'Dippy Della' was the runt of the litter and weighed just a few grams at birth
A chihuahua is believed to be Britain’s smallest dog, measuring just 5 inches in height and weighing little more than a bag of sugar.
‘Dippy Della’ was the runt of the litter and weighed just a few grams at birth.
She was rejected by her mum, possibly due to an underlying health condition, and a vet recommended to her owner that she should be put to sleep.
Luckily, Gemmy Jones saved her and now she believes the miracle pup could take the title of the UK’s smallest dog.
Gemmy, 44, from Ringwood, Hampshire, said: ‘When we got her she had been rejected by the mum and she was so small she couldn’t get on to feed because the other puppies wouldn’t let her in.
Gemmy is pictured with ‘Dippy Della’ the chihuahua who could be Britain’s smallest dog
Gemmy holds Della when she was younger. Also pictured is Gemmy’s other dog, Loki
‘Dippy Della’ was the runt of the litter and weighed just a few grams at birth
‘The breeder said if you want her I think you will have to come and get her early.
‘I knew I was going to need to be a bit attentive, she was only a few grams and the vet wanted to put her down.
‘Her eyes were bulging and she had an indentation in the top of her head. ‘She could be quite spaced out and at one point she kept falling over, I think because her head was too heavy, which is why I took her to the vet.
‘They thought she was suffering but I couldn’t put her down so I brought her home and slept on the sofa feeding her.
‘The next morning she just seemed to shake it off and get much better.
‘Della is happy in her own little bubble, she is a bit special. We call her Dippy Della.
‘She’ll do things like run outside and be surprised by the sky but she is healthy and happy and loves life.’
Gemmy saved Della from being put down. The vet had recommended she be euthanised
Della the chihuahua is smaller than the previous unofficial record holder. She is only five inches tall
Gemmy felt sure she could help her and kept her in a shoe box by her bed and fed her every three hours throughout the night to build up her strength.
‘She had to have ramps over the carpet so she could get in and out of the conservatory,’ the 44-year-old added, ‘and I kept her in a shoe box by the bed so I could wake up every three hours to feed her and give her some water.
‘You do need to make sure of her whereabouts because the last thing you want to do is bump her.
Della was rejected by her mum, possibly due to an underlying health condition
Although tiny, Della is a feisty dog with lots of character and loves nothing more than snuggling
Della is pictured with her sibling Lola, a chihuahua who has the same dad
‘We have to feed her smaller portions than our other dogs and make up dry food with turkey mince and vegetables we prepare ourselves.’
Dippy Della is now fully grown, but is still dwarfed by Gemmy’s other small dogs including Loki, a pomeranian/chihuahua cross, and Lola, a chihuahua who has the same dad as Della.
Gemmy uses a ferret harness to walk Della because she is too small and delicate for a dog lead and collar.
Although tiny, Della is a feisty dog with lots of character and loves nothing more than snuggling into Gemmy’s top while she works as a nail technician.
Gemmy continued: ‘I use a ferret harness and lead to walk her because her neck is too delicate for a collar, but she loves walks.
‘She will run flat out and spin in circles with excitement.
‘I think she probably does have small dog syndrome, she can be a bit yappy, but everything is bigger than her.’
Della the chihuahua is smaller than the previous unofficial record holder, a Yorkie-chihuahua cross called Daisy that is 8.5 inches tall.
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