Biggie Smalls the British bulldog recovered and allowed to go home

This pup spent more than two weeks in intensive care, but his owners never gave up — spending thousands and even setting up a fundraising page for him. Now look at him.

A PUP that showed British bulldog spirit in fighting back from the brink of death is finally home.

But after more than two weeks in intensive care, the $30,000 bill to save Biggie Smalls — a British bulldog — has well and truly chewed into his owners’ bank balance.

There’s no bone to pick though. Despite the massive hole in their hip pocket, owners Kayla Johnson and Phil Street say they couldn’t be happier.

INSIDE ANIMAL EMERGENCY SERVICE CARARRA CLINIC

Biggie Smalls with his family, Kayla Johnson, kids Brooklyn Street 7, Harlow Street 5, Phil Street and Baby Girl, the other British bulldog in the family. Picture Glenn Hampson

Their holiday nightmare began on Christmas Day when their cheeky six-month-old pup began vomiting, which led to him aspirating — choking on his own vomit. The contents filled one of his lungs and he developed pneumonia soon after being rushed to the Animal Emergency Service at Carrara on Boxing Day.

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To put Biggie on life support cost $4000 a day, double the amount of just keeping him on oxygen, which is about $1800 a day.

Owners Kayla Johnson and Phil Street have spent their entire savings keeping their six-month-old puppy Biggie Smalls on life support at a Carrara vet clinic. Photo: Facebook

But it was a situation Biggie’s owners accepted, saying if it was just a matter of time their pet needed, they would give it to him.

After forking out $21,000 of their own savings, Ms Johnson and Mr Street then turned to the online community for financial help, managing to fundraise just under $10,000 within 72 hours.

Their gamble to keep him on life support paid off, with Biggie returning to their Mermaid Beach home Monday afternoon.

Dr Rob Webster with Biggie Smalls the British bulldog. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I’m super excited to have him home,” Ms Johnson said.

“It was hard when he wasn’t at home, the house felt empty without him.

“But I’m a little nervous. We’ve got to care for him a little bit differently. He’s got an open hole in his throat that needs to close naturally as he slowly learns to breathe through his mouth again.”

Ms Johnson said they would need to keep Biggie in an airconditioned environment so he did not overheat and he would need to be crated when not carefully supervised.

Owners Kayla Johnson and Phil Street have spent their savings keeping their six-month-old puppy Biggie Smalls on life support at a Carrara vet clinic. Photo: Facebook

Ms Johnson said there had been a moment when she and Mr Street spoke briefly about whether to let Biggie Smalls die after he had been on life support for several days, concerned he would not have any quality of life.

Animal Emergency Service co-founder Dr Rob Webster said mechanical ventilation had been “undoubtedly” life saving for the bulldog.

Biggie Smalls was on life support for four days in a row, and then another 30 hours before he was finally taken off on January 1.

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Biggie Smalls is happy to be home with Kayla Johnson and Phil Street. Picture Glenn Hampson

“His lung function was so poor when we initiated ventilation that he had a fatally low blood oxygen level,” Dr Webster said.

“Life support was required to maintain enough oxygen in his system so he could stay alive long enough for the pneumonia to respond to treatment.”

Dr Webster said although Biggie’s blood oxygen levels managed to stabilise relatively quickly, his lungs responded slowly to treatment of pneumonia, which is why he was kept at the clinic for so long.

“He definitely needed time. Biggie is a baby dog but he is a real fighter,” he said.

“Despite his never-say-die attitude though, he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the commitment of his amazing owners who did everything they could for his treatment, and the skill and care of the teams at Animal Emergency Service and Veterinary Specialist Services at Carrara.”

Dr Webster said apart from some check ups, he expected Biggie to completely recover from his illness.