Difficulty to extubate any patient is not a problem commonly thought of during general anaesthesia. This case report describes some of the factors that lead to this predicament and the successful surgical removal of the endotracheal tube via a tracheostomy. This case report also highlights some of the deficiencies in the clinical practice of veterinary anaesthesia. Further research is required for the selection size criteria of endotracheal tubes in all species and the monitoring of cuff pressures during general anaesthesia.