not all shunts are operable and some yorkies show no symptoms until later my friends yorkie developed a shunt when he was 8 another friend developed one through worming tablets both of these dogs had inoperable shunts and one is still alive today but has a special diet he can not have protein frm meat but he loves vegie the operation here in the uk costs just over one thousand 7 hundred pounds thats including hospitalization and meds so it isnt cheap if you dont have the money luckily i have a wonderful family who paid for millies shunt to be fixed and through millie having her shunt operation a lady who owned a pom called penny who had been struggling to cope on the diet rang me and asked about the operation and after hearing how well millie was decided to have her fixed and we remain frineds to this day.... my vet said not all dogs with shunts get the chance because of the costs, most get euthenised im sorry to say hugs janis |