Bailey, a four-year-old African Boerboel, delivered 19 puppies at the College of Veterinary Medicine last month. Bailey's is believed to be the largest litter of puppies ever born at the college, according to a University release.
All but one of the puppies survived the caesarean delivery by a multidisciplinary team of faculty veterinarians at the Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
Aime Johnson, an associate professor and theriogenologist who worked with Bailey and her owners, Jerry and Angie Turner of Dothan, recommended a caesarean birth following a radiograph which determined a larger than normal litter.
“The radiograph showed at least 14 to 15 puppies, so we decided on a C-section because a natural birth for a litter that size would be a long delivery for the mother and often results in the loss of puppies because of the long delivery process,” Johnson said.
All of the puppies are "thriving" with owners. Until a week ago, Bailey and the puppies stayed with a nanny to assist with the every-four-hour feedings for the puppies.
The Turners, who own Hidden Creek Boerboels in Dothan, decided to use Auburn’s small animal theriogenology service to impregnate Bailey and follow her pregnancy. The father, named Afrika Marcos, or Mayhem for short, is also owned by the Turners.
Auburn is one of four veterinary medical programs in the U.S., and the only one in the South, to receive funding to establish the American Kennel Club, or AKC, Residency in Theriogenology, which enhances Auburn’s national reputation in theriogenology, or reproductive medicine, in both large and small animal medicine. Auburn has been twice funded by the AKC and the Theriogenology Foundation for a resident position.
The Boerboel is recognized as being intelligent, reliable and obedient with a strong watchdog instinct, according to the release.
“The most common thing we hear from our customers is that the Boerboel is the best dog we’ve ever owned, and we have several return customers,” Jerry said.
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