Liver shunts

Shunts outside the liver, extra-hepatic shunts, occur more commonly in small dog breeds, with Yorkshire Terriers at the very top of the list. Other small breed dogs with the tendency:

* Maltese
* Dachshunds
* Jack Russell Terriers
* Shih Tzu
* Lhasa apso
* Cairn Terriers
* Poodles

Another sign of the presence of a liver shunt is failure to thrive. A puppy that isn't thriving will have lack of physical growth, poor muscle tone, a tendency to sleep a lot, and will generally appear lethargic and underdeveloped compared to his littermates.