Providing a palatable food mixed with a drug is the least stressful way to medicate an animal.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It is more stressful than injections
• D. It is used only for older animals

Answer: (A)

Providing a palatable food mixed with a drug is the least stressful option because it relies on the animal’s natural eating behavior and avoids restraint or painful injection. When the medication is given in food, the animal can consume it voluntarily, so there’s minimal handling, fewer startle responses, and less disruption to daily routine. This reduces acute stress during dosing and tends to produce more stable welfare and, often, more consistent study conditions. Of course, there are practical considerations: you must confirm the animal actually consumes the full dose, monitor intake, and be mindful of issues like taste aversion, variable consumption between individuals, drug stability in feed, and whether the drug is adequately absorbed orally. It isn’t limited to older animals, and injections are typically more stressful due to restraint and potential pain, making the medicated-food approach preferable in many scenarios.