My yorkie, Miko has a an intrahepatic liver shunt and therefore is inoperable...That's okay though because his diet and medications allow him to live a completely normal life. We give him one pill of denosyl (a liver supplement) per day, lactulose everyday, and he eats Royal Canin Veterinary Hepatic LS 14. It is a low protein diet in which all the protein comes from vegetables/soy... He is very energetic, looks very healthy, and is extremely happy and sweet
Miko had ultrasounds and exploratory surgery where they found that he had an intrapatic shunt...The surgery can run anywhere from $1500-$2500 sometimes less, sometimes more...It all depends on where you live and how things are priced there. I have heard that for extrahepatic shunts, the surgery where they place an ameroid constrictor around the shunt is best.
Miko's personality is wonderful, he's the same sweet, playful yorkie!
As far as precautions, you have to make sure the dog doesn't eat anything she/he's not supposed to...He/she shouldn't have protein (other than what's in the food that the vets recommend/prescribe)...Make sure everyone knows not to give the doggie table scraps or anything like that.