[Yorkieluv]

First of all, there are different types of liver shunts...Have they done an ultrasounds or scintigraphy(sp?) to make sure it's an extrahepatic shunt? Extrahepatic shunts can be repaired surgically. It's a possibility also that her yorkie may have mvd which is similar to liver shunts but is inoperable and is managed through special diet and medications...
My yorkie has an intrahepatic liver shunt/mvd so we have a lot of experience with this.
The vet should have put her yorkie on a special low protein diet, either Hill's l/d or Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14...Also, he should have prescribed lactulose, as lactulose helps push the toxins which cause the seizures out of the body. The amount of lactulose given should be based on the dog's poop. Basically, the stool should be formed, but soft...not firm and not diarrhea. Also, many dogs with liver shunts that are having seizures even with the special diet and lactulose are prescribed an antibiotic such as clavamox in low doses, long-term which also helps push the toxins out... Another thing that you can give him is denosyl and milk thistle....They help improve liver function and are all natural.
In order to understand why the special diet (with no animal protein, only vegetable protein) and medications are needed, one must understand liver shunts.
Basically, when a dog ingests animal protein, it turns to ammonia...In a normal, healthy liver, the ammonia is filtered through the liver...But if there is a shunt, that means that there is a blood vessel that is bypassing the liver, therefore causing the ammonia to bypass the liver, and it goes into the dog's system reaching the brain, causing the seizures...
Please avoid giving this dog any animal protein for the time being, and don't give the dog regular dog treats, as many are very high in protein. If you have any questions, please ask.