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AMKD Awareness Day

Posted on by Monique Jacobs

We recognize AMKD Awareness Day to better understand AMKD and discover how where you come from may impact your kidney health. Held on the last Tuesday of April, during National Minority Health Month, AMKD Awareness Day aims to raise awareness of APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD). 

AMKD is a group of kidney diseases linked to severe and rapidly progressive kidney disease in people of certain African descent. It is associated with mutations in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene. Everyone has two copies of the APOL1 gene, but people who have Western and Central African ancestry, including those who are Black, African American, Afro-Caribbean, and/or Latina/Latino, are at an increased risk of having a mutation in one or both genes. People with two mutations are at higher risk of developing genetic forms of kidney disease such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). 

National Parvo Awareness Day

Posted on by Monique Jacobs

There is a cultural debate brewing across American communities today around scooping dog poop, but did you know poop can actually be deadly to dogs? Just one sniff or lick can lead to the potentially fatal canine parvovirus (parvo). Parvo is one of the most contagious and deadly viruses for dogs and puppies, and it is directly linked to dog poop. Sadly, research shows only 44% of dog owners know what parvo is, with 20% having no knowledge of the disease — presenting a huge education gap and opportunity to spread greater awareness.

This is why in 2023, the only USDA conditionally approved Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody treatment. The single intravenous dose of the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody stops parvo by blocking the entry of the virus into host cells and may help dogs feel better faster.  And since then, the treatment has been saving the lives of puppies across the country. 

On April 23, we recognize the first National Parvo Awareness Day to do just that — spread greater awareness so we can better protect our four-legged loved ones from this devastating virus. This year and beyond, National Parvo Awareness Day will be held on the fourth Tuesday in April.

National Pet Care for All Day

Posted on by Monique Jacobs

National Pet Care for All Day on April 24 celebrates the efforts of organizations to make quality behavioral and medical care for pets accessible to all pets and their people. Essential dog expenses cost an average of $1,533 annually. National Pet Care for All Day is a day to remember that people should not have to choose between caring for themselves and their pets. Everyone, regardless of their housing situation, income level, race, spoken language, or access to resources, has the right to experience the joys of the human-animal bond. That bond should not be broken because veterinary care or positive behavior support are not available or affordable.