Poor pupper. Hope you figure it out soon.
Bear has icky ears all the time (mostly his left ear). Dark, thick, gucky residue and lots of shaking. The inside of his ear often looks inflamed as well. If it stinks, too, I know it's a yeast infection. I think it's super sweet when Nakita tends to Bear's ear by licking it for him.
He LOVES that but, unfortunately, it means something is going on in there. He had to be put under sedation the first winter we had him to have a thorough cleaning of his inner ears.
We thought it was allergy-based, haven't been able to figure it out after changing foods (what a process!), soaps/shampoos, etc, and I now wonder if it's seasonal.
I just posted the other day looking for home remedies for this issue. Please let me know if you come across anything.
Jennifer