When My old guy had an inner ear infection my vet made up a Baytril solution to use in the ear itself. It worked wonderfully. Apparently this is something they typically use for cats since cats are hard to "pill" but since an inner ear infection is a deep tissue infection it is a good way to treat the ear topically.
Did you check her thyroid? Do you feed soy (goitrogenic) by chance? According to Jean Dodd's soy can effect the thyroid and head tilt is mentioned under neuromuscular function below. Probably not this but I thought I'd mention it anyway.
Isoflavones in soy are the primary compounds linked to decreased thyroid function. Isoflavones such as genistein interfere with the TPO (thyroid peroxidase) gene’s role in making thyroid peroxidase, an enzyme necessary for the chemical reaction that ultimately produces T4 and T3 via the protein thyroglobulin.
In dogs, the result is hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), the most common endocrine disorder affecting our canine companions. Hypothyroidism in dogs can result in disruption to a variety of critical systems causing many symptoms, including:
• Metabolic changes: (lethargy, weight gain, mental dullness, cold intolerance, exercise intolerance, mood swings, chronic infections, seizures)
• Neuromuscular (nerve/muscle) problems: (weakness, stiffness, facial paralysis, head tilt, incontinence, drooping eyelids)
• Skin diseases: (dry, scaly skin and dandruff, chronic offensive skin odor, hyperpigmentation, “rat tail,” “puppy coat,” pyoderma)
• Reproductive disorders: (infertility, absence of heat cycles, silent heats, testicular atrophy)
• Cardiac abnormalities: (slow heart rate, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy)
• Gastrointestinal and liver disorder: (constipation, diarrhea, vomiting)
• Blood disorders: (bleeding, anemia, bone marrow failure)
• Eye disorders: (corneal lipid deposits, corneal ulceration, “dry eye”)
• Behavioral disorders: (fear, aggression, anxiety)
It is probably a muscle spasm. That's why the steroids are helping. they can last for days until it resolves by itself. It looks like you should look for a new vet.
Do you have any other symptoms? Like turning more one direction the the other? If you pinch toes on each foot, does he respond equally on each foot, ie pull back a paw. If you sit in front of him on the floor, take a pair of forceps or a pen, brush them across the whiskers ends. Does each side react the same, ie does his face twitch like tickles. Wave a hand, coming from behind the ear, in front of each eye. You would like to see him close each eye. Any squinting when he goes from inside to out into the bright light? Like we would so with a bad headache? I have several others if you'd like some more.
