Dog gives birth to 18 puppies to equal Aussie record

A dog has given birth to 18 healthy pups to equal the Australian record for most puppies born.

The Perth Doberman gave birth with the help of ten staff members from West Coast Veterinary Clinic in Forrestdale.

They helped perform the caesarean on Sassy the dog on Monday.

West Coast Vets' Aaron Raney said an ultrasound revealed the puppies were distressed so the decision was made for a caesarean.

“The surgery took about an hour and it was quite in depth – I lost count after about eight or nine puppies so just carried on,” he said.

A handful of the puppies weren’t breathing initially but in the end the entire litter survived.

The vets are now working hard to help Sassy feed her litter.

The record equals the 18 Dalmatian puppies born in Ballarat last year.