Take precautions. The simple fact is that as long as your dog is in reasonably good health, the dibutyl phthalate contained in glow sticks is not likely to kill your furry four-legged friend, but it might make them pretty sick.

The substance inside these glowing items is usually dibutyl phthalate – a clear, oily, colorless liquid. It is low in toxicity but can cause irritation to any part of the body that it comes in contact with, including the eyes, skin and mouth.

Dibutyl phthalate has been reported to cause anaphylaxis and even death when ingested in large quantities, but the quantities in glow sticks are pretty minimal. There is no problem if the glow stick is swallowed whole, which seems like quite a feat.

Checked Bags: Yes Glow sticks must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule for carry-on bags. Please place them in a single, quart-size bag with other liquids, gels and aerosols.

When I brought the package to the post office, I wasn’t sure what the right answer was to, “Is it liquid, hazardous, perishable or breakable?” I answered no. They took the package and charged only $2.67 for postage.

The ingredients in glow sticks are generally non-toxic, and most cases will not require medical attention. However, if glow stick fluid is swallowed, it may cause an upset stomach and some mouth irritation.

They are safe, as long as precautions are followed and the chemicals are kept inside. Cutting open a glow stick can also cause the broken shards of glass to fall out. Packaging on glow sticks says they are non-toxic. Glow sticks contain chemicals.

6. Cannot Be Turned Off. A glowstick cannot be turned off or reused once activated. Once you start the chemical reaction it can only be slowed be placing in extreme cold but will not stop entirely.