General anesthesia in dogs is associated with common complications such as paddling and vocalizing, but significant perioperative mortality is seen as well (0.17%). Factors that prolong anesthetic recovery and time to extubation may increase risk. This retrospective study identified factors affecting recovery time and quality in 900 dogs undergoing general anesthesia with a volatile anesthetic or propofol infusion. Variables examined included patient signalment, diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) status, premedication and induction drugs used, maintenance agents, duration of anesthesia and surgery, body temperature nadir, end-tidal inhalant concentration, blood pressure nadir, intraoperative drugs given, and time to extubation. Multiple regression analysis was performed. Results showed premedication with acepromazine significantly increased time to extubation by 7.9 minutes. Induction with propofol was associated with decreased time to extubation. Hypothermia, higher body weight, and anesthetic duration were all associated with longer times to extubation. Time to extubation increased by 5.924 minutes for every 1oC loss in body temperature, and 5.8 minutes for every 1-hour increase in anesthesia time. The authors conclude that controllable factors (eg, choice of premedication and induction drugs, hypothermia, duration of anesthesia) can affect anesthetic recovery times.