Global warming means more dog bites?

Research published in this month’s issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery finds a connection between warmer temperatures and dog bites to children.

The researchers speculate the connection might be due either to the fact that children play outdoors with dogs more frequently in warmer months, or to the fact that dogs are generally more irritable when it’s hot outside.

If the latter is the case, could biting dogs be the next threat added to the already growing list of climate-induced health dangers like expanding tropical diseases, increased respiratory problems and greater risk of heat-induced stress? Stay tuned.