Help with anal gland abscess

We found out Monday that Heidi has an abcessed anal gland. I wish we would have caught it sooner. She'd been licking her butt a lot, but I didn't look at it (which I should have). The doctor was able to shave and clean the area but was unable to cut away the diseased area like she wanted to because Heidi was "having such a fit" (even after a sedative and a local for the pain!)

The vet said it shouldn't be a problem because they gave her a shot of antibiotics and we're giving her a ten-day course of antibiotics at home. I also have to put warm compresses on that area several times a day, which has been very difficult (but a little easier using treats as suggested). It is still oozing a pinkish/reddish liquid.

I got a lot of good advice on my earlier thread about this, but I had a few more questions and was wondering about other people's experiences with this. How long does it take to start going away?; is it OK to take her on long walks while she has this?; is there a good non-stinging antiseptic solution I could use on her to clean the area?; should I try to avoid letting her sit in the grass, dirt, or public places like sidewalks?; what is the best thing to use as a compress? (washcloth, paper towel?)

I know these are a lot of questions, but any advice is greatly appreciated.