Great Dane gives birth to 'never-ending puppies,' 19 to be exact

The average Great Dane litter is 10 puppies.

ByJacinta Render
February 25, 2019, 6:59 PM

Cleo, a Great Dane in Arizona, was said to be doing well Monday after giving birth to 19 -- yes, 19 -- puppies over the weekend.

Doctors at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Arizona, helped Cleo deliver the 19 puppies by cesarean section.

All the puppies were doing well, too, and are bottle feeding every three hours.

PHOTO: Newborns from a litter of 19 Great Dane puppies delivered by cesarean section at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 23, 2019, rest after the delivery.
Newborns from a litter of 19 Great Dane puppies delivered by cesarean section at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 23, 2019, rest after the delivery.
Courtesy Ruby Duey

Delivering that many puppies requires a team effort, the hospital staff said.

“We had eleven people working to wake up the puppies once they came out,” said staffer Cassie Mceuen.

PHOTO: Cleo the Great Dane is prepped for cesarean section at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 23, 2019.
Cleo the Great Dane is prepped for cesarean section at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 23, 2019.
Courtesy Ruby Duey

“On average this breed will deliver no more than ten puppies at a time,” said Dr. Erika Agone, the surgeon who performed the delivery. “So, in this case, it was like double, which is why Cleo had to come in to give birth. It was like never-ending puppies”.

PHOTO: People assist with the delivery of 19 Great Dane puppies by cesarean section at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 23, 2019.
People assist with the delivery of 19 Great Dane puppies by cesarean section at the Kingman Animal Hospital in Kingman, Ariz., on Feb. 23, 2019.
Courtesy Ruby Duey

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