06/25/2025
Maggie Mae’s Annual Vaccines: What They Do and Why They Matter
Every year, Maggie Mae receives a set of important vaccines that help protect her from a variety of dangerous illnesses. Just like with people, vaccines play a crucial role in keeping dogs safe, healthy, and protected from contagious diseases they might encounter during walks, visits to the park, or even just in their own backyard. This year, Maggie Mae received her Leptospirosis, Lyme, and Bordetella vaccines. Each of these is designed to guard her against specific infections that could otherwise lead to serious health issues. Leptospirosis, or "lepto," is a bacterial infection that can be spread through the urine of infected animals, especially wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, and rats. Dogs can contract it by drinking from contaminated puddles, lakes, or streams. Lepto can cause kidney and liver damage, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Even more concerning, it’s a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread to humans too. By getting her annual lepto vaccine, Maggie Mae is protected from this serious disease—and so is her family. Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacteria transmitted through the bite of infected ticks, particularly deer ticks. It’s a common risk in many areas where ticks are active, especially in grassy or wooded environments. In dogs, Lyme disease can lead to painful joint inflammation, fever, loss of appetite, and in some cases, kidney problems. While regular tick prevention helps, the Lyme vaccine adds an extra layer of protection, reducing the risk that Maggie Mae will get sick from a tick bite. Often referred to as the "kennel cough" vaccine, Bordetella protects against a highly contagious respiratory infection. Dogs can catch it easily in places where they’re around other dogs—like grooming salons, boarding facilities, dog parks, and daycare. It causes a persistent cough, sneezing, and sometimes a runny nose. Though usually not life-threatening, it can be very uncomfortable and take a while to clear up. Since Maggie Mae likely comes into contact with other dogs now and then, her Bordetella vaccine keeps her protected and helps prevent her from spreading illness to her furry friends. By staying on top of her vaccines, Maggie Mae is better prepared to live a healthy, active life. Each shot she receives isn’t just about preventing illness—it’s about giving her the best chance at long-term wellness, while also helping protect other pets and people around her. Her annual vaccines are a simple but powerful way of showing her love, care, and responsibility. After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog—and Maggie Mae deserves nothing less.
