. Please dont use it. The anti-inflammatory i dont know if that will help her, I think you need to find out the cause first.
). But many other things aren't available - diagnostic tools, well trained staff, machinery etc ... or they are simply too expensive. For example, there is no vet here that has his own x ray machine. 
Should there be an immediate improvement after the procedure, or can it take a couple of days?
Don't want to scare her more. I will try again later ... 