I'm currently paying about $400/month for The Farmer's Dog — which is more than my own grocery budget. I'm looking for alternatives that are easier on my wallet without compromising my dog's health.

Some background: she has a very sensitive stomach and does not do well on kibble. She was hospitalized once after developing hemorrhagic gastroenteritis from it — it was genuinely scary. Any time I've tried transitioning her with a kibble/TFD mix, she gets diarrhea. On TFD alone, she's perfectly fine with zero GI issues.

I'm also a bit wary of vet advice on this specifically, as the vets I saw gave me poor guidance during that scary episode.

I don't have friends or family who've dealt with this, so I'm turning to this community. Has anyone navigated something similar? A few things I'm wondering:

• Is home meal prepping a viable option? If so, where do you even start?
• Are there any fresh/gently cooked dog food brands that are more affordable than TFD but similarly gentle on sensitive stomachs?
• Any other approaches I haven't thought of?

Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would mean a lot. I'm figuring this out solo and could really use some experienced perspectives.