Dr. Dawn Mriss treats pets at the Lehighton Animal Hospital in Lehighton and St. Francis Animal Hospital in South Tamaqua and knows how the cost of food and other items for furry friends has been taking a big nip out of their owners’ budgets.

The price spike has gotten so high lately that it’s earned a new term: petflation.

Mriss offered advice for owners like Glorianna Foose, who finds herself checking the prices from a number of dog food manufacturers.

“We had a cutoff budget for him,” she explained. “We had to go to a different type.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that prices for Fido’s and Fluffy’s kibble are heavily impacted by inflation, or about 67.8% higher than they were in 1997.

The brand change doesn’t seem to be impacting Foose’s dog, Moose, 3, who is like family to her. He traveled with her from Hazleton to the recent Bark in the Park at Locust Lake State Park in Barnesville. Like his human, Moose wore a Halloween outfit featuring a bright, orange pumpkin.

Still spending

Analysts at NielsenIQ have found that some owners, like Foose, are switching brands. A recent report from the data analytics firm also found that others are buying food in smaller sizes in an attempt to stretch their dollars.

But the majority of those surveyed by NielsenIQ reported that they will continue to spend as they had before “petflation” occurred.

“While price is always the top driver of pet food sales, two-thirds of these ‘pet parents’ surveyed said if their go-to pet food increases in price, they don’t expect to trade down. These consumer respondents also said that, despite increasing prices, they intend to prioritize purchases of treats, toys, vitamins, and supplements, which could be considered nonessential but still extremely important,” according to NeislenIQ data.

The survey results don’t come as a surprise to Jennifer Hertz-Schumacher, of BaileyBones Canine Bakery in Pottsville. At the shop, she makes treats - and even cakes - for fur babies. She takes her homemade offerings to fairs and festivals as well, and knows that people want to treat their pets.

“Vendors next to me are surprised by how much people buy,” Hertz-Schumacher said. “At a craft show, I typically sell a great amount because people love their animals. That’s the bottom line. They’ll do anything to get them a treat, something just to spoil them.”

Hertz-Schumacher has two dogs - both of whom she pampers.

“I think people go without to spoil their animals,” she said.

Post pandemic prices

But there are some cases when people just can’t afford to care for their pets.

Virginia Giamarino, the adoption coordinator for the Fresh Start Animal Rescue based in Schuylkill County, said most of the nonprofit’s volunteers have ties to other shelters across the region. And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they found that more were struggling to make ends meet. A small handful had to re-home their animals.

Fresh Start finds homes for the pets it fosters, and receives generous donations of pet foods from its supporters. The group, which intends to build a shelter on land it owns near Pine Grove, feeds its cats, dogs and small animals, and assists other shelters with the donations. It also continues to help individuals who are having financial difficulties purchasing food, Giamarino said.

Mriss, who was voted the “Best Veterinarian” by Times News readers in this year’s Readers’ Choice contest, offered advice on keeping a pet healthy without overextending a budget.

One way to save, she said, is to steer away from foods that are branded as “whole” or “organic.” The addition of those descriptors to packaging is likely to make it appealing to humans - and often means a jump in the price consumers pay.

“The more you pay for the dog food doesn’t mean it is a better quality food,” Mriss said.

Brand names also might raise the cost.

“There are normal grocery store brands that have been around for years that are just as good,” she said. “You don’t have to be top of the line.”

Individuals might want to check the labels for ingredients to make sure the food is healthy.

Those who decide to swap their pet’s usual brand for something new should do so gradually by mixing the “new” food in small quantities. Not doing so might cause a pet to vomit or develop diarrhea.

The slow transition might make it easier to determine whether a pet has food intolerance or food allergies. If, after some time, the pet continues to have bouts of intestinal upset, it might be an allergy.

Steer clear of junk food

As far as feeding “people” food to pets, Mriss usually advises against it.

“Sometimes you give people an inch and they take a mile” by feeding a pet unhealthy fast food, pizza or ice cream, she said. “Technically, for the most part, if it’s good for you, it’s good for them.”

For example, Mriss has recommended green beans and carrots for canine diet plans. On the other hand, some foods - including grapes and raisins - are toxic to dogs.

She also recommended keeping a dog active.

Many of her “patients” had been home with their owners during the coronavirus pandemic. When owners returned to work, the pets didn’t fare well. Their separation anxiety manifested into chewing furniture and other destructive behaviors.

“Exercise is fabulous not only for their physical health but their mental health. We always say ‘a good dog is a tired dog,’” Mriss said.

Stay on budget

Doron Wolffberg, a founder of All About Cats, shared tips for caring for dogs and cats on a budget, including:

• Foods - If you can afford it, spring for organic meats and foods, but if you can’t, remember that nonorganic species-appropriate food is much better than organic food that doesn’t honor your pet’s carnivorous needs.

• Toys - Know the difference between giving your pet the best and buying things because they make you feel like a good pet owner. For example, toys are fun, but most pets are perfectly capable of finding their own toys around the house. Cats, for example, are just as happy sleeping in a blanket-lined cardboard box as they are snoozing in a sherpa-lined cat tunnel.

• Cat litter - Cat litter expenses can add up quickly, but one of the most economical litter box solutions is swapping out traditional litter for wood stove pellets - also marketed as horse stall bedding. These sawdust pellets are ultra-absorbent and appear to work just as well as popular brands of pine cat litter.

• Reduce your pet’s likelihood of getting sick or hurt - A species-appropriate diet is the single easiest and most affordable means of discouraging obesity, diabetes, and lower urinary tract disease. For example, you can prevent your pet from getting into accidents by keeping them indoors or going for supervised outdoor adventures with a harness and leash.

• Seek help - Don’t forget to seek out help where possible if you are really struggling. Remember, everyone’s in the same boat, so ask a friend for a bit of pet food or cat litter. There are also various pet food donations available at food banks so be sure to explore those options.