Ear infection back again.. pls help!

I haven't heard of aluminum acetate but ... I'll do some checking.  *sigh* unfortunately this is often how vets operate -- they keep you coming back and nothing truly changes.  They may switch meds but there's no real effort. 
 
Now if you want to read a whole "series" find the posts I've done on Billy's whole situation -- and the cooperation between my regular vet and holistic vet has been phenomenal.  Does this happen easily?  NO.  You develop these relationships -- but it starts by finding a vet who is truly exceptional.  And I've searched and tried VERY hard to work with this particular vet (the regular vet, Dr. Bailey).  Even as a young vet he demonstrated super good diagnostic techniques. 
 
The holistic vet is one I found thru a vet on staff at the University of FL at Gainesville.  YES - I found a **holistic** vet thru a referral from one of the vets up there!!!  State school! 
 
But speaking of veterinary colleges -- that can be a SUPER good way to get a diagnosis.  Vet schools are often far more reasonable than you might think and often they offer cutting-edge diagnostic tools.  Even if it's a drive, if it gets the dog diagnosed it can be worth it.
 
Has a culture and sentivity test been done in the ears??  That's gonna isolate any bacteria (not just yeast -- often bacteria can be 'underneath' and undiagnosed!). 
 
I'll be honest with you -- when I tell you to look further for a vet, I speak from experience.  My first cocker had bacterial infections for YEARS that were undiagnosed and it cost him his ears.  NOT just 'hearing' mind you-- but his ears.  Eventually we literally had to have his ears removed (not the ear flaps -- but the entire 'ear' mechanism - his head sewn shut and he was totally stone deaf, of course) or we would have lost HIM. 
 
I hold the vet I was going to well nigh onto totally responsible EXCEPT I should have gone elsewhere sooner.   

No. no culture and sensitivity test.  I asked about a swab and I believe (don't quote me on it, we talked about alot of things that day) he said that treating ear infections with anti-biotics is difficult because there are side effects to some of them and it is usually a last resort thing.  I don't think I would be so worried about his ear if there weren't other odd things going on.  The hiding under the couch, the lowered body weight (although it is in the "normal" range for Shih Tzu), the shedding, the coat etc... Who knows, maybe all of that is from the ear infection making him just generally feel yucky.  All in all, the vet doesn't think it's an allergy but says we can treat him with Benadryl to see.  He isn't sure what it is.  Maybe I will look into the Vet college in Ontario...

That is so sad about your Cocker... I have never heard of that happening.  I had asked if chronic ear infections could make Tucker deaf and was never told that that was a possiblity.... I am sorry to hear that you and your pup had to go through that.  Must have been hard...

Wheat.  My dog's ear infections are most definitely caused by a wheat allergy.  Most dog biscuits have wheat in them.  Even the good ones.  After discovering this with my own dog, I started recommending no wheat to customers with dogs with ear infections at the pet supplies store I used to work at.  I had tons of people come back and thank me.

Wheat eh?  I don't feed any store bought biscuits anymore.  My dogs get raw fruits and veggies as treats now instead.  I should check in the food I feed though.  I don't think NB allergy formulas contain wheat but I will check.  Thanks.  And by the way, your dog is adorable!!!!!!

Thanks.  Natural Balance does not have wheat in it's Venison and Brown Rice diet, but they do use wheat in thier rolls and lamb cookies.  I work for a company that distributes NB

That is good to know.  I am going to rotate to the Salmon and Sweet Potatoe.  Does that contain wheat?  The only treats I feed my dogs are veggies and fruit.  No dog cookies at all.  I have had good luck with NB.  I think their products are great!

Natural Balance does not have wheat in any of their dry dog foods. Brewers yeast is also known to cause ear infections, which the allergy formulas of NB do not contain.