Q:One of my dogs eats a special prescription diet because of his allergies. My cat is on another because of her failing kidneys. And they're really expensive! I don't know if I can continue to afford this. Do you have any suggestions?

A: I hear you. Some of us are seriously starting to wonder what costs more, our pets' food or our car payments. My utility bill can't even compete. What's worse, the price of pet food is climbing faster than the price of other goods.

Higher fuel and grain costs, inflation and the weak dollar are all to blame for the recent surge in pet food prices -- not to mention the incalculable effects of the pet food recall.

Ten years ago the consumer price index for pet food was 23 percent lower than it is today. In fact, the price of the average bag of pet food is 10 percent higher than it was just a year ago. That's a whopping increase most of us can't easily absorb when we're talking about prescription pet foods that cost $75 per 20-pound bag.

Sure, your cat might not get through a bag this size too quickly, but if you've got a Labrador retriever or a Great Dane on a special diet, you're in serious trouble unless your bank account sports a generous cushion.

There are a few money-saving solutions you can investigate:

• Ask your vet to recommend inexpensive supplements to your pets' foods so you can stretch that expensive bag of kibble into next week. For example, depending upon their dietary needs, foods such as sweet potatoes and oatmeal can be appropriate.

• Buy bigger and more cost-effective bags of food and store the excess in your freezer or in airtight containers until you need it.

• Shop around. Sure, some foods are by prescription only, but that doesn't mean your vet is the only source in town. Some big-box pet supply stores carry prescription diets -- all you need is your vet's written prescription.

• Consult with a nutritionist (or your vet) to devise home-cooked, custom diets for your pets. This can be an inexpensive way to feed extremely high-quality meals without being beholden to the pet food manufacturers' marketing strategies.

For information on nutritionists (who will often work by telephone), visit the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition's website at www.aavn.org.

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