Pets with Sensory Loss or Decline
Providing engaging, enrichment activities and exercises for pets experiencing vision and hearing loss or decline, giving them the fulfilled, happy and active lifestyle they deserve.
Living life to the fullest...
When it comes to sensory changes, your pet isn't losing their world; they’re just exploring it on a different frequency—finding joy in the scent of a breeze or the warmth of a sunbeam. As one sense takes a backseat, others step up to the podium, allowing them to still 'read' their world, just in a new way.
Caring for these special companions is a unique responsibility that requires patience, skill, compassion and deep understanding. That’s why I'll work closely with you to develop a care plan tailored to your pets changing needs - using customized, sensory-driven exercises to bring joy and mental stimulation to their daily routine.
Sensory exercises stimulate your pets senses and natural instincts through curated activities like nose work, textured surfaces, gentle vibrations, calming music and interactive puzzle toys. These sessions provide vital mental stimulation, soothe anxiety and help your pet become more confident in exploring new sensations and environments.
Below is an overview of some of the methods I use:
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Environmental Mapping:
A comprehensive walkthrough of your home to identify potential hazards and establish a "safe-zone map" of your pets favorite retreat areas. By documenting where their exact feeding, sleeping, hiding spots and preferred walking routes are, I am able to maintain vital daily routines and minimize their anxiety.
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Tailored Sensory Play:
I will bring a unique blend of sensory experiences to your pets routine, featuring gentle vibrations, soothing rhythmic touch and engaging, structured light & sound games and toys. With customized soundscapes, interactive play and floor-based cues, I turn our time together into a fun, calming and cognitively enriching experience.
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Tactile Enrichment:
An excellent way to reduce anxiety and boost your pets self-confidence. This method introduces them to different textures and temperatures - like mixing soft rugs with cool tiles - along with varied-surface walkways and soothing touch techniques. Combined with consistent, gentle or vibration-based physical cues, assisting them in safely navigating their environment. These activities are vital for helping your pet investigate their world with confidence, while encouraging essential natural behaviors like digging, grooming and exploration.
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Assisted Mobility Support:
Helping pets with sensory changes navigate tricky areas like stairs or doorways using specialized harnesses or "halo" vests for blind or visually-impaired pets.
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Scent-focused walks:
Scent-focused walks (Sniffaris) allow your pet to take their time and sniff as much as possible, creating a more rewarding experience for them. This can lower heart rate and release dopamine.
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Stroller Rides:
A great alternative to the scent-focused Sniffari walks for pets that may be hesitant to walk on a leash. It still allows your pet to experience the scents of the outdoors, however safely tucked away in the comfort of a secure stroller.
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Soothing Touch Techniques:
Uses gentle, intentional and slow physical contact to reduce anxiety. By prioritizing trust over forced affection, I use techniques like rhythmic strokes along the spine, circular ear massages and gentle, resting palm contact to calm the nervous system and help your pet feel secure.
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Scented toys:
These type toys have scents, often natural and calming, embedded into the material to stimulate a pets sense of smell and engagement. They are designed to provide mental stimulation and can be used for training, stress relief or simply to make playtime more exciting and long-lasting during my visits with your pet.
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Puzzle and search games:
Food puzzle toys or hiding treats around the house for your pet to find are fun ways to provide vital mental stimulation.
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All pets receive customized playtimes and enrichment activities that will engage them in mental stimulation and physical exercise using sensory appropriate toys and methods in a safe, familiar space.
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Keeps pets in their own safe home environment, reducing pet anxiety and stress.
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GPS Check-in/Check-out feature gives you peace of mind knowing exactly when I've visited your pet and for how long.
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Highly skilled professional:
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Pet First Aid & CPR Certified
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Fear Free® Certified
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Licensed, Bonded & Insured
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++ Up to 3 pets per household. Specialized 1-on-1 support is dedicated to the primary pet; an "Essential Care Fee" applies for housemates (basic potty/feed/water).
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A holiday/peak period surcharge of $15 per visit applies to specific dates throughout the year. For a complete schedule of these dates, please visit the FAQ section.
RATES
Rates apply to any Snoodlebugs Service*
$65
1-hour service
$15
Essential Care Fee++
(each additional pet)
Ensures housemates are fed and let out while I focus exclusively on the specialized needs of the primary pet.
*Excludes Client Coaching sessions which will be priced at their designated rates.
Client Coaching Series
"The Empowered Senses Series"
$85 per session
Tactile & Visual Communication Mastery
Focus: Replacing verbal commands with hand signals, touch cues and vibration conditioning for improved communication.
Turn the challenge of sensory loss into a new, profound connection with your pet. Whether they are losing their sight or hearing, or were born with a disability, this one-hour, intensive coaching session focuses on what they can do. You’ll learn to communicate through scent, touch, vibration and specialized cues, building a custom language to help them navigate the world with confidence and safety.
Scent-Mapping & Environmental Navigation
Focus: Using smell, texture and auditory cues to help visually impaired pets map their environment securely.
For pets with visual impairments, the world is mapped through their nose. During this one-hour session, we will design a living space that a visually-impaired pet can navigate independently. I'll cover the use of scent markers to identify different rooms, the placement of tactile runners (textured rugs) to act as internal "highways," and techniques for introducing new furniture without causing distress. The goal is to transform the home from a confusing obstacle course into a predictable, safe sanctuary where the pet feels empowered to move freely.
"Beyond Sound" Enrichment & Safety Tactics
Focus: Creating sensory-rich play and secure routines for hearing impaired pets that rely on sight and vibration.
This one-hour session is dedicated to enriching the life of deaf pets and ensuring their safety. We will explore high-visual toys (such as glowing balls or laser pointers) to satisfy their need for stimulation. We will also implement safe wake-up protocols—using floor stomping to create vibrations to avoid startling them—and establish a "check-in" ritual that enhances your bond, ensuring that "communication" is not just about commands, but about connection.
