Always get the blood test.

I will eventually update this with a better explanation, but I have been trying to get one of the family dogs back to health in the wake of a life-threatening urinary tract infection that appeared to be manifesting as all kinds of stuff and eluded diagnosis for a good bit. I am useless for longer posting now, I'm afraid, but I will leave with this PSA: when dealing with a mystery vet illness, no matter what symptoms are manifesting or what you're told about the likelihood of this or that illness, always, always get the goddamn blood test.