Sweetpea dead, the Puppy Bowl due passed away

The smallest participant ever in the Puppy Bowl, Sweetpea, faced an unexpected demise while en route to the hospital for a routine check-up, as reported by Bosley Place.

Born on July 1, 2023, in Tennessee and nurtured in Georgia, Sweetpea passed away on Nov. 20, 2023, succumbing to a deformed kidney, as confirmed by Jennifer Siegel, the animal director at Bosley’s Place, to USA TODAY.

Describing Sweetpea’s journey, Siegel said, “Sweetpea lived a delightful life. She was incredibly affectionate, and everyone adored Sweetpea. We anticipated that, coming to our rescue, she would present medical challenges. We ensured she received excellent care, offering her the best possible life within her limited life expectancy.”

Sweetpea, afflicted with hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder resulting from an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, also had a congenital heart condition, Siegel explained.

“She arrived at our rescue in critical condition,” Siegel recounted. “I initiated medical diagnostics and testing. At around four weeks old, due to her tiny size, our diagnostic options were limited. As she grew, we conducted more ultrasounds and echocardiograms. She faced a few hospital stays through the ER due to episodes of blue baby syndrome when we attempted to transition her from the bottle.”

Remarkably, as Sweetpea reached eight weeks, there were signs of improvement. The hole in her heart spontaneously closed. Concurrently, in September, she earned a spot in the Puppy Bowl 2024.