Carly Stevens
This is my approach, too. My GSD was a rescue, we got her when she was 6 (at least) and were lucky that she was not vaccinated and not spayed. She was on a toxic diet of cheap kibble and tins. We transitioned her to raw fed, with fruit and veg (using ideas from Richard Pitcairn and Judy Morgan, I wasn't precious about it but gave bones 2 or 3 times a week). In the first few months we had a horribly itchy dog, she also arrived with rough, greasy fur and severe behaviour issues (can a dog be ADHD?). After 3 months on her new diet her fur was like velvet. We did use homeopathy and some herbal products and eventually canine myotherapy and acupuncture for hip dysplasia. She lived to be nearly 13 (or possibly older) and for most of that time was really healthy.
I'd opt for raw fed every time, because I saw the most incredible transformation in 3 months, related to diet change. I do have a local, free range, organic butcher, where I can buy offals, pull, heart, chicken carcasses. I think toxicity is an important issue and it might be that if you can't get toxic free meat and have a dog with toxicity issues than vegan might be the best you can do, but I wonder how free of toxins that is. Judy Morgan suggests that some dogs do better with cooked, though, and I've come across one person who says this is true for their dog.
I think we need to be pragmatic, flexible and open minded. Thanks for the interesting discussion!