A plastic surgeon is calling for the Government to address the increasing number of dog bite injuries in New Zealand.

A staggering 99,000 dog bite claims have been made to ACC in the past 10 years. A new report by a plastic surgeon has shown that of those, more than 5500 led to hospitalisation. 69 percent of attacks occur on private property.

Dr Zach Moaveni, who led the study, warns children younger than nine are most at risk.

"We're all scared of walking down he street or down the park with our kids incase a dog comes out of the bush and starts attacking our children, but in fact it doesn't happen. Most of the dogs are known to us," Dr Moaveni said. 

"Every child that comes in subsequently is another one that we've failed to help. I think it's time we really had a mature conversation and had it at the highest order so that all the correct people gather together to try and come up with some solutions."

President of the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons Dr Sally Langley points out these numbers represent massive costs in medical expenses, and more education is needed.

She said the trauma for children can't be underestimated.

"They'll always have a reminder of the traumatic time that they've been through. The child and the parents will have the reminder and quite a number of children are severely disfigured from the dog bite injuries."