My dog turned 5 yesterday!

Yep, it was Austin's birthday yesterday, and he is now officially older than me in human years. We didn't do much special, except buy him some new treats, but a good day was had by all.

5 years may not seem like a lot to many dog owners, but our breed, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is twice as likely to develop MVD (mitral valve disease) than other breeds. It starts with a heart murmur (which he has, a mild one), and is generally detected within the first four years. Aside from a small murmur, he shows no signs of disease. That's why 5 was a special number for us this year.