You should also join this yahoo group:
Liver_Shunt_And_MVD_Support : Liver Shunt & MVD/HMD Support
They are wonderful and have LOTS of answers!! My Teddi was diagnosed with a liver shunt at 1 year and we went to Tennessee to have surgery. It was wonderful and she is now 4 1/2 years old and doing great!!! I don't think you can NOT do surgery and expect your dog to live a a long and full life. If it is operable you should really have surgery and as soon as possible.