VIDEO: Meet the incredible litter of 14 puppies who will help save the endangered English Mastiff

THEY are some of Britain’s biggest dogs but English Mastiffs have been facing an even bigger threat to their future.

The increasing popularity of smaller dogs has seen numbers dwindle and only 166 were registered with the Kennel Club last year.

Now one super Scots dog has done her bit for the breed by giving birth to 14 puppies in the Scottish Borders.

English Mastiff Karma’s litter was so large her vet had to give her an emergency caesarean section after she struggled to deliver them all.

Her owner, Hazel Manson, from Jedburgh, revealed that the super-sized bundle began to arrive early in the morning three weeks ago.

Mum-of-two Hazel, 32, said: “The first thing I knew about the birth was when I was woken at 5am by the sound of tiny pups yelping.

“I rushed through to see that she had delivered three and was in the throes of delivering more.

“One arrived but had not survived and I could see she was struggling. Three more arrived dead.

“I quickly called the vet who asked me to make my way with Karma and the surviving pups

“The vet’s practice in St Boswells was just a few minutes away in the car.

“So we loaded Karma and her pups into the car and arrived to see vet Neil Cameron waiting for us.

“She is a gentle giant and had sailed through a long and tiring nine-week pregnancy.

“But the huge number of pups was proving too much for her.”

Karma was scanned and the huge litter, which will sell for £2000 each, came up on the image.

They were all lined up ready to be born and the decision to carry out an immediate Caesarean section was made.

It was the best chance for the tired mum and her brood to survive.

Neil rallied his staff, including the practice receptionist, to take each pup as it was delivered.

It was the biggest litter he had delivered in 25 years as a vet. Neil 47, said: “She is a big gentle dog and great mum, but her life and that of her pups depended on a Caesarean section.

“This is her first litter and she had done well to carry 18 to full term.

“I had a vet nurse assisting me and another nurse carrying out the anaesthetic.

“The operation took around an hour.

“You make a pup-size incision in the bitch’s abdomen and deliver them carefully, one by one.

“As each pup arrived I handed them to the nurse and they were passed on to another waiting pair of hands.

“It was vital to make sure their airways were clear and then rub their little bodies with a clean towel to get their circulation going.”

With 14 live pups yelping and lined up on a long theatre room table, the mass delivery was complete.

Mum was then transferred to a recovery room.

The bumper delivery had boosted English Mastiff numbers in the UK overnight.

It exceeded by far the maximum number of pups even a Mastiff is expected to deliver. A good-sized litter is usually a maximum of 16, say experts.

Registered breeder Hazel explained: “It was Karma’s first litter and she is just starting her adult life as a dog at two-and-a-half years.

“It took us a while to find a good mate for her.

“Mastiffs have a long history stretching back to before the Roman Invasion of Britain in 55 BC.

“They were used to protect their owners’ sheep and sometimes lives.

“I am keen to keep the breed alive and Karma’s certainly done her bit.”

The love match was made by the Kennel Club.

It pointed Hazel in the direction of Ozzy, a 19 stone male Mastiff, who lives with his owners more than three hours down the motorway in Doncaster.

“It’s been a great match as they have produced a fine litter,” Hazel smiled.

“But not one is the colour of the dad. He’s fawn and they are all Karma’s brindle colour.”

Looking after the new mum has proved a handful and involves round the clock care.

Hazel had to ensure that none of the little scraps of life were unwittingly crushed under their mum as they all scrambled to be fed. “She’s a big dog and wouldn’t have been able to move fast enough to stop them being suffocated,” she explained.

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“She didn’t have enough teats for all the pups, being two short at feeding time.

“Any stragglers were bottle-fed and they have all thrived.

“They are only three-weeks-old and growing fast. Some already weigh 11lbs.

“As you can imagine, she is tired feeding 14 pups but happy with her litter.

“We often take them into another room to give her a chance to sleep but when they are let back in, there’s a mad scramble to be fed.

“A pup’s life is just feeding, sleeping, playing and pooping.”

Two of the pups have been sold to a German family and the others are going fast.

“Owners will be closely vetted and many have small-holdings,” Hazel added.

“It is only right that these adorable pups grow up with lots of room to play.

“It’s also vital they go to homes that understand them.

“Too much exercise, too young, can cause bone problems.”