Glow Jewelry
Glow Jewelry
household items
Alternate names
Dibutyl phthalate, Halloween jewelry, glow-in-the-dark, glow sticks
Toxicity to pets
During certain holidays, glow sticks and glow jewelry may be more readily available. These contain dibutyl phthalate (often nicknamed “DBP”) inside, which is a clear to yellow, oily liquid that has a very bitter taste. One bite can cause DBP to leak from the glow stick or jewelry, and result in profuse drooling, gagging, and retching in a pet. DBP can also cause irritation to the skin and eyes, resulting in a burning or stinging sensation. As cats are fastidious groomers, they end up ingesting more and more as they clean the DBP off their fur and paws. While the chemical DBP itself isn’t very “toxic,” it can result in significant and dramatic signs.
If you think your dog or cat chewed into glow jewelry, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for treatment advice.
Common signs to watch for:
- Profuse drooling
- Gagging
- Retching
- Pawing at the mouth
- Redness to the eyes
- Redness to the skin
- Vomiting
Disclaimer
The content of this page is not veterinary advice. A number of factors (amount of substance ingested, size of the animal, allergies, etc.) determine what is toxic to a particular pet. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, call Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary treatment.
