wheezing/breathing attacks

Question
4 year old female Maltese...dry dog food = Natures Recipe...chicken and rice.
My little baby gets some wheezing or difficult breathing.  A lot when she is sleeping and also when she is excited.  Please let me know if there is an over the counter cure for her...or if there is anything else I can do to help her.  My Vet says this is normal but she seems to struggle so much when she gets them.
Thank you

Answer
Hi - Yes, this is a common problem.  I think this is happening:
Many  dogs get episodes of :

Reverse Sneezing:
Sometimes called "backwards sneezing", apparently known as "epiglottal spasms". A sudden intake of air, usually accompanied by a loud wheezing, rasping or "honking" sound, often repeated several times until it subsides on its own.
Some dogs do it more than others.
****Various approaches have been posted on-list to shorten an episode of reverse sneezing, including holding the dogs nose, blowing in it, stroking their throat to encourage them to swallow, to gentle pressure on an acupressure point between the eyes.
The consensus seems to be that while sometime embarrassing, reverse sneezing is typically nothing to be concerned about.

I hope that is what is happening to your baby.

Marie Peppers LPN MA
mtnmom@gci.net