You must take your pet to the vet at the first sign of a viral infection. Once your dog contracts a viral infection, they pose a risk to other dogs, especially those who are very young, very old, or unvaccinated. They also become at risk of secondary bacterial infections, which can cause life-threatening sepsis. By getting your pup to the vet as soon as possible, the risk of a secondary infection is minimized, and your pooch can get the fluids and rest they need to get better fast. If your dog shows signs of rabies or distemper, consider it an emergency and call your vet right away. Unfortunately, rabies is almost always fatal for dogs, and they pose a grave risk to other animals and people once infected. If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to rabies, always call your vet right away. if it is safe to do so, cage your dog and take them to your vet to be quarantined. If 10 days pass and your dog's symptoms subside, it's highly likely that rabies was not the cause of their illness. This is because rabies kills within 10 days, usually much sooner. Likewise, canine distemper's 50% mortality rate for adult dogs makes it highly dangerous. If your dog shows signs of canine distemper, call your vet immediately. Your dog must be separated from other dogs to minimize the risk of transmission to other pets.