[OwnedByJezebel]

I have to agree with those that don't see any price gouging with prescription foods. I spent over 20 years in manufacturing of commodity and specialty products and there is a good reason why specialty products cost more.

The ingredients (fixed costs) are very similar when comparing commodity and specialty items, but the variable costs are completely different. You can take a commodity item (in this case, regular dog food) and make it in huge quantities. It's very automated and there is such a large demand that they can make a lot of it before switching to make another type. They may even have separate production lines so that they don't have to switch at all. The packaging can be ordered in larger quantities. They can use established distribution channels to regular retail outlets.

Now take prescription food lines. They have several different varieties that are formulated for various specific needs. It required more R&D and testing compared to the normal dog food. And the demand for it is miniscule when compared to the regular dog food. That means small batch production, and lots of smaller production runs with downtime in between to thoroughly clean equipment (wouldn't want any cross-contamination when it comes to medical needs). Packaging is procured in smaller quantities since the need isn't there for large scale production. And the distribution channels? You can't use the regular ones, you have to ship in smaller quantities to every big or small vet practice out there.

Are their margins higher on the specialty products? Of course they are. They should be. Their specialty product that has (thankfully) very little demand compared to the demand of the commodity food and solves a problem SHOULD have a higher margin. But I bet if you looked at the overall profit on the specialty food it would be dwarfed by the overall profit of the regular food. The regular food sold in massive quantities has a MUCH greater impact on their bottom line. And I don't think it makes much of a difference on the bottom line of a vet practice, either.

It's just a different ball game all together, and there is a reason why it costs so much. I'm just grateful that it's out there the few times that I've needed it. If you think it costs too much, then you always have the option of home cooking, just do it under the guidance of a proper consult.