Ronda,
I found a website, actually a copy of a PDF, relating the story of Maya, a dog that was critically ill with Liver Shunt, was taken to his hospital and successfully operated on. The Mom talks a lot about the Doctors and her very positive experience there. I think you would find it most reassuring to read:
www.yorkieangelpatrol.com/maya.pdf
If the link does not work, I have the PDF on my computer.
Lauren
Oops! wanted to add this page that mentions Dr Karen Tobias from U of T Vet Hospital:
http://www.yorkieangelpatrol.com/livershunt.htm