Sometimes it’s an enterprising vet at fault: oh, your pet has ______ and needs a special diet containing _____, which we just happen to sell and you can’t find at a big box store.
Now the vet has turned your pet into a recurring revenue source beyond labour-intensive checkups.
It’s kinda like Luxxottica: a lot of their brands are only available through brick and mortal clinics. You can’t buy them through an online provider because they won’t sell to them.
The "prescription" version is even worse. You need a "prescription" from your vet to buy it for authorized retailers, but it doesn't actually have any drugs in it that are regulated in a way requiring a prescription. They've been sued over this (but I think they won).
My vet told me to put my cat on it after he had stress-related urinary problems. The problems went away, but the food is stupid-expensive, I'm a little peeved at how the system is taking advantage of me, but I don't know what to switch to other than starting to give my cat tryptophan.
Take your pet to a different veterinarian for a second opinion. There has to be at least one that doesn't shill for corporate product and can give you grounded, practical advice.
Now the vet has turned your pet into a recurring revenue source beyond labour-intensive checkups.
It’s kinda like Luxxottica: a lot of their brands are only available through brick and mortal clinics. You can’t buy them through an online provider because they won’t sell to them.