There are dogs on YorkieTalk who have had this surgery.
I think the vets may not have explained has much as they needed to.
When young Yorkies seize, it is often liver shunt.
Shunts can be intrahepatic (inside the liver and not really operable) or extrahepatic (outside the liver and operable...this type is common in Yorkies).
Then there is Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD) or small shunting throughout the liver. This is always treated with diet and supplements if there are symptoms. It is usually recommended to do surgery on a young dog who has an extrahepatic shunt. They generally do well with it and most will have a better prognosis. The very best place in the US (and one of the cheapest) is University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Since GA is so close to TN, I really wouldn't even bother with any of the the vet schools there just because UT seems to have the safest track record... Dr. Tobias at UT developed the ameroid constrictor surgery used now.
Has Mia had a blood panel or bile acids test?
What are the results?
Sometimes the bile acids test helps vets diagnose either LS or MVD but it can be up for any liver functioning issue. If the bile acids are up, a good next step is the Protein C Test (blood test sent to Cornell). If the numbers are in normal range, it is likely MVD and the dog is managed on diet and supplements. If the numbers are abnormal it may be a shunt and the next step is scintography. While ultrasounds are used extensively in diagnosing liver shunt, they are only 60-80% accurate. They are great to see if there are bladder stones secondary to liver issues though. Most vets are still really pushing u/s for some reason.
What supplements is Mia on?
Is she on the canned or dry L/D?
How many times a day is she fed?
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