Liver Shunt Recovery?

Question

I've read that post-surgery some dogs may return to a regular diet after recovering from Liver Shunt surgery. How do you know which dogs can or can't...or are they all on L/D for life? This low protein diet doesn't seem great for them indefinitely.

OF COURSE I WILL ASK MY VET....AND THE DOG'S SURGEON...but I'd like to know what other peoples experiences are.

Lilly (my maltese had surgery in April and she is recovering nicely). I am in no rush to change her diet, just curious.

Answer 1

Most stay on a lower protein diet to take stress off the liver.  Few dogs recover to the point of being as healthy as a normal dog with no shunt would have been.

Answer 2

If they are fully recovered, then I see no reason why you can't gradually go back to normal food.  Once the blood is flowing through the liver properly, the liver is then able to do it's job of filtering the blood.

I would certainly do it gradually so as to not overtax the healing liver.  Once the shunt is closed off, the liver needs to grow new blood vessels to compensate, so don't rush things!