Clean the ear and groom that leg.

I think the vet is going to have to put him under to do both because the gabapentin and trazedone didn't calm him down enough his last vet visit. He was petrified.

Have his teeth cleaned while he's under...

Especially using positive reinforcement. Too much negative can promote aggression, which is what you're trying to stop.

It's odd because he was always a bit nervous at the vets but we never used to have to drug him. During Covid they were taking just the pets in, and owners had to wait in the car.

Ever since then even though my sister and I go with him, he keeps freaking out, and trying to escape, and now we have to. Not sure if they accidentally hurt him, and didn't say anything, during the Covid restriction period but something changed.

The fact that he's reacting so differently to you trying to clean his right ear makes me wonder if there's something going on in there that the vet needs to look at.

If that ear is already bothering him, it's not hard to imagine why he doesn't want it messed with.

We have the same problem with ours when it comes to doing his ears.

What has worked best for us is to use EarWell wipes.
We leash him and I give treats on the rug on one side while my husband wipes the ear on the opposite side (quickly!).

We really wish we had trained him through this as a young pup.

We warm them for a few seconds in the microwave-
seems to help the dog tolerate it better.

You can buy on Amazon. Good luck!

how it goes!

The need, especially if it's bothering him and that he will feel better afterwards, maybe not right away. And acknowledge he's scared and assure him you're there to help. And at the vet get the teeth cleaned too.

I have a rescued GSDX rescue. She is mighty. Used to get along well with Vet staff and starting to get finicky now. 3 years old.
I do ear nuggies lightly with my knuckles and also rub her ears. So putting a natural ear cleaner that I squirt in goes well. Then I do her ear rubbing to move and loosen goo. She will generally shake her head to release anything but I can also wipe.

I try to get her used to being touched. Like on her paws and nails. On her ears.

A far as the leg goes, yes...needs a look see. My Anastasia had a serious issue and now has an implant. An unusual condition though made in the womb and aggravated by being dumped in a TX bayou to die. She was tri-podding so...

Then rub it in real good. He will love the attention and the deep rubbing in his ear. Expect groans and a lean into you if you're doing it right. He will shake his ear as well, to help expel the dirt/grime. After you have done that a few times over a week or so, he will get better about letting you do this.

Then you can try to do the other ear. This time be more gentle and expect some pushback. Eventually you will have his trust as he sees that this attention has made his ears feel better. GSDs are very smart dogs, they will be quick to see that you are helping them.

Of course this is the home remedy, and you may need to get him in to the vet & a general anesthetic to do the ear/leg exam the first time. Bending his leg in the right way for the x-ray will be easier under a general unless he is very trusting. It sounds like that's not the case here.