As vector-borne disease cases increase throughout the country, both animal and human health organizations are working hard to raise awareness

An invasion is happening in the United States. Creepy crawlies carrying all sorts of vector-borne diseases are on the march, or airborne. And neither pets, nor people, are safe.

Illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites have tripled in the U.S., with more than 640,000 cases reported during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the United States during this time.

If veterinary practices don’t know the difference between markup and margin, their revenue might be taking a hit.

Bon Jovi, a band from my native New Jersey, has an anthem that starts off, “It’s all the same, only the names will change.”

Great tune, but unfortunately, it’s not all the same when it comes to margin and markup. The two terms, each a measure of profitability, are not interchangeable. The reality is that most businesses use them as such and in the process cost themselves huge profits.

Spring – and spring training – are not so far away. And when baseball season arrives, so do the fleas and ticks emerging from this deep-freeze winter.

It’s time to start talking with your customers now about prepping for flea/tick season. But this year, it should be a very different conversation from the past. Why?