I am a vet tech and a friend of my wife just lost (died) their dog to Lepto. When talking to one of the doctors today she mentioned there is a increase in the infection, down south.

With our friend, the dog woke up after a night of rest, refused to eat/drink, they took her to the doctors, they treated her for dehydration, and within 48 hours she was dead.

Note the dog was not vaccinated originally for Lepto. The dog was also mainly a farm dog. Also the vet wasn't even up to date on Lepto to begin with.

If your dog is outside a lot, hikes, near water, get it vaccinated for it.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-04-02/news/os-increase-in-dog-lepto-cases-20140402_1_lepto-bacterial-infection-dogs

Our dog, in Iowa, contracted lepto when she was 4 since it wasn't a required vaccine. She lived a couple of years but she was on meds, had 3 days of IVs when originally diagnosed. It sucked.

I would recommend changing your title to include people throughout the country and lepto is fairly prevalent, especially in the midwest.  We commonly vaccinate the majority of dogs for it but i've seen even 5# chihuahuas that spend most of their life in doors pick it up.  Causing acute kidney failure it can take an animals life very fast.  Sorry for your friends loss; this is a great way to spread the word.

My dogs get vaccinated for it yearly.  Thanks for the heads up.