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Frannie the golden retriever has lost 31 pounds in just two months.
A veterinary student has captured hearts online by documenting her journey nursing an obese golden retriever back to health.
Annika Bram, a student at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, has been working for a few months to rehabilitate Frannie, a golden retriever who suffered mobility problems due to her weight.
“I didn’t really realize how bad it was,” Bram, 24, said. “I couldn’t get him to stand up. He had no energy left. He couldn’t walk.”
In December 2023, the 8-year-old dog weighed 125 pounds, Bram said.
The American Kennel Club’s official standards indicate that a healthy weight range for an adult female of the breed is between 55 and 65 pounds. Frannie was about twice as heavy.
“She just sat there, panting and looking miserable,” Bram said.
At first, Frannie could barely take steps on her own, Bram said. “She was so heavy…she literally had blisters on my hands from lifting her,” she said.
The dog “had no hair on her tail, she had huge calluses on her elbows and also on her back legs,” Bram said. She also suffered from hypothyroidism, Bram said, which can cause excessive weight gain.
When Bram met Frannie, his dog Georgia, whom he had helped lose 85 pounds, had recently died. Bram said she felt it like a sign.
“I think Georgia sent it to me,” he said.
Since then, Bram has been determined to help give Frannie a new lease of life and is documenting the journey on his Instagram account. @frannies.lucha, which has grown to over 300,000 followers. (He has also documented Frannie’s progress on TikTok, on his @franniesfight account.)
While Frannie is far from finished, Bram said the retriever has begun to make notable strides and has shown a renewed vigor for life after following a personalized diet and undergoing physical therapy.
So far, Frannie has lost 31 pounds and has walked up to half a mile, Bram said.
“She goes crazy for her tennis ball and runs with it and throws it in the air,” Bram said. “Just the fact that she can walk is amazing to me. She looks crazy, but every little thing is a big thing to us.”
Frannie’s story has gone viral on social media, inspiring many with her determination to achieve your weight and health goals. Bram said she is touched by the overwhelming support and motivational stories shared on social media.
“It’s just amazing to see people’s response,” Bram said. “I didn’t really realize it was because of the huge impact he was having on people’s lives and what an inspiration he was.”
As Frannie continues to prosper, the bond between her and Bram has grown.
“Probably what I like most about her is how much love she has to give,” said Bram, who said he plans to officially adopt Frannie.