It's long been known that food and lifestyle play an important role in your health. Nationwide, statistics show that we're now using this knowledge to improve the health of our family pets.

The American Pet Products Association recently announced that pet owners are expected to spend more than double the amount of money on pets they spent 20 years ago, when inflation is considered. Pet owners spent $17 billion ($26.9 billion in today's dollars) in 1994, but are expected to spend $58.5 billion in 2014.Food makes up the bulk of pet spending, with American pet owners expected to spend $22.62 billion this year. Veterinary care will cost $15.25 billion, while owners will shell out $13.72 billion for supplies and over-the-counter medication.Local pet owners who can afford to pay for premium food and access to advanced medical care are doing so in higher numbers, say locals working in the pet field."If you buy the right food for yourself, you want the right foods for your pets," said Janice Coles, the owner of Pet Store Universe in Lehighton, which specializes in natural products and pet foods with ingredients grown and manufactured primarily in the United States.She has noticed a slow but steadily growing local interest in higher-quality pet products since joining the pet industry 20 years ago."Pet owners are realizing that this can prolong their pet's life expectancy and keep them healthy longer," Coles said. "The initial cost is higher, but it can help with veterinary bills.""As a retailer, my costs are going up, but the products are much better," she said, noting that the increased cost of many food ingredients has worked its way into product prices, and with less filler in natural food products, there's less room to absorb price increases.Coles also sees an increasing demand for toys manufactured in the United States, and in turn a number of manufacturers have brought their production lines back to America from overseas. She has noticed that some of these toys seem to be made better and last longer, making up for a slightly higher price.Still, cost remains an obstacle for many. It prevents some owners from buying the foods they might prefer for their pets and families, and keeps some from seeking needed medical care."If anything, I see more people that can't afford their pets, and they're getting less care than they might have in the 1990s when things like heating bills weren't as high. That is a trend that I have seen," said Dr. Mary Lombardo, a veterinarian at Mahoning Valley Animal Hospital.She noted that advancements in veterinary medicine have paced those available to their human counterparts. Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, ultrasounds and biopsies are all available for veterinary clients, and many treatments and diagnostic tools that once required a trip to Philadelphia or the Lehigh Valley are now available locally."The advancements in medicine have raised the bar as to what we can do today," she said. "We have many people who are willing to go this route, and unfortunately a lot of people who aren't able to afford it."Yes, we can do more. But are people willing to pay? Only if they can afford it, and only if it's a priority in their pet's life."Lombardo also sees that owners are skipping regular "healthy" exams, which can help veterinarians find and treat minor problems before they become severe. Owners are also waiting longer to bring ill pets into the office."They don't bring them until they absolutely have to. It's easier for me to remove a lump the size of a marble, but they wait until it's the size of a baseball," she said. "Animals are coming to the vet three to five days later because (owners) are trying home remedies. Since the Internet, people would rather look up symptoms online. Doctor Google never cured anyone."To make the most of your money, Lombardo recommends working with your animal's veterinarian to find the right food type and medical schedule for each animal."People want better nutrition for themselves and for their pets. However, the number one food in the country is still a poor-quality dog food. There is still a vast population of people out there who feed their dogs a poor-quality food, either because they don't understand the difference or because it's not their top priority," she said."They shouldn't just go to their local pet store and pick the most expensive thing. Veterinarian professionals can advise them as to what a good food would be for their pet."If you are facing an expensive veterinary procedure or avoiding trips to the vet because of the cost, speak to an office staff member."Most have information about vet insurance companies," she said. "There are more avenues to help people pay their bills than there were years ago."