If you have a pet that’s soon to become a parent, it’s only natural to wonder about the number of offspring they might have!
The size of a litter can affect different things like finding homes for the puppies and making sure there’s enough space for them. Knowing how many puppies to expect can also help determine if extra help is needed to care for them. Cecilia Lanton-Bunkergot and her husband were excited to welcome new members to their family when they discovered that their Dalmatian, Miley, was expecting. The vet predicted that Miley would have a litter of three, but her big belly hinted at something else. In the end, Miley gave birth to more than three puppies.
We shouldn’t be too hard on the vet because becoming a DVM requires extensive education, including four years of undergraduate studies, four years of vet school, and a residency. The vet may not have specialized in prenatal care or had faulty equipment, but regardless, Miley the Dalmatian shocked everyone by giving birth to 18 puppies instead of the anticipated three. This was surprising to both Miley and her breeders, but the veterinarian did their best with the situation. Miley actually set a new world record for the biggest dog litter ever born since Dalmatians typically give birth to only 8-10 puppies on average. Although first-time mothers tend to have fewer puppies than average, Miley seems happy with her new brood.
If the mere mention of Miley and her adorable puppies brings to mind the classic Disney flick 101 Dalmations, you’re not alone. Her breeders initially estimated that she would have a litter of around 15-16 pups, similar to Pongo and Perdita, based on her size during gestation. But Miley and her mate Astro exceeded this prediction by a significant margin. After a grueling 13-hour labor, Miley gave birth to a whopping 18 puppies – 12 females and 6 males. With the males being outnumbered by their female siblings, it’s interesting to see how their puppyhood will turn out. To help Miley take care of her large brood, Cecilia and her spouse are lending a hand, making sure there’s always a steady supply of warm milk for the pups.
The breeders have temporarily marked the puppies’ necks with dye to distinguish them from one another until they are identified and given collars. Miley has made history in Australia by giving birth to the largest litter, a remarkable achievement recognized by the Australian National Kennel Club, beating the record of over 40,000 Dalmatian births.
