Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling Interests (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We own some of our animal hospitals in partnerships with noncontrolling interest holders. We consolidate our partnerships in our condensed, consolidated financial statements because our ownership interest in these partnerships is equal to or greater than 50.1% and we control these entities. We record noncontrolling interest in income of subsidiaries equal to our partners’ percentage ownership of the partnerships’ income. We also record changes in the redemption value of our redeemable noncontrolling interests in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in our condensed, consolidated income statements. We reflect our noncontrolling partners’ cumulative share in the equity of the respective partnerships as either noncontrolling interests in equity, mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests in other liabilities, or redeemable noncontrolling interests in temporary equity (mezzanine).

Shares Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Changes in Redemption Value, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The terms of some of our partnership agreements require us to purchase the partner’s equity in the partnership in the event of the partner’s death. We report these redeemable noncontrolling interests at their estimated redemption value, which approximates fair value and classify them as liabilities due to the certainty of the related event. Estimated redemption value is determined using either a contractually stated formula or a multiple of revenue, both of which are used as an approximation of fair value. The formulas used to determine the redemption value use level 3 inputs and include an EBITDA multiple or a two-year revenue average calculation and a valuation multiple. We recognize changes in the obligation as interest cost in the condensed, consolidated statements of income.

redeemable noncontrolling interest [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Shares Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Changes in Redemption Value, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We also enter into partnership agreements whereby the minority partner is issued certain “put” rights. These rights are normally exercisable at the sole discretion of the minority partner. We report these redeemable noncontrolling interests at their estimated redemption value and classify them in temporary equity (mezzanine). We recognize changes in the obligation in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.