Objective To investigate the effects of different dose of ketamine and sodium oxybate on gastrointestinal peristalsis in mice model of formalin-induced pain. Methods The mice were divided into three groups by Random number method and Stratified sampling: pain model group (n = 32), intravenous anesthetic group (n = 24), and pain model + intravenous anesthetic group (n = 56). During the experiment, a meal consisting of an aqueous suspension (0.3 ml) of 12% charcoal, used as a marker, and 4% tragacanth mucilage was administered intragastrically. The percentage distance traveled by the charcoal plug in the small intestine (from the pylorus to the caecum) was measured as the gastrointestinal transit 30 minutes after receiving the test meal. The mice received an intra plantar injection of different concentration (2%, 4%, 6%) of formalin solution as formalin induced pain model. Results The 2% dose of formalin pain model group significantly reduced the rate of gastrointestinal motility in mice (P < 0.05), while the 4% and 6% dose of formalin pain model groups had little influence on gastrointestinal motility than that in black group. The intraperitoneal injection of anesthetic-doses of ketamine and sodium oxybate slowed down the gastrointestinal motility in mice, but had no statistical significance than that in normal saline group(P > 0.05). For formalin-induced pain model, compared with normal saline group the anesthetic-dose of ketamine increased the rate of gastrointestinal motility in mice (P < 0.05). Analgesic-dose and low-dose of ketamine had little effect on gastrointestinal motility in mice. The anesthetic-dose and low-dose of sodium oxybate decreased the rate of gastrointestinal motility (P < 0.05). Conclusion The 2% dose of formalin significantly reduced the rate of gastrointestinal motility in mice. The anesthesia-dose ketamine promoted the gastrointestinal motility in formalin-induced pain model mice, while the anesthetic-dose and low-dose of sodium oxybate could inhibit the gastrointestinal motility in mice.