Owners who look like their pets, weight issues that cause injuries, and dogs that eat the weirdest things – Dr John Drummond is reflecting on a colourful career of caring for animals.

After more than four decades on the job, the former owner of Welcome Bay Vet Clinic has cut his hours back to two days a week as he hands over to new co-owners, Dr Hannah Bain and vet nurse Sarah Wilson.

“They’re like my whānau,” said the 70-year-old. “I’ve always had neat staff and because of that, I’ve also had great clients. Hannah and Sarah are such nice people and will bring the clinic up to the next level in terms of technology.”

Drummond launched his career as a rural vet in Northland in 1980. “We used RTs with huge aerials and crank phones, with operators connecting the calls and listening in,” recalls Drummond. “It was so remote, and I really enjoyed it. I think people are just as interesting as their pets and the saying that they look alike is sometimes true.

“I remember the first case I ever saw as a young vet in Kaikohe was a black poodle brought in by a woman with black curly hair exactly like her dog.”

Drummond spent a year overseas, got married and the couple shifted to Welcome Bay in the mid-1980s, where they bought a “true family practice”. He’s watched clients buy kittens or puppies for their children, those kids leave home to attend university and return years later to begin their own families and get their own fur babies.

Dr John Drummond in the early days of his career in Northland in the 1980s, aged in his mid-20s. Photo/supplied

“We see them right from puppies and kittens to the end, which is always sad, but I think it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Drummond said times have changed too – he used to see a lot of broken bones but now weight problems make cruciate ligament damage the most common ailment among domestic animals.

“I used to see that injury in farm dogs that might have got caught up in a fence, but with house pets it’s usually happened over time along with degenerative arthritis.

“Some owners think they just need to increase exercise but actually they need to get the weight down first. I think the main thing owners could do better is to watch their pet’s nutrition.”

Dr John Drummond in the early days of his career in Northland in the 1980s, aged in his mid-20s. Photo/supplied

Drummond’s advice is to choose food that’s lower in fat, avoid feeding pets off their own plate and stop everyone giving them treats.

“Arthritis is like having glass in the joints, it’s really painful, so you have to take it seriously,” said. “Measure out a day’s ration, so any pet treats come out of the daily allowance, with whatever’s left over given at the end of the day.”

Then there are the dogs that eat unmentionables from the bedroom – like underwear. Corn cobs and peach stones are also often fished out of stomachs.

“There’s too much to fit in at vet school. It’s the kind of job that you’re always learning,” said Drummond. “Pets are great at emotional blackmail. They win your heart with their big brown eyes and their personalities. You can see why we love them so much.”