i think its all dogs. i have a 60 lb. lab/border collie mix and i had to have his expressed recently.my mom has a small bichon/pom mix and hes had his expressed also.

Any dog that scoots is trying to empty the gland

All dogs have them but most never have a problem with them as they should empty when they poo, that tends to put pressure on them which helps to empty them. Unfortunately, some dogs (including my Border Collie!!)have overactive glands. She has them expressed once a month. I would recommend asking a vet to show you how to do it correctly if it needs doing often.

My English Springer Spaniel does it about 3 times a month. It's a foul smell. My famiy calls it "slurp." My family told his vet about it and she expressed the glands and told us it wouldn't happen again, but it certainly did happen again. He weighs about 50 lbs, so it's definitely not just small dogs you have to do it to.

It just depends on the individual dog. Some dogs never have to have it done and others do all the time.

I don't know about big dogs but I have a chihuahua and I have to get his expressed every couple months or so.

All dogs have anal glands. Each dog's body is different. I know of a Great Dane who has to have them emptied once a week! Sometimes more b/c they get so full. However, that is an extreme case. Not typical. Some veterinary clinics anesthetize the animal because they feel it is the most humane way to perform the operation, while other clinics don't feel the need. It is so simple and can be done so quick that there is no reason to put the dog under and have the owner pay for the chemical. Some owners prefer it, however, and ultimately it is up to the owners since they are the ones who are paying for it. Remember that or else you could be taken advantage of. I do it myself with just me and a muzzle on my Golden Retriever in the tub. I had to learn how to do it in veterinary classes and it really is very simple to do. You just have to restrain the animal, which most owners don't know how to properly do so they can end up hurting the animal instead. So if you don't know, then go the safe route and have a vet or vet tech teach you how if you want to do it at home. It's more complicated than just sticking your finger up the anus. You have to know locations and what your feeling for, how much pressure to put on it, and what tools you need besides your hand. And that fingernail better be cut short!! Think about how you would feel :p

A dog that is in good health over all rarely if ever needs to have help expressing his anal glands. Typically, overweight dogs, dogs that don't get enough exercise, kibble fed and dogs that are fed "moist pouches" of food can have this challenge too! I honestly have never known any particular breed or any dog that was Raw Fed a Species Appropriate Diet of Meats 80%, Bones 10% and Organs 10% to experience this issue at all! A normal HEALTHY dog should be capable of expressing the anal glands themselves when they poop. http://www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/ http://www.rawfeddogs.net/Recipes