The invention relates to a counting mechanism (2) for counting the number of spray doses, for example in combination with spray dose inhalers. A counting mechanism according to the invention comprises a cap (7), a counting wheel (8), and a control wheel (9), all of which have a substantially circular shape, are concentric in relation to each other and, upon each spraying, are acted upon via a rod-shaped pin (32), which is arranged at right angles to the inner surface of the control wheel (9) and is connected to the control wheel (9) via a spring member (33), such that a dosing step is counted by the counting mechanism (2). The counting mechanism (2) has a minimal effect on the spray flow and on the dose size of the sprayed substance since only the rod-shaped pin (32) is introduced into the spray channel.