Just found this thread as I am looking for any information about the shunt because my best friend Darla is trying to find anything about the condition, surgery and how to care for the pet up until the procedure can be done. I had never heard of it at all and will try more research later today.

Can anyone offer their experience about having this porto shunt??? She mentioned plenty of water and low protein diet but this little Yorkie Dudley is very sick. I think that being so small also affects the outcome???

Thanks for anything you could add here?

Here is a portion from Darla's email to me: Dudley is the puppy that belongs to Darla's son Chris and wife.


Poor little Dudley is not doing very good. They had more test today on him and they will find out more tomorrow the test today is to see if his liver is functioning good enough to go ahead with surgery. He is pretty sick little guy and if he can go ahead with surgery they will do it next Wed. in mean time they are wondering how to take care of him. I told them to feed him very low protein dog food and Blair found some today and then I also told her to maybe feed him small meals every couple hours instead of two meals a day. She said one of the Vets she talk to today told her this too. Also told her to keep lots of water down him and maybe this will help flush some. He is so tired sleeps most the time. The surgery will be done at a college by a Vet that has done them. I would ask on Pet Talk but I don't know who will answer me since no one really knows me. Just want to know how to keep him comfortable till surgery. He was so bad last night they did not think he was going to make it thru the night. But then this morning he walked around and was able to drink out of bowl without his head falling in it. Guess this is all sign of this. But once he gets surgery done things should be ok and he will have to be kept quiet and no running or jumping around for 2 weeks. One of Pam's dog had this but she had surgery right away and her dog was not this sick. Dudley is around 5 months old and they talk to the person they got him from it is someone that works with Chris and they said they have never had this problem with their Yorkies or any of the other puppies in the litter.