Ahhh SJ, my son gets bronchiolitis a far bit, and they have us on ventalin for it. It took ages for me to get him to take the spacer - we found he turned around and enjoyed it when he got the "power" so to speak by pressing down the puffer and/or holding the spacer. For him, having it forced on him was the worst. Now he's a little trooper - why not try getting your DS to press down the ventalin with you, so she knows what's happening?

It's really scary, and it doesn't sound like asthma - but then again my asthma is just coughing that doesn't stop. Good luck, and i'm glad she doesn't have a virus.