The effect of brief halothane anesthesia during daily gavage on complications and body weight in rats

We examined retrospectively the effects of brief halothane anesthesia durin g daily gavage administration of vehicle on gavage-related complications an d body weight in ovariectomized female Wistar rats. The number of gavage-re lated deaths or animals requiring euthanasia due to gavage problems was dra matically reduced, but the occurrence of incomplete vehicle retention durin g gavage was increased appreciably in halothane-anesthetized animals. Halot hane-anesthetized rats maintained daily body weight for a longer period tha n did awake animals. Our observations suggest that the use of brief inhalat ional anesthesia reduces gavage-associated death and euthanasia due to esop hageal trauma and minimizes stress-related weight loss.