SMYRNA, Ga. — Editor's note: The video in this story is from a previous report.
The cause of death has been revealed for Sweetpea, the tiniest pup to have ever competed in the Puppy Bowl.
Jennifer Siegel, the director of Smyrna animal rescue, Bosley's Place, shared that Sweetpea's necropsy report revealed she had died due to kidney disease.
Since birth, Siegel said Sweetpea had a number of health issues. The beloved pup had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which is a neurological disorder caused by an abnormal building of fluid in cavities deep within the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Additionally, Sweetpea had a hole in her heart that grew together by the time she was eight weeks old, Siegel added.
"She was suffering from blue baby episodes every time we tried to wean her off the bottle," Siegel said.
At the time of the Puppy Bowl, Sweetpea weighed just 1.7 pounds. She was a Cavapoo, a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a poodle.
Although Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl XX aired on Super Bowl Sunday, Sweetpea had traveled to film the show several months before.
Sweetpea was part of this year's winning team, Team Ruff. Puppy Bowl XX was dedicated to her memory.
Check out photos from Sweetpea's journey to the Puppy Bowl below:
Photos | Journey to the Puppy Bowl
For more information on Bosley's Place, including fostering and how to apply, click here. You can also find details on how to volunteer online here. Additionally, Bosley's Place has a puppy wishlist. You can choose to donate items online here.