Hello everyone.  I've looked at the forum for advice from time to time but this is my first post.  Have seen there are various posts about kennel cough and 'reverse sneezing' but I don't think either of these apply.  My dog (a border terrier) is just over two and has 'wheezed' ever since she was a baby.  She makes this dreadful hacking sound, but it only lasts a couple of seconds and doesn't seem to bother her.  I've never let it worry me - because she seems completely fine, but she did it the other day when my mother was nearby and Mum thought she was about to die!  I've heard of children developing asthma as a result of the strong detergents we use around the house these days and I wonder if this can happen to dogs? I'm not a mad detergent person, but admit to having used carpet cleaner on messes she made as a puppy (but not often as she housetrained very quickly).  Anyway just posting to ask if anyone has heard of anything like this or thinks I should get it checked out?

Thanks.

Does she stand totally still when she is doing this with her body arched and neck outstretched seeming to struggle for breath?

If she does then that is quite common in some  BT's, some seem to, for want of a better expression, catch their breath.  I have always been told its something to do with their soft palate sticking in the wrong place temporarily. Seems to happen more in the ones with the very short muzzles, which seems to confirm the soft palate being the problem.

I had one that did this years ago and I found that

If you hold your hand over their nose for a few moments, they take a breath in through their mouth and that seems to clear it.

If she is just wheezing i.e. breathing very noisily on a constant basis then I would suggest visit to your vet.

Thanks for this.  Yes she does stand as you describe - I guess she is struggling for breath - she makes a loud hacking noise which is quite alarming when you first hear it, but as I said, it only lasts for a very short time.  That's interesting about the soft palate, I'll try putting my hand over her nose next time it happens and see if this helps.  Apart from when she's doing this her breathing is perfectly normal - and she's obviously very well, full of border energy etc etc, so I'm not really worried.

Thanks again, Lady Dazzle.

- oh yes, and she does have a very short muzzle too.

Your very welcome Emmajane.

It sounds to me as this is what the problem is.