ESR
ESR measures how fast red blood cells settle in a tube of blood in one hour, and a faster rate is a general clue to inflammation or anaemia (low red cells). It is used in dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes.
- Sample
- Whole blood (EDTA)
- Quantity
- 2 mL
- Report
- Same day to 24 hours
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Distance the red cells sink in one hour (mm per hour)
- A general marker of inflammation
- Effect of anaemia on how fast red cells settle
Benefits of this test
- Is simple, and a small blood sample is enough.
- Gives a general clue about inflammation in the body.
- Can be repeated to see whether an illness is settling or getting worse.
- Adds an extra clue to a CBC when the cause of a long illness is unclear.
- Can be ordered on its own when your vet wants only this check.
When your vet may advise it
- Fever or illness lasting more than a few days with no clear cause.
- Weight loss, poor appetite and low energy over weeks.
- Stiffness, joint pain or lameness where inflammation is suspected.
- Follow-up during a long illness to see whether inflammation is going up or down.
- Your vet wants a simple screening clue along with a CBC.
About this test
ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Erythrocytes are red blood cells. When blood stands still in a thin upright tube, the red cells slowly sink and clear fluid, called plasma, is left on top. The ESR is the distance, in millimetres, that the red cells sink in one hour.
When the body is inflamed, which means it is reacting to injury or infection, some proteins in the blood rise and make the red cells stick together. Clumps sink faster, so the ESR goes up. Anaemia, which means fewer red cells, can also raise the ESR. Normal values differ between dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes, so your vet compares the result with what is expected for your animal.
Vets use the ESR as a simple, general test. It cannot tell which disease is present, so it is usually read with a CBC, the animal's signs and other tests.
How to prepare
Your animal usually does not need to fast, but follow your vet's advice. Send about 2 mL of EDTA blood to the lab within a few hours if you can, because the ESR reading changes as the blood ages. Do not freeze it; the report is normally ready the same day or within 24 hours.
Reading the result
The result is a number in millimetres per hour. A higher number may indicate inflammation or anaemia, and a normal number does not rule out disease, so a registered veterinarian reads it with the animal's signs and other results.
Questions about ESR
What does a high ESR mean in a pet or farm animal?
Is the ESR value the same for dogs, cats and cows?
Why must the blood be fresh for an ESR?
Is the ESR test part of the Hemogram?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Same day to 24 hours. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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ESR: Bhopal and the big cities of Madhya Pradesh
Free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. From the other cities, send the sample by courier, bus parcel or through your local veterinarian, and the report comes to you online.
Free collection in these Bhopal areas
Read more
ESR in Pets: What the Sedimentation Rate Shows and Its Limits
ESR shows how quickly red blood cells sink in a tube of blood. A faster rate may point to inflammation, but it cannot say where or why, so vets read it with other tests and the animal's signs.
18 Oct 2026