The poor lad, he must be so scared
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Sometimes it just takes one bad experience to mean they're terrified of the whole situation. A bit like OH and the dentist really, though it's easier to reason with him than a dog. Usually
As I said, I washed out the ear drop bottle and, on walks (an easier place to give J drops as he expects to be wearing his muzzle) I would show him the bottle, say 'Good boy' and treat him. Once he anticipated the treat when he saw the bottle, I held it over his head, closeish to his ear, where he couldn't see it, said 'Good boy' and treated him. Then I progressed through touching his ear at the same time as holding the bottle, lifting his ear while holding the bottle, and momentarily positioning ear and bottle as if I was going to put drops on. Then I progressed through the tiniest squeeze of the bottle. When I first started this stage I didn't worry about getting the drop in the ear. If he felt it somewhere near the ear and didn't react, that was fine. Also, at this stage, I was very much refining my own technique as at first there could be too many/few drops and my aim was very poor
Oh, I forgot - the ear touching was also followed up with a good ear rub which of course dogs like anyway if they don't associate it with ear drops, and would help work the drops in in the 'live' situation.
If he needed ear drops now I'd probably take a few steps back at first as the smell/feel of the drops would be different - even if it meant delaying the first 'proper' treatment for a day.
Have you tried natural stress remedies for the vet to see if they take the edge off? I tried this with J once, building up over a few days. Didn't work at all, but you never know, Merlin might be different!