Dog microchipping costs much exaggerated say vets

Opponents of compulsory dog microchipping have been exaggerating the cost of the procedure, the Veterinary Association says.

Farmers have been lobbying to have their dogs exempted from the new law, saying the dogs don't leave the farm and costs will be high because farmers usually own several dogs.

But Veterinary Association chief executive Murray Gibb said the heated debate surrounding the issue had not been helped by misinformation about the costs.

Vets were charging between $35 and $75 all-up for chipping dogs, depending on whether it was a stand alone procedure or included as part of a consultation for other reasons.

It included the cost of the chip as well as lifetime registration on Australian databases.

Mr Gibb said microchipping wasn't restricted to vets and the Veterinary Association envisaged competition putting downward pressure on prices.

"On average, there are five dogs per farm in New Zealand, each with a working life of about seven years. A one-off cost of about $50 for each new dog is a long way from the prices being used in the current debate. This works out at less than $50 per year per farm, a quarter of claimed figures, and should be put in perspective. It costs about $500 per year to properly feed an average working dog."

- NZPA