Here's what I found when googling it.
Choosing an antifungal drug
Aug*10*'03 (Updated Sep*15*'03)

The Bottom Line Choose a fungicidal drug for fastest cure. Use fungistatic drugs as a backup.

My condition:

The skin was peeling between my little toes for months. I finally decided to do something.

My treatment:

I used Lotrimin AF daily for about 2 weeks, and saw my condition gradually improve (less peeling). Then on the recommendation of a doctor, I switched to Lotrimin Ultra, and my symptoms disappeared in five days. Lotrimin AF didn't quite do the trick, but Lotrimin Ultra did.

As per instructions, I continued daily treatment for two weeks after the symptoms disappeared, to completely kill off any lingering fungal cells that might grow back.

What I learned:

Over-the-counter antifungal medications fall into two categories, fungistatic and fungicidal. The azole chemistry of fungistatic medications prevents the growth of new fungal cells. The allylamine chemistry of fungicidal medications brings death to existing fungal cells. Fungicidal drugs are supposed to cure faster than fungistatic drugs.

Commonly available antifungal drugs:

Tolnaftate: Tinactin, generics. Available without a prescription since the 1960's. Inexpensive and generally least effective. Cost: $2-$7 for 12g-24g tube.

Miconazole: Micatin, Monistat, generics. Fungistatic. Effective against candida (yeasts). Available without a prescription since 1990ish.

Clotrimazole: Lotrimin AF, generics. Fungistatic. Available without a prescription since 1991. Cost: $6-$9 for 24g tube.

Ketoconazole: Prescription drug in the USA. Available without a scrip in Canada. Often taken orally to fight toenail fungus, or blended into shampoo.

Terbinafine: LamisilAT. Fungicidal. Available without a prescription since 1999. Cost: $12 for 24g tube.

Butenafine: Lotrimin Ultra. Fungicidal. Available without a prescription since 1997 in Canada, 2001 in USA. Proven effective against some candida strains. Cost: $11 for 24g tube.

Comparing Lotrimin's drugs, both Clotrimazole and Butenafine exhibit broad spectrum activity -- they kill 80%-100% of fungal infections. The major clinical difference is that Butenafine works faster, bringing relief in days and total cure in two weeks instead of four weeks, so it's a logical choice as a first line of defense.

Depending on your particular infection, one drug may be more effective than another. If Butenafine fails to cure an infection, a person can later switch to Clotrimazole, or vice versa. Some fungal strains respond to some drugs but not others.


Conclusion:
Use the newer meds. The only reason to use older Lotrimin, Tinactin, or Micatin products is a tight budget because Lotrimin Ultra / LamisilAT contain more effective drugs. But even then, you can buy a generic version for half the cost of name brand.

Here's what I found when googling it. Hope it helps
Choosing an antifungal drug

The Bottom Line Choose a fungicidal drug for fastest cure. Use fungistatic drugs as a backup

Over-the-counter antifungal medications fall into two categories, fungistatic and fungicidal. The azole chemistry of fungistatic medications prevents the growth of new fungal cells. The allylamine chemistry of fungicidal medications brings death to existing fungal cells. Fungicidal drugs are supposed to cure faster than fungistatic drugs.

Commonly available antifungal drugs:

Tolnaftate: Tinactin, generics. Available without a prescription since the 1960's. Inexpensive and generally least effective. Cost: $2-$7 for 12g-24g tube.

Miconazole: Micatin, Monistat, generics. Fungistatic. Effective against candida (yeasts). Available without a prescription since 1990ish.

Clotrimazole: Lotrimin AF, generics. Fungistatic. Available without a prescription since 1991. Cost: $6-$9 for 24g tube.

Ketoconazole: Prescription drug in the USA. Available without a scrip in Canada. Often taken orally to fight toenail fungus, or blended into shampoo.

Terbinafine: LamisilAT. Fungicidal. Available without a prescription since 1999. Cost: $12 for 24g tube.

Butenafine: Lotrimin Ultra. Fungicidal. Available without a prescription since 1997 in Canada, 2001 in USA. Proven effective against some candida strains. Cost: $11 for 24g tube.

Comparing Lotrimin's drugs, both Clotrimazole and Butenafine exhibit broad spectrum activity -- they kill 80%-100% of fungal infections. The major clinical difference is that Butenafine works faster, bringing relief in days and total cure in two weeks instead of four weeks, so it's a logical choice as a first line of defense.

Depending on your particular infection, one drug may be more effective than another. If Butenafine fails to cure an infection, a person can later switch to Clotrimazole, or vice versa. Some fungal strains respond to some drugs but not others.


Conclusion:
Use the newer meds. The only reason to use older Lotrimin, Tinactin, or Micatin products is a tight budget because Lotrimin Ultra / LamisilAT contain more effective drugs. But even then, you can buy a generic version for half the cost of name brand.

So sorry for the extended double post. When I realized and tried to cancel the first message it was too late.

Anyway what I used on my guy was Clotrimazole cream USP 1% anti fungal.

Make sure there are no ear mites...might be allergy also...good luck

Sammy had leather ear about 3 or 4 years ago and I put Lotrimin (over the counter from drug store) on his ears 2x a day for about a week. I saw the hair start to grow back and I stopped the Lotrimin. All the hair grew back and he never had it again.

Leather Ear
 

Thanks so much for all of the info, I was lucky enough to have a couple of those creams on hand. I had to purchase "Canesten" not long ago because they didn't have any of the no-name brands in stock, I just took a look at it and it is the Clotrimazole cream 1%, I have been using another brand called Nyaderm/Nystatin cream, it is an Anti-fungal/Antibiotic, it has zinc in it so it makes quite the mess, but my baby Pete smells like baby powder because of the zinc I guess ( it smells like a diaper rash cream). I used to use it on my Shi-itzu's ears, it worked but made one heck of a mess!
Now if only I could figure out what he's allergic to( my Yorkie)! I have him on Summit, Canadian chicken, he just loves it, though we had a bit of difficulty with his acid reflux at the beginning and his drinking of tons of water, but it has slowed back to normal since I've cut the crunchies down some, and add an Oatmeal/Brown rice/flax seed/Oat bran, Fruit and Veggie mix I make, then I sprinkle digestive enzymes on his food and mix it in, he seems healthy and happy now and isn't having pencil poops that were causing problems with his anal glands.
Thanks for all the advice!:thumbup:

Oooh Ellington has this! Bumping an old thread, but he has both ears and nose. The vet didn't seem bothered by it, and said the ears were showing an older allergic reaction. But the nose is odd looking......

Leo had leather ear when he was a puppy in the winter months. I used Lotrimen for about a week and it went away and never came back! Sounds like what you're doing is the right thing judging from the research i've done. Keep it up...

Sorry to bring up this old thread, but my Heidi is having a problem with this. I've been rubbing it down with alcohol daily for a couple months and it doesn't seem any better, if not worse. She has it on the bridge of her nose and I know she will lick the Lotrimin 1% if I put it on there. Is that safe? I just don't know what else to do. I even put a qtip with tea tree oil on it a couple times and she still insisted on licking it. When I read it can be poisonous, I got scared and won't put it on her anymore. Has anyone else used the Lotrimin 1% with a dog that licks their muzzle after it was put on? Please help if anyone knows. She is a therapy dog and I hate for her to look so bad when we are on our visits.

Black nose/ear(leather ear)
 

I'm sorry your little one has it on their nose bridge, Petey has his on his ears and nose that I'm trying to get rid of.
I'm using No-Name (Walmart ) Clotrimazole Cream USP1% Antifungal Cream on his ears, I had good results when I remembered to put the cream on twice a day for about 2 wks, but because of his weakened immune system or I just missed some, it came back! I've never tried to put it on his mussel because yes, he's lick it off!
I asked my hubby if he had any idea's and he came up with a little mask, kind of like a Bandit mask, maybe made out of felt, eye holes cut out and the bridge of the nose covered, then with elastic string to tie behind the ears?? it would at least keep the medicine from being licked off.
Any other idea's???

Coconut oil sounds like a better cure then the drugs and a silly mask! I think I'll try it!

I understand what you mean about the mask as a barrier to keep them from licking. I think it's a great idea. Sometimes you have to find a little ingenuity to solve problems. Gonna try the coconut oil first though. That would be awesome, I hope it works. I'll check back in a few weeks to let you know the progress since others have the same issues. I wonder how many times a day I should do the coconut oil & if I should still clean it with alcohol before application.
If this doesn't help, I guess back to the Lotrimin idea. I've got to find something that helps.
Thanks for the replies!

When we rescued Logan, he was in pretty bad shape. He had leather ear and a host of other problems. We had him professionally groomed a couple months after we got him, and she told me about rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush... honestly, my intuition told me not to do that. I just bathed him regularly, and used a really good (Frederic Fekkai) Shea Butter conditioner on him. Miraculously, his ears started growing hair! Maybe our case is extraordinary, because I honestly didn't do any of the remedies I have read about on here and across the web... but all I know is this: my little guy doesn't have leather ear anymore.

Well, I have day 2 of the coconut oil down. Funny part is, she just loves it!
When I tried the alcohol a couple months she'd fight me not wanting it, and understandably so that stinky tea tree oil I used a couple times. But already after a few applications of the coconut oil, she saw me coming with her little jar and runs to me. She holds her head up and the look on her face looks like she's contentedly soaking it all in. Guess its turned into a doggy coconut spa. Makes her greasy, but I hope it does the trick!