[magicgenie]

Read the literature and make up you own minds. Significantly symptomatic cases of liver shunt are most likely not good candidates for medical management. Milder cases might be. The past couple of years I think some real progress has been made in the area of medical management and the commercially prepared foods seem to be working well. I don't see crushing a pill onto the dog's food as being a huge burden compared to the risks of surgery in the manageable cases. Some people just don't have the means to pay for surgery, or otherwise don't feel comfortable with the risks and I don't think they should be made to feel inadequate for it. Then there is the matter of the big business profit making veterinary places that will do everything in their power to guilt you into running up a huge bill. At least go to a not-for-profit teaching place for a really objective look at the situation. Personally I'd head to Cornell.