10-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

or

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-16783

VCA Antech, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	95-4097995
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 12401 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.) 90064-1022 (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 571-6500 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	Nasdaq Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  [X]        No  [ ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    

Yes  [ ]        No  [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  [X]        No  [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  [X]        No  [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  [X]	Accelerated filer [ ]	Non-accelerated filer[ ]	Smaller reporting company [ ]
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  [ ]

No  [X]

The aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2013, was approximately $2.2 billion, computed by reference to the price of $26.09 per share, the price at which the common equity was last sold on such date as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. For purposes of this computation, it is assumed that the shares beneficially held by directors and officers of the registrant would be deemed to be stock held by affiliates. Non-affiliated common stock outstanding at June 30, 2013 was 84,962,481 shares.

Total common stock outstanding at February 24, 2014 was 88,248,976 shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Parts of the definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 hereof.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Table of Contents

		Page
	PART I
Item 1.	Business	3
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	11
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	16
Item 2.	Properties	16
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	16
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	17
	PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	17
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	20
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	22
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	45
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	46
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	97
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	97
Item 9B.	Other Information	97
	PART III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	98
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	98
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	98
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	98
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	98
	PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	98
	Signatures	102

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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Company Overview

We are a leading national animal healthcare company operating in the United States and Canada. We provide veterinary services and diagnostic testing to support veterinary care, we sell diagnostic imaging equipment and other medical technology products and related services to the veterinary market and we provide various communication, marketing solutions and other services to the veterinary community.

Our animal hospitals offer a full range of general medical and surgical services for companion animals, as well as specialized treatments including advanced diagnostic services, internal medicine, oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology and cardiology. In addition, we provide pharmaceutical products and perform a variety of pet wellness programs including health examinations, diagnostic testing, routine vaccinations, spaying, neutering and dental care. Our network of animal hospitals is supported by more than 3,000 veterinarians and had approximately 8.3 million patient visits in 2013. Our network of veterinary diagnostic laboratories provides sophisticated testing and consulting services used by veterinarians in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, treatment and prevention of diseases and other conditions affecting animals. Our network of veterinary diagnostic laboratories provides diagnostic testing for over 16,000 clients, which includes standard animal hospitals, large animal practices, universities and other government organizations. Our medical technology business sells digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment, provides education and training on the use of that equipment, and provides consulting and mobile imaging services. Our communication and marketing solutions business provides services to veterinary practices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the pet owning community. Our services to veterinary practices include subscriptions to our Pro Pet Portals. The Pro Pet Portal provides an online platform for the veterinarian to offer secure individualized portals for pet owners as well as practice websites that are branded to the individual veterinary clinic. We also sell appointment reminder notices that are sent to pet owners on behalf of their clinics. Our services to manufacturers predominately involve targeted marketing programs to animal hospitals whom are subscribers to our Pro Pet Portal.

Our principal executive offices are located at 12401 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. We can be contacted at (310) 571-6500.

Company History

Our company was formed in 1986 as a Delaware corporation and has since established a position in the animal healthcare industry through both internal growth and by acquisitions. By our twentieth anniversary in 2006, we operated a total of 379 animal hospitals, 33 laboratories, and a supplier of digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment. Subsequent to 2006, our company continued to grow by adding, additional laboratories, independent animal hospitals, animal hospital chains and other ancillary businesses, the following of which were noteworthy:

• On June 1, 2007, we acquired Healthy Pet Corp. (“Healthy Pet”), which operated 44 animal hospitals and a small laboratory, which primarily serviced its own animal hospitals, as of the acquisition date. This acquisition allowed us to expand our animal hospital operations, particularly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and Georgia.

• On July 1, 2009, we acquired Eklin Medical Systems, Inc. (“Eklin”), a leading seller of digital radiography, ultrasound and practice management software systems in the veterinary market. We combined the operations of Eklin with our Sound Technologies, Inc (“STI”) business unit and the resulting combined company is the largest supplier of diagnostic imaging equipment and other medical technology products tailored specifically for the veterinary market.

• On July 1 2010, we acquired Pet DRx Corporation (“Pet DRx”), which operated 23 animal hospitals as of the acquisition date. This acquisition allowed us to expand our animal hospital operations in California.

• On July 11, 2011, we acquired BrightHeart Veterinary Centers (“BrightHeart”) which operated nine animal hospitals, eight of which focus on the delivery of specialty and emergency medicine. The acquisition increased our level of market recognition in areas where we had an existing market presence.

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• On August 9, 2011, we acquired Vetstreet, Inc., formerly known as MediMedia Animal Health, LLC (“Vetstreet”), the nation’s largest provider of online communications, professional education and marketing solutions to the veterinary community. The acquisition of Vetstreet expanded the breadth of our product offerings to the veterinary community.

• On January 31, 2012 we expanded our operations into Canada with an increased investment in Associate Veterinary Clinics (1984) Limited ("AVC"), which operated 44 hospitals in three Canadian provinces as of the acquisition date.

Industry Overview

According to American Pet Products Association, Inc’s. (“APPA”) 2013-2014 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, the United States population of companion animals is approximately 208 million, including about 179 million dogs and cats. APPA estimates that approximately $32 billion was spent in the United States on pets in 2013 for veterinary care, supplies, medicine and boarding and grooming. The survey indicated that the ownership of pets is widespread with approximately 83 million, or 68%, of U.S. households owning at least one pet, including companion and other animals. Specifically, 57 million households owned at least one dog and 45 million households owned at least one cat.

We believe that among pet owners there is a growing awareness of pet health and wellness, including the benefits of preventive care and specialized services. As technology continues to migrate from the human healthcare sector into the practice of veterinary medicine, more sophisticated treatments, diagnostic tests and equipment are becoming available to treat companion animals. These new and increasingly complex procedures, diagnostic tests, including laboratory testing and advanced imaging, and pharmaceuticals are gaining wider acceptance as pet owners are exposed to these previously unconsidered treatment programs through their exposure with this technology in human healthcare, and through literature and marketing programs sponsored by large pharmaceutical and pet nutrition companies.

Even as treatments available in veterinary medicine become more complex, prices for veterinary services typically remain a low percentage of a pet owner’s income, facilitating payment at the time of service. Unlike the human healthcare industry, providers of veterinary services are not dependent on third-party payers in order to collect fees. As such, providers of veterinary services typically do not have the problems of extended payment collection cycles or pricing pressures from third-party payers faced by human healthcare providers. Outsourced laboratory testing and diagnostic equipment sales are wholesale businesses that collect payments directly from animal hospitals under standard industry payment terms. Fees for services provided in our animal hospitals are due at the time of service. In 2013, over 99% of our animal hospital services were paid at the time of service. In addition, over the past three fiscal years our bad debt expense has averaged less than 1% of total revenue.

The practice of veterinary medicine is subject to seasonal fluctuation. In particular, demand for veterinary services is significantly higher during the warmer months because pets spend a greater amount of time outdoors, where they are more likely to be injured and are more susceptible to disease and parasites. In addition, use of veterinary services may be affected by levels of infestation of fleas, heartworms and ticks, and the number of daylight hours.

Animal Hospital Industry

Animal healthcare is provided predominately by the veterinarian practicing as a sole practitioner, or as part of a larger group practice or hospital. Veterinarians diagnose and treat animal illnesses and injuries, perform surgeries, provide routine medical exams and prescribe medication. Some veterinarians specialize by type of medicine, such as orthopedics, dentistry, ophthalmology or dermatology. Others focus on a particular type of animal. The principal factors in a pet owner’s decision as to which veterinarian to use include convenient location and hours, personal recommendations, reasonable fees and quality of care.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. market for veterinary services is highly fragmented with more than 53,000 veterinarians practicing at the end of 2013. We have estimated that there are over 26,000 companion animal hospitals operating at the end of 2013. Although most animal hospitals are single-site, sole-practitioner facilities, we believe veterinarians are gravitating toward larger, multi-doctor animal hospitals that provide state-of-the-art facilities, treatments, methods and pharmaceuticals to enhance the services they can provide their clients.

Well-capitalized animal hospital operators have the opportunity to supplement their internal growth with selective acquisitions. We believe the extremely fragmented animal hospital industry is consolidating due to:

• the choice of some owners of animal hospitals to diversify their investment portfolio by selling all or a portion of their investment in the animal hospital;

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• the purchasing, marketing and administrative cost advantages that can be realized by a large, multiple location, multi-doctor veterinary provider;

• the cost of financing equipment purchases and upgrading technology necessary for a successful practice;

• the desire of veterinarians to focus on practicing veterinary medicine, rather than spending large portions of their time performing the administrative tasks necessary to operate an animal hospital; and

• the appeal to many veterinarians of the benefits and flexible work schedule that is not typically available to a sole practitioner or single-site provider.

Diagnostic Laboratory Industry

Veterinarians use laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor illnesses and conditions through the detection of substances in urine, tissue, fecal and blood samples, and other specimens. As is the case with the physician treating a human patient, laboratory diagnostic testing is becoming a routine diagnostic tool used by the veterinarian.

Veterinary laboratory tests are performed primarily at veterinary diagnostic laboratories, universities or at animal hospitals using on-site diagnostic equipment. For certain tests, on-site diagnostic equipment can provide more timely results than outside laboratories, but this in-house testing requires the animal hospital or veterinarian to purchase or lease the equipment, maintain and calibrate the equipment periodically to avoid testing errors, employ trained personnel to operate it and purchase testing supplies. Conversely, veterinary diagnostic laboratories can provide a wider range of tests than generally are available on-site at most animal hospitals and do not require any up-front investment on the part of the animal hospital or veterinarian. Leading veterinary diagnostic laboratories also employ highly trained individuals who specialize in the detection and diagnosis of diseases and thus are a valuable resource for the veterinarian.

Our laboratories offer a broad spectrum of standard and customized tests to the veterinary market, convenient sample pick-up times, rapid test reporting and access to professional consulting services provided by trained specialists. Providing the customer with this level of service at competitive prices requires high throughput volumes due to the operating leverage associated with the laboratory business. As a result, larger laboratories are likely to have a competitive advantage relative to smaller laboratories.

We believe that the outsourced laboratory testing market is an integral segment of the animal healthcare industry as a result of:

• the emphasis in veterinary education on diagnostic tests and the trend toward specialization in veterinary medicine, which are causing veterinarians to increasingly rely on tests for more accurate diagnoses;

• the continued technological developments in veterinary medicine, which are increasing the breadth of tests offered; and

• the continued focus on wellness, early detection and monitoring programs in veterinary medicine.

Business Strategy

Our business strategy is to continue expanding our market leadership in animal healthcare through our Animal Hospital, Laboratory, Medical Technology and Vetstreet operating segments. Key elements to our strategy include:

• Capitalizing on our Leading Market Position to Generate Revenue Growth.    Our leading market position in the animal hospital, veterinary laboratory and the online communications markets positions us to capitalize on favorable growth trends in the animal healthcare industry. In our animal hospitals, we seek to generate revenue growth by capitalizing on the growing emphasis on pet health and wellness. In our laboratories, we seek to generate revenue growth by taking advantage of the growing number of outsourced diagnostic tests, the opportunities to expand the testing that we provide and by increasing our market share. We continually educate veterinarians on new and existing technologies and tests available to diagnose medical conditions. Further, we leverage the knowledge of our specialists by providing veterinarians with extensive client support in utilizing and understanding these diagnostic tests. Our Medical Technology business seeks to leverage our strengths in the broader veterinary markets by introducing technologies, products and services to the veterinary market. We seek to generate revenue growth by increasing our market share and educating veterinarians on new and existing technologies. In our Vetstreet business, we seek to generate revenue growth by providing integrated animal healthcare online and offline educational products,

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communication products and customized solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturers and veterinary professionals seeking to influence pet owner behavior in a medically appropriate way. By providing pet owners the basic knowledge they need to get more attuned to their pets' health, providing them authoritative pet health information and encouraging them to create and maintain a close relationship with the veterinarian of their choice, veterinary practice revenues should benefit.

• Leveraging Established Infrastructure to Improve Margins.    We intend to leverage our established Animal Hospital and Laboratory infrastructure to increase our operating margins. Due to our established networks and the fixed cost nature of our business model, we are able to realize high margins on incremental revenue from Animal Hospital and Laboratory customers. For example, given that our nationwide transportation network servicing our Laboratory customers is a relatively fixed cost, we are able to achieve significantly higher margins on most incremental tests ordered by the same customer when picked up by our couriers at the same time.

• Utilizing Enterprise-Wide Information Systems to Improve Operating Efficiencies.    Our Laboratory and the majority of our Animal Hospital operations utilize enterprise-wide management information systems. We believe that these common systems enable us to more effectively manage the key operating metrics that drive our business. With the aid of these systems, we seek to standardize pricing, expand the services we provide and increase volume through targeted marketing programs.

• Pursuing Selected Acquisitions.    The fragmentation of the animal hospital industry provides us with significant expansion opportunities in our Animal Hospital segment. Depending upon the attractiveness of the candidates and the strategic fit with our existing operations, we intend to acquire independent animal hospitals each year with aggregate annual revenue of approximately $50 million to $85 million. Our overall acquisition strategy involves the identification of high-quality practices where we can create additional value through the services and scale we can provide. Our typical candidate mirrors the profile of our existing animal hospital base. These acquisitions will be used to both expand existing markets and to enter into new geographic areas. In addition, we also evaluate the acquisition of animal hospital chains, laboratories or related businesses if favorable opportunities are presented. We intend primarily to use cash in our acquisitions but, depending on the timing and amount of our acquisitions, we may use stock or debt.

Business Segments

We report our results of operations through two reportable segments: Animal Hospital and Laboratory. Our Vetstreet and Medical Technology operating segments do not meet the materiality requirements to be presented as separate reportable segments. Accordingly, they are grouped into an “All Other” category.

Information regarding revenue and operating income, attributable to each of our reportable segments, is included in the Segment Results section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and within Note 15, Lines of Business, of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Animal Hospital

At December 31, 2013, we operated or managed 609 animal hospitals serving 41 states and four Canadian provinces. Our Animal Hospital revenue accounted for 79%, 78% and 77% of total consolidated revenue in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Services

In addition to general medical and surgical services, we offer specialized treatments for companion animals, including advanced diagnostic services, internal medicine, oncology, neurology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, dermatology and cardiology. We also provide pharmaceutical products for use in the delivery of treatments by our veterinarians and pet owners. Many of our animal hospitals offer additional services, including grooming, bathing and boarding. We also sell specialty pet products at our animal hospitals, including pet food, vitamins, therapeutic shampoos and conditioners, flea collars and sprays, and other accessory products.

Animal Hospital Network

We seek to provide quality care in clean, attractive facilities that are generally open between 10 to 15 hours per day, six to seven days per week. Our typical animal hospital:

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• is located in a 4,000 to 6,000 square-foot, freestanding facility in an attractive location;

• has annual revenue between $1 million and $3 million;

• is supported by three to five veterinarians; and

• has an operating history of over 10 years.

As of December 31, 2013, our network of freestanding, full-service animal hospitals had facilities located in the following states and four Canadian provinces:

California	108	Nevada	7
Texas*	48	Hawaii	6
Washington*	33	Minnesota*	6
New York*	30	Alaska	5
Florida	29	New Mexico	5
Massachusetts	27	Delaware	4
Pennsylvania	26	New Hampshire*	4
Illinois	19	South Carolina	4
Virginia	18	Wisconsin	4
Georgia	18	Missouri	3
Colorado	18	Rhode Island*	3
Connecticut	15	Tennessee	3
Arizona	14	Kansas*	2
New Jersey*	13	Kentucky	2
Indiana	12	Louisiana*	2
Ohio	12	Nebraska*	2
Oregon*	12	Vermont	2
Maryland	12	Alabama*	1
Michigan*	11	Utah	1
North Carolina*	8	West Virginia*	1
Oklahoma	7
Alberta, Canada*	22
British Columbia, Canada*	8
Ontario, Canada*	18
Quebec, Canada*	4

* States and Canadian provinces with laws, rules and regulations which require that veterinary medical practices be owned by licensed veterinarians and that corporations which are not owned by licensed veterinarians refrain from providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. In these states/provinces we do not own the veterinary practices or provide veterinary care but provide management and other administrative services to the independently owned veterinary practices.

Marketing

We direct our marketing efforts toward increasing the number of annual visits from existing clients through customer education efforts and toward attracting new clients to our network of hospitals through online and offline initiatives. We inform and educate our clients about pet wellness and quality care through mailings of HealthyPet Magazine, which focuses on pet care and wellness. We also market through targeted demographic mailings regarding specific pet health issues and collateral health material made available at each animal hospital. With these internal marketing programs, we seek to leverage our existing customer base by increasing the number and intensity of the services received during each visit. We send reminder

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notices to increase awareness of the advantages of regular, comprehensive veterinary medical care, including preventive care such as early disease detection exams, vaccinations, dental screening and geriatric care. We also have expanded our online capabilities both internally and through Vetstreet. Our internal efforts involve offering increased convenience for our clients to book appointments or find detailed health related materials on our hospital websites. We also enter into referral arrangements with local pet shops, humane societies and veterinarians to increase our client base. We seek to obtain referrals from veterinarians by promoting our specialized diagnostic and treatment capabilities to veterinarians and veterinary practices that cannot offer their clients these services. Through Vetstreet, we provide robust health and wellness information to the pet owning community in order to attract additional clients to both VCA and non-VCA hospitals.

Personnel

Our animal hospitals generally employ a staff of between 20 and 30 full-time-equivalent employees, depending upon the facility’s size and customer base. The staff includes administrative and technical support personnel, three to five veterinarians, and a hospital manager who supervises the day-to-day activities of the facility.

We actively recruit qualified veterinarians and technicians and are committed to supporting continuing education for our professional staff. We operate post-graduate teaching programs for veterinarians at 28 of our facilities, which train over 150 veterinarians each year. We believe that these programs enhance our reputation in the veterinary profession and further our ability to continue to recruit the most talented veterinarians.

We seek to establish an environment that supports the veterinarian in the delivery of quality medicine and fosters professional growth through increased patient flow and a diverse case mix, continuing education, state-of-the-art equipment and access to specialists. We believe our animal hospitals offer attractive employment opportunities to veterinarians because of our professional environment, competitive compensation, management opportunities, employee benefits not generally available to a sole practitioner, flexible work schedules that accommodate personal lifestyles and the ability to relocate to different regions of the country.

We have established a medical advisory board to support our operations. Our advisory board, under the direction of our Chief Medical Officer, recommends medical standards for our network of animal hospitals and is comprised of veterinarians recognized for their outstanding knowledge and reputations in the veterinary field. Our advisory board members represent both the different geographic regions in which we operate and the medical specialties practiced by our veterinarians; and three members are faculty members at highly-ranked veterinary colleges. Additionally, our regional medical directors, a group of highly experienced veterinarians, are also closely involved in the development and implementation of our medical programs.

Laboratory

We operate a full-service, veterinary diagnostic laboratory network serving all 50 states and certain areas in Canada. Our Laboratory revenue accounted for 16% of total consolidated revenue in both 2013 and 2012 and 18% in 2011. We service a diverse customer base of over 16,000 clients including animal hospitals we operate, which accounted for 16% of total Laboratory revenue in both 2013 and 2012 and 14% in 2011.

Services

Our diagnostic spectrum includes over 300 different tests in the area of chemistry, pathology, endocrinology, serology, hematology and microbiology, as well as tests specific to particular diseases.

Although modified to address the particular requirements of the species tested, the tests performed in our veterinary laboratories are similar to those performed in human clinical laboratories and utilize similar laboratory equipment and technologies. We believe that the growing concern for animal health, combined with the movement of veterinary medicine toward increasing specialization, may result in the migration of additional areas of human testing into the veterinary field.

Given the recent advancements in veterinary medical technology and the increased breadth and depth of knowledge required for the practice of veterinary medicine, many veterinarians solicit the knowledge and experience of our specialists to interpret test results to aid in the diagnosis of illnesses and to suggest possible treatment alternatives. Our diagnostic experts include veterinarians, chemists and other scientists with expertise in pathology, internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, dermatology, neurology and endocrinology. Because of our specialists involvement, we believe the quality of our service further distinguishes our laboratory services as a premiere service provider.

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Laboratory Network

At December 31, 2013, we operated 56 veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Our laboratory network includes:

• primary hubs that are open 24 hours per day and offer a full-testing menu;

• secondary laboratories that are open 24 hours per day and offer a wide-testing menu servicing large metropolitan areas; and

• short-term assessment and treatment (“STAT”) laboratories that service other locations with demand sufficient to warrant nearby laboratory facilities and are open primarily during daytime hours.

We connect our laboratories to our customers with what we believe is the industry’s largest transportation network, picking up requisitions daily through an extensive network of independent drivers and couriers. Customers outside our transportation network use FedEx to send specimens to our laboratory just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, which permits rapid and cost-efficient testing because of the proximity to the primary sorting facility of FedEx.

In 2013, we derived approximately 86% of our Laboratory revenue from major metropolitan areas, where we offer twice-a-day pick-up service and same-day results. In addition, in these areas we generally offer to report results within three hours of pick-up. Outside of these areas, we typically provide test results to veterinarians before 8:00 a.m. the day following pick-up.

Sales, Marketing and Client Service

Our full-time sales and field-service representatives market laboratory services and maintain relationships with existing customers. Our sales force is compensated via salary plus commission and organized along geographic regions. We support our sales efforts by strengthening our industry-leading team of specialists, developing marketing literature, attending trade shows, participating in trade associations and providing educational services to veterinarians. Our client-service representatives respond to customer inquiries, provide test results and, when appropriate, introduce the customer to other services offered by the laboratory.

Personnel

Each of our primary and secondary laboratory locations includes a manager, supervisors for each department and personnel for laboratory testing. In addition, we employ or contract with specialists to interpret test results to assist veterinarians in the diagnosis of illnesses and to suggest possible treatment alternatives.

We actively recruit qualified personnel and are committed to supporting continuing education for our professional staff. We have internal training programs for routine testing procedures to improve the skill level of our technicians and to improve the overall capacity of our existing staff. We sponsor various residents and certain other educational programs. These programs serve to build awareness of our company with students, who may seek employment with our company following graduation.

Systems

We use an enterprise-wide management information system to support our Animal Hospital operations. We decide whether or not to place newly acquired animal hospitals on this network based on a cost-benefit analysis. In addition, a majority of our animal hospitals utilize consistent patient accounting/point-of-sale software and we are able to track performance of hospitals on a per-service, per-veterinarian and per-client basis.

We use an enterprise-wide management information system to support our veterinary laboratories. All of our financial data, customer records and laboratory results are stored in computer databases. Laboratory technicians and specialists are able to electronically access test results from remote testing sites. Our software gathers data in a data warehouse enabling us to provide expedient results via fax or through our Internet online resulting system.

Competition

The companion animal healthcare industry is highly competitive and subject to continual change in the manner in which services are delivered and providers are selected. We believe that the primary factors influencing a customer’s selection of an animal hospital are convenient location and hours, personal recommendations, reasonable fees and quality of care. Our primary competitors for our animal hospitals in most markets are individual practitioners or small, regional multi-clinic practices. In

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addition, some national companies in the pet care industry, including the operators of super-stores, are developing networks of animal hospitals in markets that include our animal hospitals. We also compete with sellers of pet-related products and diagnostic services delivered via the Internet.

Among veterinary diagnostic laboratories, we believe that quality, price, specialist support and the time required to deliver results are the major competitive factors. There are many clinical laboratories that provide a broad range of diagnostic testing services in the same markets serviced by us, and we also face competition from several providers of on-site diagnostic equipment that allows veterinarians to perform various testing. Our principal competitor in most geographic locations in the United States is IDEXX Laboratories.

Our Vetstreet business operates in the online communication, professional education and marketing business within the animal healthcare industry. We believe that the primary factors influencing a customer's selection of a company which provides services such as Vetstreet to be price, breadth of product offerings and ease of integration with existing systems. The competitive landscape in this business changed during 2012. Five competitors have launched pet portal product offerings similar to Vetstreet's. We consider three of the five to be direct competitors. Vetstreet’s main competition in this space is IDEXX, Demand Force, and ePet Health.

Government Regulation

Certain states and provinces have laws, rules and regulations which require that veterinary medical practices be either wholly-owned or majority-owned by licensed veterinarians and that corporations which are not wholly-owned or majority-owned by licensed veterinarians refrain from providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. In these states and provinces, we provide management and other administrative services to veterinary practices rather than owning such practices or providing such care. We provide management and other administrative services to veterinary practices located in these states and provinces.

At December 31, 2013, we provided management and administrative services to 176 animal hospitals in 15 states, and 52 animal hospitals in four Canadian provinces. In some cases, in addition to providing management and administrative services we may lease the veterinary facility and equipment to the veterinary practice. We consolidate these veterinary practices for financial reporting purposes. Although we have structured our operations to comply with our understanding of the veterinary medicine laws of each state and province in which we operate, interpretive legal precedent and regulatory guidance varies by jurisdiction and is often sparse and not fully developed. A determination that we are in violation of applicable restrictions on the practice of veterinary medicine in any jurisdiction in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our operations, particularly if we were unable to restructure our operations to comply with the requirements of that jurisdiction.

In addition, all of the states in which we operate impose various registration requirements. To fulfill these requirements, we have registered each of our facilities with appropriate governmental agencies and, where required, have appointed a licensed veterinarian to act on behalf of each facility. All veterinarians practicing in our animal hospitals are required to maintain valid state licenses to practice.

Our acquisitions may be subject to pre-merger or post-merger review by governmental authorities for anti-trust and other legal compliance. Adverse regulatory action could negatively affect our operations through the assessment of fines or penalties against us or the possible requirement of divestiture of one or more of our operations.

Employees

At December 31, 2013 we employed or managed on behalf of the professional corporations to which we provide services approximately 11,100 full-time-equivalent employees. At that date, none of these employees were a party to a collective bargaining agreement.

Availability of Our Reports Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)

We maintain a website with the address http://investor.vcaantech.com. We are not including the information contained on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this annual report on Form 10-K. We make available free of charge through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file that material with, or furnish that material to, the SEC.

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The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Copies of our reports filed electronically with the SEC may be accessed on the SEC’s website www.sec.gov. The public may also read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Various sections of this annual report contain forward-looking statements, all of which are based on current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described below and throughout this annual report. Our actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Changes in the demand for our products and services could negatively affect our operating results.

The frequency of visits to our animal hospitals has declined and may continue to decline. We believe that the frequency of visits is impacted by consumer spending habits, which are affected by a number of factors, including among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. The United States and Canadian economies have undergone and may continue to experience significant volatility and disruption. The timing and sustainability of an economic recovery is uncertain and additional macroeconomic, business and financial disruptions could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our services. In addition, economic concerns may cause some pet owners to elect to skip or defer visits to veterinary hospitals, affect their willingness to approve certain diagnostic tests, comply with a treatment plan, forgo expensive treatment options, defer treatment for their pets altogether or even own a pet. Additionally, the frequency of visits to our animal hospitals and the number of diagnostic tests performed by our laboratories may be negatively impacted as a result of preventative care and better pet nutrition. Demand for vaccinations will be impacted in the future as protocols for vaccinations change. Our veterinarians establish their own vaccine protocols. Some of our veterinarians have changed their protocols and others may change their protocols in light of recent and/or future literature. The demand for our products and services may also decline as a result of the eradication or substantial declines in the prevalence of certain diseases. Also, many pet-related products traditionally sold at animal hospitals have become more widely available in retail stores and other channels of distribution, including the Internet, resulting in a decline in demand for these products at our animal hospitals. All of the foregoing may result in a decrease in sales of our products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The significant competition in the companion animal healthcare industry could result in a decrease in our prices, an increase in our acquisition costs, a loss of market share and could materially affect our revenue and profitability.

The companion animal healthcare industry is highly competitive with few barriers to entry. To compete successfully, we may be required to reduce prices, increase our acquisition and operating costs or take other measures that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, margins and cash flow. In addition, if we are unable to compete successfully, we may lose market share.

A significant component of our annual growth strategy includes the acquisition of independent animal hospitals. The competition for animal hospital acquisitions from small national and regional multi-clinic companies may cause us to increase the amount we pay to acquire additional animal hospitals and may result in fewer acquisitions than anticipated by our growth strategy. If we are unable to acquire a requisite number of animal hospitals annually or if our acquisition costs increase, we may be unable to effectively implement our growth strategy and realize anticipated economies of scale.

Some national companies in the pet care industry, including the operators of super-stores, are developing networks of animal hospitals in markets that include our animal hospitals; this may cause us to reduce prices to remain competitive. Reducing prices may have a material adverse effect on our Animal Hospital revenue, alternatively not reducing prices may cause us to lose market share.

We compete with clinical laboratory companies in the same markets we service. These companies have acquired additional laboratories in the markets in which we operate and may continue their expansion, and aggressively “bundle” their products and services to compete with us. Increased competition may materially adversely affect our Laboratory revenue and margins. Several other national companies develop and sell on-site diagnostic equipment that allows veterinarians to perform their own laboratory tests. Growth of the on-site diagnostic testing market may have a material adverse effect on our Laboratory revenue.

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Our medical technology business is a leader in the market for medical imaging equipment in the animal healthcare industry. Our primary competitors are companies that are much larger than us and have substantially greater capital, manufacturing, marketing and research and development resources than we do, including companies such as Siemens, Philips and Canon. The success of our medical technology business, in part, is due to its focus on the veterinary market, which allows it to differentiate its products and services to meet the unique needs of this market. If this market receives more focused attention from these larger competitors, we may find it difficult to compete and as a result our revenues and operating margins from this business could decline.

If we are unable to effectively execute our growth strategy, we may not achieve our desired economies of scale and our profitability may decline.

Our success depends in part on our ability to increase our revenue and operating income through a balanced program of organic growth initiatives and selective acquisitions of established animal hospitals, laboratories and related businesses. If we cannot implement or effectively execute on this strategy, our results of operations will be materially adversely affected. Even if we effectively implement our growth strategy, we may not achieve the economies of scale that we have experienced in the past or that we anticipate occurring in the future. We experienced a decline in same-store revenue growth in our animal hospitals for ten consecutive quarters, which ended in the second quarter of 2011. Our Laboratory growth had also been affected and became negative during certain quarters of the three year period ending December 31, 2010. Our Animal Hospital same-store revenue, adjusted for differences in business days, has fluctuated between a decline of 3.2% and growth of 1.2% for 2009 through 2013. Our Laboratory internal revenue growth, adjusted for differences in billing days, has fluctuated between 0% and 5.3% over the same years. Our internal growth may continue to fluctuate and may be below our historical rates. Any reduction in the rate of our internal growth may cause our revenue and operating income to decrease. Investors should not assume that our historical growth rates are reliable indicators of results in future periods.

Due to the fixed cost nature of our business, fluctuations in our revenue could adversely affect our gross profit, operating income and margins.

A substantial portion of our expense, particularly rent and personnel costs, are fixed and are based in part on expectations of revenue. We may be unable to reduce spending in a timely manner to compensate for any significant fluctuations in our revenue. Accordingly, shortfalls in revenue may materially adversely affect our gross profit, operating income and margins.

We may experience difficulties hiring skilled veterinarians due to shortages that could disrupt our business.

From time to time we experience shortages of skilled veterinarians in some regional markets in which we operate animal hospitals which may require us to enhance wages and benefits to recruit and retain enough qualified veterinarians to adequately staff our animal hospitals. If our labor costs increase, we may not be able to raise our rates for our products and services to offset these increased costs. Our failure to recruit and retain qualified veterinarians, or to control our labor costs, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

Any failure in our information technology systems, disruption in our transportation network or failure to receive supplies could significantly increase testing turn-around time, reduce our production capacity and otherwise disrupt our operations.

Our Laboratory operations depend on the continued and uninterrupted performance of our information technology systems and transportation network, including overnight delivery services provided by FedEx. Sustained system failures or interruption in our transportation network could disrupt our ability to process laboratory requisitions, perform testing, provide test results in a timely manner and/or bill the appropriate party. We could lose customers and revenue as a result of a system or transportation network failure. In addition, any change in government regulation related to transportation samples or specimens could also have an impact on our business.

Our computer systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from a variety of sources, including telecommunications failures, electricity brownouts or blackouts, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security measures, some of our servers are potentially vulnerable to digital break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. Despite the precautions we have taken, unanticipated problems affecting our systems could cause interruptions in our information technology systems. Our insurance policies may not adequately compensate us for any losses that may occur due to any failures in our systems.

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Our Laboratory operations depend on a limited number of employees to upgrade and maintain its customized computer systems. If we were to lose the services of some or all of these employees, it may be time-consuming for new employees to become familiar with our systems, and we may experience disruptions in service during these periods.

Our operations depend, in some cases, on the ability of single source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers, to deliver products and supplies on a timely basis. Some of these suppliers are smaller companies with limited capital resources and some of the products that we purchase from these suppliers are proprietary, and, therefore, cannot be readily or easily replaced by alternative suppliers. We have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, shortages of or difficulties in acquiring products and/or supplies in the quantities and of the quality needed. Shortages in the availability of products and/or supplies for an extended period of time will disrupt our ability to deliver products and provide services in a timely manner, could result in the loss of customers, and could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

Difficulties integrating new acquisitions may impose increased costs, loss of customers and a decline in operating margins and profitability and other risks that we may not anticipate.

Our success depends in part on our ability to timely and cost-effectively acquire, and integrate into our business, additional animal hospitals, laboratories and related businesses. In 2013, we acquired 20 animal hospitals and one laboratory. In 2012, we acquired 79 animal hospitals, including 44 with the acquisition of AVC, one laboratory and ThinkPets. In 2011, we acquired 27 animal hospitals, including nine with the acquisition of BrightHeart, one laboratory and Vetstreet. We expect to continue our animal hospital acquisition program and, if presented with favorable opportunities, we may acquire animal hospital chains, laboratories or related businesses. Our expansion into new territories and new business segments creates the risk that we will be unsuccessful in the integration of the acquired businesses that are new to our operations. Any difficulties in the integration process could result in increased expense, loss of customers and a decline in operating margins and profitability. In some cases, we have experienced delays and increased costs in integrating acquired businesses, particularly where we acquire a large number of animal hospitals in a single region at or about the same time. We also could experience delays in converting the systems of acquired businesses into our systems, which could result in increased staff and payroll expense to collect our results as well as delays in reporting our results, both for a particular region and on a consolidated basis. Further, the legal and business environment prevalent in new territories and with respect to new businesses may pose risks that we do not anticipate and materially adversely impact our ability to integrate newly acquired operations. In addition, our field management may spend a greater amount of time integrating these new businesses and less time managing our existing businesses. During these periods, there may be less attention directed to marketing efforts or staffing issues, which could affect our revenue and expense. For all of these reasons, our historical success in integrating acquired businesses is not a reliable indicator of our ability to do so in the future.

We may be unable to adequately protect our customers’ privacy or we may fail to comply with privacy laws.

The protection of customer, employee and company data is critical and the regulatory environment surrounding information security, storage, use, processing, disclosure and privacy is demanding, with the frequent imposition of new and changing requirements. In addition, our customers expect that we will adequately protect their personal information. Any actual or perceived significant breakdown, intrusion, interruption, cyber-attack or corruption of customer, employee or company data or our failure to comply with federal, state, local and foreign privacy laws could damage our reputation and result in lost sales, fines and lawsuits. Despite our efforts and technology to secure our computer network, security could be compromised, confidential information could be misappropriated or system disruptions could occur. Our failure to comply with security requirements imposed by applicable law or the payment card industry or rectify a security issue may result in fines and the imposition of restrictions on our ability to accept payment by credit or debit cards. Vetstreet offers e-commerce services to third party veterinary practices and engages in e-commerce. Federal, state and international laws and regulations may govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of data that we receive from customers, visitors to the websites of our customers, and others. In addition, we have and post on our website our own privacy policy concerning the collection, use and disclosure of user data. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any privacy-related laws, government regulations or directives, or industry self-regulatory principles could result in damage to our reputation, or proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or otherwise, which could potentially have a material adverse effect on our business.

The carrying value of our goodwill and other intangible assets could be subject to an impairment write-down.

At December 31, 2013, our consolidated balance sheet reflected $1.3 billion of goodwill and $86.7 million of other intangible assets, constituting a substantial portion of our total assets of $2.2 billion at that date. We expect that the aggregate amount of goodwill and other intangible assets on our consolidated balance sheet will increase as a result of future acquisitions. We continually evaluate whether events or circumstances have occurred that suggest that the fair value of our other intangible

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assets or each of our reporting units are below their respective carrying values. The determination that the fair value of our intangible assets or one of our reporting units is less than its carrying value would result in an impairment write-down. The impairment write-down would be reflected as an operating expense and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations during the period in which we recognize the expense.

Our estimated fair values are calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles related to fair value and utilize valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, the weighted-average cost of capital, and risk premiums, which are based upon the best available market information and are consistent with our long-term strategic plans. We provide no assurance that forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and discount rates will not deteriorate or that we will not incur additional impairment charges. We will continue to analyze changes to these assumptions in future periods.

The fair value of our Vetstreet reporting unit, exceeded its carrying value by 10%. The carrying amount of goodwill in the Vetstreet reporting unit was $9.2 million. As mentioned in previous filings, Vetstreet had experienced operational delays with the execution of their business strategy, in part due to complexities involved in the migration of their information systems from their former parent to our corporate data center. In early 2013, the migration was completed and the company began the full implementation of their new business strategy. The fair value of the reporting unit for purposes of impairment testing was determined utilizing a revised estimate of future cash flows that reflected a recovery of certain aspects of the Vetstreet business in 2014 and beyond. In the event that we are not able to timely deliver product enhancements necessary to reestablish our competitive advantage, our forecasted growth rates may not be attainable and therefore we could incur an impairment charge in the future with respect to this business.

We require a significant amount of cash to service our debt and expand our business as planned.

We have, and will continue to have, a substantial amount of debt. Our substantial amount of debt requires us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operations to service interest and principal payments on our debt, thereby reducing the funds available for use for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

Our failure to satisfy covenants in our debt instruments will cause a default under those instruments.

In addition to imposing restrictions on our business and operations, our debt instruments include a number of covenants relating to financial ratios and tests. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. The breach of any of these covenants would result in a default under these instruments. An event of default would permit our lenders and other debtholders to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. If we are unable to repay debt to our senior lenders, these lenders and other debtholders could proceed against our assets.

Our debt instruments may adversely affect our ability to run our business.

Our substantial amount of debt, as well as the guarantees of our subsidiaries and the security interests in our assets and those of our subsidiaries, could impair our ability to operate our business effectively and may limit our ability to take advantage of business opportunities. For example, our senior credit facility may:

• limit our ability to borrow additional funds or to obtain other financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments and general corporate purposes;

• limit our ability to dispose of our assets, create liens on our assets or to extend credit;

• make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and reduce our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions;

• limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or industry;

• place us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors with less debt; and

• restrict our ability to pay dividends, repurchase or redeem our capital stock or debt, or merge or consolidate with another entity.

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The terms of our senior credit facility allow us, under specified conditions, to incur further indebtedness, which would heighten the foregoing risks. If compliance with our debt obligations materially hinders our ability to operate our business and adapt to changing industry conditions, we may lose market share, our revenue may decline and our operating results may suffer.

It is our intent to refinance our senior credit facility prior to its expiration in 2016. Although in the past we have been able to obtain financing on terms we believe to be reasonable, there is a possibility that we may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms in the future.

Any failure by the manufacturers of our medical imaging equipment, failure in our ability to develop functional and cost-effective software for our products, or any product malfunctions could result in a decline in customer purchases and a reduction in our revenue and profitability.

We do not develop or manufacture the medical imaging equipment that we distribute, except for the software component of our digital radiography machines. Our business in large part is dependent upon distribution agreements with the manufacturers of the equipment, the ability of those manufacturers to produce desirable equipment and to keep pace with advances in technology, our ability to develop cost-effective, functional, and user-friendly software for the digital radiography machines, and the overall rate of new development within the industry. If the distribution agreements terminate or are not renewed, if the manufacturers breach their covenants under these agreements, if the equipment manufactured by these manufacturers or our software becomes less competitive or if there is a general decrease in the rate of new development within the industry, demand for our products and services would decrease.

Manufacturing flaws, component failures, design defects, or inadequate disclosure of product-related information could result in an unsafe condition or injury. These problems could result in product liability claims and lawsuits alleging that our products have resulted or could result in an unsafe condition or injury. In addition, a material adverse event involving one of our products could result in reduced market acceptance and demand for all of our products, and could harm our reputation and our ability to market our products in the future. Any of the foregoing problems could disrupt our business and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Our use of self-insurance, self-insured retention and high-deductible insurance programs to cover certain claims for losses suffered and costs or expenses incurred could negatively impact our business upon the occurrence of an uninsured and/or significant event.

We self-insure and use high-retention or high-deductible insurance programs with regard to property risks, general, professional and employment practice liabilities, health benefits, and workers’ compensation. In the event that the frequency of losses we experience increases unexpectedly, the aggregate of those losses could materially increase our liability and adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations. In addition, we have made certain judgments as to the limits on our existing insurance coverage that we believe are in line with industry standards, as well as in light of economic and availability considerations. If we experience losses above these limits it could materially adversely affect our financial and business condition.

If we fail to comply with governmental regulations applicable to our business, various governmental agencies may impose fines, institute litigation or preclude us from operating in certain states.

Certain states and provinces have laws, rules and regulations which require that veterinary medical practices be owned by licensed veterinarians and that corporations which are not owned by licensed veterinarians refrain from providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. At December 31, 2013, we provided management and administrative services to 176 animal hospitals in 15 states and 52 animal hospital in four Canadian provinces, under management agreements with these veterinary practices, including 48 practices in Texas, 33 in Washington, and 30 in New York. We may experience difficulty in expanding our operations into other states or provinces with similar laws, rules and regulations. Although we have structured our operations to comply with our understanding of the veterinary medicine laws of each state and province in which we operate, interpretive legal precedent and regulatory guidance varies by jurisdiction and is often sparse and not fully developed. A determination that we are in violation of applicable restrictions on the practice of veterinary medicine in any jurisdiction in which we operate, could have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if we are unable to restructure our operations to comply with the requirements of that jurisdiction.

All of the states in which we operate impose various registration requirements. To fulfill these requirements, we have registered each of our facilities with appropriate governmental agencies and, where required, have appointed a licensed veterinarian to act on behalf of each facility. All veterinarians practicing in our animal hospitals are required to maintain valid state licenses to practice.

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Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could adversely affect our operating results.

We are exposed to foreign currency fluctuation risk in Canada as we recently expanded our animal hospital operations and now operate 52 animal hospitals in four provinces and operate four laboratories that create market risk associated with changes in the value of the Canadian dollar. In addition, in the future we may expand into other international markets. Currency exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis as a result of a number of factors and cannot easily be predicted. To date, we have not hedged against foreign currency fluctuations; however, we may pursue hedging alternatives in the future. Our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows therefore could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between international currencies and the U.S. dollar.

Our international operations may result in additional market risks, which may harm our business.

We operate over 50 animal hospitals and four laboratories in Canada as of December 31, 2013. In the future we may expand into other international markets. As our international operations grow, they may require greater management and financial resources. Internal operations require the integration of personnel with varying cultural and business backgrounds and an understanding of the relevant differences in the cultural, legal and regulatory environments. Our results may be increasingly affected by the risks of our international operations, including:

• changes in internal staffing and employment issues,

• failure to understand the local culture and market, and

• the burden of complying with foreign laws, including tax and labor laws and foreign financial accounting standards.

Changes in regulations or user concerns regarding privacy and protection of user data could adversely affect our business.

Federal, state and international laws and regulations may govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of data that we receive from customers, visitors to the websites of our customers, and others. In addition, we have and post on our website our own privacy policy concerning the collection, use and disclosure of user data. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any privacy-related laws, government regulations or directives, or industry self-regulatory principles could result in damage to our reputation, or proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or otherwise, which could potentially have an adverse effect on our business.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our corporate headquarters and principal executive offices are located in Los Angeles, California, in approximately 60,000 square feet of leased space. At February 19, 2014, we leased or owned facilities at 724 other locations that house our animal hospitals, laboratories, our medical technology business, and our Vetstreet business. We own 152 facilities and the remainder are leased. We believe that our real property facilities are adequate for our current needs.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On May 29, 2013, a former veterinary assistant at one of our animal hospitals filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, titled Jorge Duran vs. VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc., et. al. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of current and former veterinary assistants employed by us in California, and alleges, among other allegations, that we improperly failed to pay overtime wages, improperly failed to provide proper meal and rest periods, and engaged in unfair business practices. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

Additionally, on July 12, 2013, an individual who provided courier services with respect to our laboratory clients in California filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Clara - San Jose Branch, titled Carlos Lopez vs. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, Antech Diagnostics, Inc., et. al. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, is a company with which Antech has contracted to provide courier services in California. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of individuals who were engaged by Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC to perform such courier services and alleges, among other allegations, that Logistics Delivery Solutions, and Antech Diagnostics improperly classified the plaintiffs as independent contractors, improperly failed to pay overtime wages, and improperly failed to provide proper meal and rest periods. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

We are vigorously defending these lawsuits. Because these lawsuits are in the initial stages, the financial impact to us, if any, cannot be predicted.

In addition to the lawsuits described above, we are party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, but we are not currently a party to any legal proceeding that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WOOF.” The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices per share for our common stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for the periods indicated.

	High		Low
Fiscal 2013 by Quarter
Fourth	$	31.67	$	26.84
Third	$	29.58	$	25.55
Second	$	27.18	$	20.89
First	$	23.81	$	20.32
Fiscal 2012 by Quarter
Fourth	$	21.44	$	18.42
Third	$	23.21	$	17.56
Second	$	26.00	$	20.04
First	$	23.41	$	19.22

At February 24, 2014, there were 293 holders of record of our common stock.

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The following graph sets forth the percentage change in cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2013. These periods are compared with the cumulative returns of the NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2008 in our common stock and in each of the foregoing indices. The stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

*$100 invested on 12/31/08 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.

	12/08	12/09	12/10	12/11	12/12	12/13
VCA Antech, Inc.	100.00	125.35	117.15	99.35	105.89	157.75
NASDAQ Composite	100.00	144.88	170.58	171.30	199.99	283.39
Russell 2000	100.00	127.17	161.32	154.59	179.86	249.69

Dividends

We have not paid cash dividends on our common stock, and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our senior credit facility places limitations on our ability to pay cash dividends in respect of our common stock. Specifically, our senior credit facility dated August 16, 2011 prohibits us from declaring, ordering, paying, or setting apart any sum for any dividends or other distributions on account of any shares of any class of stock, other than dividends payable solely in shares of stock to holders of such class of stock. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends on our common stock will be restricted by these limitations, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors, including the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits.

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Transactions in Our Equity Securities

For the period covered by this report, we have not engaged in any transactions involving the sale of our unregistered equity securities that were not disclosed in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or a current report on Form 8-K. We have not engaged in any sales of registered securities for which the use of proceeds is required to be disclosed.

The following table provides information on shares of our common stock we repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2013 (in thousands except average price paid per share data):

				Total Number of	Approximate Dollar
				Shares Purchased as	Value of Shares That
	Total Number	Average		Part of Publicly	May Yet Be Purchased
	of Shares	Price Paid		Announced Plan	Under the Plan
Period	Purchased	Per Share		or Program	or Program
(1)	(2)	(3)		(4)	(4)
October 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013	258,344	$	27.68	258,344	$	102,976,305
November 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013	127,301	$	29.42	100,000	$	100,007,725
December 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013	288,000	$	30.29	288,000	$	91,284,521
	673,645	$	29.12	646,344	$	91,284,521

(1) Information is based on settlement dates of repurchase transactions.

(2) Consists of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share. Of these shares, 646,344 shares were repurchased in the open market pursuant to a previously-announced share repurchase program (see (4) below). The balance of the repurchases were related to 27,301 shares of common stock surrendered to us by employees to satisfy minimum statutory tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock. In the table above, these shares were excluded from column (4) as they do not affect the number of shares that may be repurchased under the Share Repurchase Program.

(3) The average price paid for shares repurchased under the Share Repurchase Program excludes commissions paid.

(4) We have an ongoing authorization, since April 2013 from our Board of Directors to repurchase up to $125 million in shares of our common stock in open market purchases or negotiated transactions.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table provides our selected consolidated financial data as of and for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2013. The income statement and cash flow data and the other financial data for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 has been derived from our financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The other periods presented were derived from our financial statements that are not included in this Form 10-K.

The selected financial data presented below is not necessarily indicative of results of future operations and should be read in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this 10-K.

	December 31,
	2013			2012			2011			2010			2009
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Income Statement Data:
Animal Hospital revenue(1)	$	1,417,908		$	1,331,314		$	1,150,120		$	1,052,462		$	994,215
Laboratory revenue	344,831			327,801			316,797			310,654			310,057
All Other revenue(2)	112,740			112,960			80,430			64,013			48,557
Intercompany revenue	(72,110		)	(72,433		)	(61,986		)	(45,661		)	(38,322		)
Total revenue	1,803,369			1,699,642			1,485,361			1,381,468			1,314,507
Direct costs	1,393,989			1,324,668			1,146,904			1,050,304			973,275
Gross profit	409,380			374,974			338,457			331,164			341,232
Selling, general and administrative expense(3)	157,911			157,155			121,112			123,541			95,669
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets(4)	—			123,573			21,310			—			—
Net loss on sale of assets	2,455			1,310			382			374			4,035
Operating income(4)	249,014			92,936			195,653			207,249			241,528
Interest expense, net	18,549			16,552			16,884			13,630			21,466
Debt retirement costs	—			—			2,764			2,131			—
Business combination adjustment gain	—			(5,719		)	—			—			—
Other expense (income)	90			(488		)	118			(772		)	(104		)
Income before provision for income taxes	230,375			82,591			175,887			192,260			220,166
Provision for income taxes(4)(5)	87,453			31,875			76,027			78,102			84,580
Net income	142,922			50,716			99,860			114,158			135,586
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,411			5,165			4,455			3,915			4,158
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511		$	45,551		$	95,405		$	110,243		$	131,428
Basic earnings per share	$	1.55		$	0.52		$	1.10		$	1.28		$	1.54
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.53		$	0.51		$	1.09		$	1.27		$	1.53
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	88,621			87,681			86,606			86,049			85,077
Weighted-average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	89,663			88,671			87,394			87,051			86,097

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	December 31,
	2013			2012			2011			2010			2009
	(in thousands, except percentages)
Other Financial Data:
Consolidated gross margin	22.7		%	22.1		%	22.8		%	24.0		%	26.0		%
Animal Hospital gross margin	14.7		%	14.2		%	15.6		%	16.4		%	18.5		%
Laboratory gross margin	47.5		%	46.3		%	45.4		%	45.8		%	46.3		%
All Other gross margin	34.2		%	34.3		%	26.1		%	30.1		%	32.6		%
Consolidated operating margin(1)(4)	13.8		%	5.5		%	13.2		%	15.1		%	18.4		%
Animal Hospital operating margin	12.1		%	11.7		%	13.5		%	14.1		%	16.3		%
Laboratory operating margin	38.3		%	37.3		%	36.6		%	37.3		%	38.9		%
All Other operating margin(2)(4)	5.0		%	(108.2		)%	(24.2		)%	7.3		%	6.1		%
Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	256,372		$	237,253		$	191,051		$	168,073		$	183,471
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(126,731	)	$	(219,258	)	$	(271,310	)	$	(150,174	)	$	(130,760	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	$	(72,013	)	$	(13,514	)	$	47,004		$	(66,142	)	$	3,467
Capital expenditures	$	(73,270	)	$	(76,807	)	$	(63,485	)	$	(61,951	)	$	(50,801	)
Balance Sheet Data (at period end):
Cash and cash equivalents	$	125,029		$	68,435		$	63,651		$	97,126		$	145,181
Goodwill	$	1,330,917		$	1,291,231		$	1,237,607		$	1,092,480		$	985,674
Total assets	$	2,237,781		$	2,091,580		$	1,995,368		$	1,766,422		$	1,627,404
Long-term debt	$	619,645		$	630,643		$	618,853		$	527,036		$	545,055
Total VCA Antech, Inc. stockholders’ equity	$	1,307,340		$	1,183,503		$	1,107,878		$	998,924		$	875,047

⁽¹⁾  On January 31, 2012, we increased our investment in Associate Veterinary Clinics (1981) LTD ("AVC"), becoming the sole non-veterinary shareholder. Accordingly, we now consolidate their results into our own. At the time of the additional investment, AVC operated 44 animal hospitals.

On July 11, 2011, we acquired BrightHeart Veterinary Centers (“BrightHeart”), which operated nine animal hospitals as of the acquisition date.

On July 1, 2010, we acquired Pet DRx Corporation, which operated 23 animal hospitals as of the acquisition date.

On July 1, 2009, we acquired Eklin Medical Systems, Inc. ("Eklin"), a supplier of digital radiography equipment to the veterinary industry.

⁽²⁾  On February 1, 2012, we acquired ThinkPets, Inc. ("ThinkPets"), which was merged into our existing Vetstreet business. ThinkPets was previously a competitor of Vetstreet.

On August 9, 2011, we acquired Vetstreet, a provider of online communications, professional education and marketing solutions to the veterinary community.

On July 1, 2009, we acquired Eklin, a supplier of digital radiography equipment to the veterinary industry.

⁽³⁾  In 2010, our SG&A, operating income and operating margin were unfavorably impacted by a $14.5 million accrual related to consulting and Supplemental Executive Retirement Program ("SERP") amounts to be paid in accordance with consulting and SERP agreements entered into on June 30, 2010.

⁽⁴⁾  In 2012, our operating income and operating margin were unfavorably impacted by a $123.6 million non-cash impairment charge. The charge was primarily attributable to impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets, related to our Vetstreet business, included in our All Other segments category. Our operating income was also impacted by a $3.1 million out-of-period adjustment to depreciation expense related to our acquired capital leases. These charges impacted our 2012 consolidated operating margin by 7.5%.

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In 2011, our operating income and operating margin was unfavorably impacted by a $21.3 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge, related to our medical technology business. The charge impacted our 2011 operating margin by 1.4%.    

⁽⁵⁾  The 2012 provision for income taxes was impacted by the tax effect of the impairment charge, mentioned above.

The 2010 provision for income taxes includes the recognition of $5.4 million, or $3.5 million net of tax, related to additional state tax payments required as a result of a tax settlement reached.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements provided under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K. We have included herein statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We generally identify forward-looking statements in this report using words like “believe,” “intend,” “seek,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “plan,” “should plan,” “project,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or similar expressions. You may find some of these statements below and elsewhere in this report. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this report may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in our discussion in this report will be important in determining future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Actual future results may vary materially. Factors that may result in these forward-looking statements in being different than reflected in this report are described throughout this annual report and particularly in “Risk Factors” Part I, Item 1A of this annual report on Form 10-K.

The forward-looking information set forth in this annual report on Form 10-K is as of February 28, 2014, and we undertake no duty to update this information. Shareholders and prospective investors can find information filed with the SEC after February 28, 2014, at our website at http://investor.vcaantech.com or at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Overview

We are a leading North American animal healthcare company. We provide veterinary services and diagnostic testing services to support veterinary care and we sell diagnostic imaging equipment and other medical technology products and related services to veterinarians. We also provide both online and printed communications, education and information, and analytical-based marketing solutions to the veterinary community.

Our reportable segments are as follows:

• Our Animal Hospital segment operates the largest network of freestanding, full-service animal hospitals in the nation. Our animal hospitals offer a full range of general medical and surgical services for companion animals. We treat diseases and injuries, offer pharmaceutical and retail products and perform a variety of pet wellness programs, including health examinations, diagnostic testing, routine vaccinations, spaying, neutering and dental care. At December 31, 2013, our animal hospital network consisted of 609 animal hospitals in 41 states and in four Canadian provinces.

• Our Laboratory segment operates the largest network of veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the nation. Our laboratories provide sophisticated testing and consulting services used by veterinarians in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, treatment and prevention of diseases and other conditions affecting animals. At December 31, 2013, our laboratory network consisted of 56 laboratories serving all 50 states and certain areas in Canada.

Our “All Other” category includes the results of our Medical Technology and Vetstreet operating segments. Each of these segments did not meet the materiality thresholds to be reported individually.

The practice of veterinary medicine is subject to seasonal fluctuation. In particular, demand for veterinary services is significantly higher during the warmer months because pets spend a greater amount of time outdoors where they are more likely to be injured and are more susceptible to disease and parasites. In addition, use of veterinary services may be affected by levels of flea infestation, heartworms and ticks, and the number of daylight hours.

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Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this management's discussion and analysis, we use supplemental measures of our performance, which are derived from our consolidated financial information, but which are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These financial measures, which are considered “Non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules, include our Non-GAAP  gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization on both a consolidated basis and with respect to our Animal Hospital segment. Additionally, our Non-GAAP financial measures include our Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP operating margin, Non-GAAP operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP operating margin, excluding acquisition related amortization on a consolidated basis and lastly our Non-GAAP net income, Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, Non-GAAP net income, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, excluding acquisition related amortization. See “Consolidated Results of Operations - Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for information about our use of these Non-GAAP financial measures, including our reasons for including the measures, material limitations with respect to the usefulness of the measures, and a reconciliation of each Non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. All references to Non-GAAP figures in the discussion that follows refer to Non-GAAP results excluding acquisition related amortization.

Executive Overview

In 2013, we experienced increases in both consolidated revenue and gross profit. The increases were primarily driven by revenue from our acquisitions, as well as organic growth in our Animal Hospital, Laboratory and Medical Technology business segments. Our Animal Hospital same-store revenue growth, adjusted for differences in business days, was 1.1% and 1.2% in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our Laboratory revenue growth, adjusted for differences in billing days, was 5.3% and 3.6% in 2013 and 2012, respectively. In 2013, our consolidated operating income increased 167.9% primarily due to an impairment charge recorded in 2012. Our Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization, increased 11.3%, on a 60 basis point increase in consolidated operating margin primarily due to improved results from our Animal Hospital, Laboratory and Medical Technology businesses and from cost management at our Vetstreet business.

Consumer spending habits, including spending for pet healthcare, are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. These factors continue to impact consumer spending and may continue to cause levels of spending to remain depressed for the foreseeable future. Additionally, these factors may cause pet owners to elect to defer expensive treatment options or to forgo treatment for their pets altogether.

We believe that our ability to maintain or increase margins in 2014 will be dependent on organic revenue growth rates. We plan to continue our growth strategy of acquiring individual animal hospitals and maintain our strong emphasis on expense management. However, our ability to return to our historical margins will be dependent on increases in same-store revenue growth in our animal hospitals and successful integration of our acquired businesses.

Share Repurchase Program

In April 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program, authorizing us to repurchase up to $125.0 million of our common shares from time to time in open market purchases, pursuant to trading plans established in accordance with SEC rules or through privately negotiated transactions. The extent and timing of our repurchases will depend upon market conditions, our cash requirements to fund the long-term growth investments in our business and other corporate considerations. The repurchases have been and will continue to be be funded by existing cash balances and by our revolving credit facility. The share repurchase program has no expiration date. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Refer to Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in Part II of this report.

Financing Transaction

On January 25, 2012, we amended our Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2011. The amendment replenished the aggregate amount of uncommitted incremental facilities available under our senior credit facility to a maximum of $100 million, after giving effect to the funding of $50 million of new term loan commitments on January 24, 2012, which were drawn in connection with the additional investment made in AVC, detailed below.

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Acquisitions

Our annual growth strategy includes the acquisition of independent animal hospitals. We also evaluate the acquisition of animal hospital chains, laboratories or related businesses if favorable opportunities are presented. In 2013, we acquired 20 independent animal hospitals with annualized revenue of $60.4 million. The following table summarizes the changes in the number of facilities operated by our Animal Hospital and Laboratory segments:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Animal hospitals:
Beginning of period	609		541		528
Acquisitions, excluding AVC in 2012 and BrightHeart in 2011	20		35		18
AVC	—		44		—
BrightHeart	—		—		9
New facilities	—		1		—
Acquisitions relocated into our existing animal hospitals	(2	)	(6	)	(3	)
Sold, closed or merged	(18	)	(6	)	(11	)
End of period	609		609		541
Laboratories:
Beginning of period	55		53		50
Acquisitions	1		1		1
New facilities	—		2		2
Closed or merged	—		(1	)	—
End of period	56		55		53

2011BrightHeart Acquisition

On July 11, 2011, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of BrightHeart for approximately $50 million in cash. BrightHeart operated nine animal hospitals, eight of which focused on the delivery of specialty and emergency medicine. The acquisition increased our level of market recognition in areas where we had an existing market presence. At the time of the acquisition, BrightHeart had annualized revenue of approximately $53.4 million. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of BrightHeart since July 11, 2011.

2011 Vetstreet Acquisition

On August 9, 2011, we acquired Vetstreet, a provider of online communications, professional education and marketing solutions to the veterinary community. The acquisition of Vetstreet expanded the breadth of our product offerings to the veterinary community. We acquired Vetstreet for $146.4 million, net of cash acquired. At the time of the acquisition, Vetstreet had annualized revenue of approximately $23.0 million. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of Vetstreet since August 9, 2011 reported within our "All Other" category in our segment disclosures.

2012 AVC Investment

On January 31, 2012, we increased our investment in AVC by approximately CDN $81 million (approximately US $81 million) becoming the sole non-veterinarian shareholder of AVC. At the time of the additional investment, AVC operated 44 animal hospitals in three Canadian provinces, offering services ranging from primary care, to specialty referral services and 24-hour emergency care. This investment and additional investments in AVC facilitates our continued expansion in the Canadian market. At the time of the investment, AVC had annualized revenue of approximately CDN $95 million (approximately US $95 million). Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of AVC since January 31, 2012.

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2012 ThinkPets Acquisition

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets for $21 million, payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. Subsequent to the acquisition, we merged the operations of ThinkPets with Vetstreet. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of ThinkPets since February 1, 2012 reported within our "All Other" category in our segment disclosures.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We believe that the application of the following accounting policies, which are important to our financial position and results of operations, require significant judgments and estimates on the part of management. For a summary of all of our accounting policies, including the accounting policies discussed below, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in our consolidated financial statements of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Revenue

Generally, we recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery of goods has occurred or services have been rendered, the sales price or fee is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. For the Animal Hospital segment, revenue is recognized when services are performed or products are sold. For the Laboratory segment, revenue is recognized when services are performed. For the other segments, revenue is recognized when services are provided or delivery of goods has occurred.

Multiple Element Arrangements

We sell our digital radiography imaging equipment bundled with other services in certain instances. These items are accounted for under the FASB’s Revenue Recognition - Multiple-Element Arrangements guidance.

Under the guidance, sales arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method, whereby any discount in the arrangement is allocated proportionally to each deliverable on the basis of each deliverable’s selling price. The selling price for each deliverable is based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence (“TPE”) if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (“ESP”) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. For elements where VSOE is available, VSOE of fair value is based on the price for those products and services when sold separately by us or the price established by management with the relevant authority. TPE of selling price is the price of our, or any of our competitor’s, largely interchangeable products or services in stand-alone sales to similarly situated customers. ESP is generally calculated based upon multiple factors that vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. Key external and internal factors considered in developing the ESPs include prices charged by us for similar arrangements, historical pricing practices and the nature of the product. In addition, when developing ESPs, we may consider other factors as appropriate, including the pricing of competitive alternatives if they exist, and product-specific business objectives. We exercise significant judgment to evaluate the relevant facts and circumstances in calculating the ESP of the deliverables in our arrangements.

We recognize revenue when the services are provided or at the time of delivery or installation and customer acceptance. Generally, at the time of delivery and installation of equipment the only undelivered item is the post-contract customer support ("PCS"). This obligation is contractually defined in both terms of scope and period. For the PCS, we recognize the revenue for these services on a straight-line basis over the period of support and we expense the costs of these services as they are incurred.

Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

We allocate a significant portion of the purchase price for our acquired businesses to goodwill. Our goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net of the amounts assigned to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The total amount of our goodwill at December 31, 2013 was $1.3 billion, consisting of $1.2 billion for our Animal Hospital reporting unit, $96.9 million for our Laboratory reporting unit, $9.2 million for our Vetstreet reporting unit and $8.2 million for our Medical Technology reporting unit.

We test our goodwill for impairment annually, or sooner if circumstances indicate impairment may exist, in accordance with goodwill guidance. Our annual impairment testing date is October 31, which allows us time to accurately complete our

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impairment testing process in order to incorporate the results in our annual financial statements and timely file those statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The recognition and measurement of a goodwill impairment loss involves either a qualitative assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit or a more detailed two-step process. We have not presently elected to rely on a qualitative assessment, accordingly we measure our goodwill for impairment based upon the following two-step process:

First we identify potential impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of our reporting units with the carrying value defined as the reporting unit’s net assets, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of our reporting units is greater than our carrying value, there is no impairment and the second step is not needed.

If we identify a potential impairment in the first step, we then measure the amount of impairment. The amount of the impairment is determined by allocating the estimated fair value of the reporting unit as determined in step one to the reporting unit’s net assets based on fair value as would be done in an acquisition. In this hypothetical purchase price allocation, the residual estimated fair value after allocation to the reporting units’ identifiable net assets is the implied current fair value of goodwill. If the implied current fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying amount of goodwill, goodwill is considered impaired and written down to the implied current fair value with a corresponding charge to earnings. However, if the implied current fair value of goodwill is greater than the carrying amount of goodwill, goodwill is not considered impaired and is not adjusted to the implied current fair value. Determining the fair value of the net assets of our reporting units under this step requires significant estimates.

Our estimated fair values are calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles related to fair value and utilize generally accepted valuation techniques consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques and market comparables, where applicable. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, the weighted-average cost of capital, and risk premiums, which are based upon the best available market information and are consistent with our long-term strategic plans.

Negative changes in our projected cash flows related to variables such as revenue growth rates, margins, or the discount rate could result in a decrease in the estimated fair value of our reporting units and could ultimately result in a substantial goodwill impairment charge. The performance of our reporting units, and in turn the risk of goodwill impairment, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are outside of our control.

2013 Impairment Test

After completing our October 31, 2013 impairment test for each of our reporting units, we concluded that goodwill was not impaired for any of our reporting units. In addition, our Animal Hospital, Laboratory and Medical Technology reporting units were not at risk of failing step one of the goodwill impairment test. Our Laboratory reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by a substantial margin. We applied a hypothetical ten percent decrease to the fair values of all of our reporting units which would not have triggered additional impairment testing and analysis.

The fair value of our Vetstreet reporting unit, exceeded its carrying value by 10%. The carrying amount of goodwill in the Vetstreet reporting unit was $9.2 million. As mentioned in previous filings, Vetstreet had experienced operational delays with the execution of their business strategy, in part due to complexities involved in the migration of their information systems from their former parent to our corporate data center. In early 2013, the migration was completed and the company began the full implementation of their new business strategy. The fair value of the reporting unit for purposes of impairment testing was determined utilizing a revised estimate of future cash flows that reflected a recovery of certain aspects of the Vetstreet business in 2014 and beyond. In the event that we are not able to timely deliver product enhancements necessary to reestablish our competitive advantage, our forecasted growth rates may not be attainable and therefore we could incur an impairment charge in the future with respect to this business.

2012 Impairment Test

After completing our October 31, 2012 impairment test for each of our reporting units, we concluded that goodwill was not impaired in our Animal Hospital, Laboratory or Medical Technology reporting units. In addition, each of these reporting units were not at risk of failing step one of the goodwill impairment test. Our Laboratory reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by a substantial margin. We applied a hypothetical ten percent decrease to the fair values of these reporting units which would not have triggered additional impairment testing and analysis. We also concluded, however, that an impairment charge would be necessary with respect to our Vetstreet reporting unit.

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In 2012, we recorded an impairment charge in our Vetstreet reporting unit reflecting changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to continued operational delays in part due to our upgrading and migration of Vetstreet's information technology systems from their former parent to our corporate data center; less than anticipated financial results for the 2012 fiscal year; the negative impact of increasing competition and a related overall change in business strategy to better compete in the marketplace. The Vetstreet reporting unit's remaining goodwill was $8.8 million.

2011 Impairment Test

After completing our October 31, 2011 impairment test for each of our reporting units, we concluded that goodwill was not impaired in our Animal Hospital, Laboratory or our newly acquired Vetstreet reporting units. Our Animal Hospital reporting unit, which had $1.0 billion of goodwill, marginally exceeded its carrying value and our Laboratory reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by a substantial margin. The acquisition of Vetstreet resulted in reporting unit goodwill of $97.2 million.

In 2011, we recorded an impairment charge in our Medical Technology reporting unit reflecting changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows. This reporting unit’s remaining goodwill was $8.2 million.

Other Intangible Assets

In addition to goodwill, we acquire other identifiable intangible assets in our acquisitions, including but not limited to covenants-not-to-compete, client lists, lease related assets and customer relationships. We value these identifiable intangible assets at estimated fair value. Our estimated fair values are based on generally accepted valuation techniques such as market comparables, discounted cash flow techniques or costs to replace. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions such as the timing and amount of future cash flows, risks, appropriate discount rates, and the useful lives of intangible assets.

Subsequent to acquisition, we test our identifiable intangible assets for impairment as part of a broader test for impairment of long-lived assets under the FASB’s accounting guidance whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The recognition and measurement of an impairment loss under the FASB’s accounting guidance also involves a two-step process:

First we identify potential impairment by estimating the aggregate projected undiscounted future cash flows associated with an asset or asset group and compare that amount with the carrying value of those assets. If the aggregate projected cash flow is greater than our carrying amount, there is no impairment and the second step is not needed.

If the estimated aggregate projected undiscounted future cash flows associated with an asset or asset group is less than the carrying value, we then write the assets or asset group down to the estimated fair value with a corresponding charge to earnings. If the estimated fair value is greater than carrying value, there is no adjustment. We may be required to make significant estimates in determining the fair value of some of our assets or asset groups.

There was no impairment charge recorded on our long-lived intangible assets in 2013 and 2011. In conjunction with our 2012 year-end review, we recorded long-lived intangible asset impairment of $22.9 million related to the aforementioned Vetstreet business. The intangibles consisted of technology, customer relationships, trademarks and certain other contracts.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the FASB’s accounting guidance for income taxes. We record deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, which represent taxes to be settled or recovered in the future. We adjust our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to reflect changes in tax rates or other statutory tax provisions. Changes in tax rates or other statutory provisions are recognized in the period the enactment occurs.

We make judgments in assessing our ability to realize future benefits from our deferred tax assets, which includes operating loss carryforwards. We believe that our earnings during the periods when the temporary differences become deductible will be sufficient to realize the related future tax benefits. Should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or a portion of our deferred tax assets, an adjustment would be made to the carrying amount through a valuation allowance.

Also, our net deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards are recorded using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax liability or asset is expected to be settled or realized. At December 31, 2013, we have a net deferred tax liability of $71.2 million. Should the expected applicable tax rates change in the

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future, an adjustment to the net deferred tax liability would be credited or charged, as appropriate, to income in the period such determination was made. For example, an increase of 1.0% in our income tax rate would cause us to increase our net deferred tax liability balance by $1.7 million with a corresponding charge to earnings.

We also assess differences between our tax bases, which are more likely than not to be realized, and the as-filed tax bases of certain assets and liabilities. We account for unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes, which prescribe a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits on December 31, 2013.

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Consolidated Results of Operations

The following table sets forth components of our income statements expressed as a percentage of revenue:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Revenue:
Animal Hospital	78.6	%	78.4	%	77.4	%
Laboratory	19.1		19.3		21.3
All Other	6.3		6.6		5.5
Intercompany	(4.0	)	(4.3	)	(4.2	)
Total revenue	100.0		100.0		100.0
Direct costs	77.3		77.9		77.2
Gross profit	22.7		22.1		22.8
Selling, general and administrative expense	8.8		9.2		8.2
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	—		7.3		1.4
Net loss on sale of assets	0.1		0.1		—
Operating income	13.8		5.5		13.2
Interest expense, net	1.0		1.0		1.2
Debt retirement costs	—		—		0.2
Business combination adjustment gain	—		(0.4	)	—
Income before provision for income taxes	12.8		4.9		11.8
Provision for income taxes	4.9		1.9		5.1
Net income	7.9		3.0		6.7
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.3		0.3		0.3
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	7.6	%	2.7	%	6.4	%

Revenue

The following table summarizes our revenue (in thousands, except percentages):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013					2012					2011					% Change
	$			% of Total		$			% of Total		$			% of Total		2013		2012
Animal Hospital	$	1,417,908		78.6	%	$	1,331,314		78.4	%	$	1,150,120		77.4	%	6.5	%	15.8	%
Laboratory	344,831			19.1	%	327,801			19.3	%	316,797			21.3	%	5.2	%	3.5	%
All Other	112,740			6.3	%	112,960			6.6	%	80,430			5.5	%	(0.2	)%	40.4	%
Intercompany	(72,110		)	(4.0	)%	(72,433		)	(4.3	)%	(61,986		)	(4.2	)%	0.4	%	(16.9	)%
Total revenue	$	1,803,369		100.0	%	$	1,699,642		100.0	%	$	1,485,361		100.0	%	6.1	%	14.4	%

Consolidated revenue increased $103.7 million in 2013, as compared to 2012. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to acquisitions, primarily in the animal hospitals segment. Excluding acquisitions, revenue increased $21.7 million. This remaining increase was primarily due to organic revenue from both our Animal Hospital and Laboratory segments. Our Animal Hospital same-store revenue increased 1.1% in 2013. Our Laboratory internal revenue growth was 5.3% in 2013.

Consolidated revenue increased $214.3 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to acquisitions including animal hospitals in the United States and Canada, Vetstreet and ThinkPets. Excluding acquisitions, revenue increased $15.1 million due to organic revenue increases from both our Animal Hospital and Laboratory segments. Our Animal Hospital same-store revenue increased 1.2% in 2012. Our Laboratory internal revenue growth was 3.6% in 2012.

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Gross Profit

The following table summarizes our consolidated gross profit, Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit and Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization in dollars and as a percentage of applicable revenue (in thousands, except percentages):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013					2012					2011					% Change
	$			Gross Margin		$			Gross Margin		$			Gross Margin		2013		2012
Animal Hospital	$	209,127		14.7	%	$	189,111		14.2	%	$	179,810		15.6	%	10.6	%	5.2	%
Laboratory	163,879			47.5	%	151,761			46.3	%	143,790			45.4	%	8.0	%	5.5	%
All Other	38,601			34.2	%	38,707			34.3	%	20,971			26.1	%	(0.3	)%	84.6	%
Intercompany	(2,227		)			(4,605		)			(6,114		)
Consolidated gross profit	$	409,380		22.7	%	$	374,974		22.1	%	$	338,457		22.8	%	9.2	%	10.8	%
Impact of inventory adjustment	(2,808		)			—					—
Impact of rent expense adjustment	(1,396		)			—					—
Impact of vacant property adjustment	2,046					—					—
Impact of depreciation expense adjustment	—					3,051					—
Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit and Non-GAAP gross margin(1)	$	407,222		22.6	%	$	378,025		22.2	%	$	338,457		22.8	%
Intangible asset amortization associated with acquisitions	20,753					21,858					11,955
Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization(1)	$	427,975		23.7	%	$	399,883		23.5	%	$	350,412		23.6	%

____________________________

⁽¹⁾  Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization are not measurements of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for information about these Non-GAAP financial measures, including our reasons for including the measures, material limitations with respect to the usefulness of the measures, and a reconciliation of each Non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Consolidated gross profit increased $34.4 million in 2013, as compared to 2012. Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization, increased $28.1 million in 2013, as compared to 2012. The increase in consolidated gross profit included $8.8 million of gross profit related to the acquisitions consummated since the beginning of 2012. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, the remainder of the increase was attributable to organic revenue growth and increased gross margins at our Animal Hospital, Laboratory, and Medical Technology business segments.

Consolidated gross profit increased $36.5 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. Non-GAAP consolidated gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization, increased $49.5 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. The increase consolidated gross profit included $31.5 million of gross profit primarily from the acquisition of AVC, Vetstreet and ThinkPets. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, the remaining increase in gross profit is attributable to organic revenue growth at our Laboratory and Vetstreet segments, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit from our same-store animal hospitals.

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Segment Results

Animal Hospital Segment

Revenue

Animal Hospital revenue increased $86.6 million in 2013, as compared to 2012 and $181.2 million in 2012, as

compared to 2011. The components of the increases are summarized in the following table (in thousands, except percentages and average price per order):    

	2013 Comparative Analysis							2012 Comparative Analysis
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012		% Change		2012		2011		% Change
Animal Hospital Revenue:
Same-store facility:
Orders(1)	6,912			7,078		(2.3	)%	6,747		6,867		(1.7	)%
Average revenue per order(2)	$	174.83		$	168.81	3.6	%	$	165.43	$	160.56	3.0	%
Same-store revenue(1)	$	1,208,416		$	1,194,824	1.1	%	$	1,116,153	$	1,102,535	1.2	%
Business day adjustment(3)	—			3,774				—		—
Foreign currency impact	(4,028		)	—				—		—
Net acquired revenue(4)	213,520			132,716				215,161		47,585
Total	$	1,417,908		$	1,331,314	6.5	%	$	1,331,314	$	1,150,120	15.8	%

⁽¹⁾  Same-store revenue and orders were calculated using Animal Hospital operating results, adjusted to exclude the operating results for newly acquired animal hospitals that we did not own as of the beginning of the comparable period in the prior year. Same-store revenue also includes revenue generated by customers referred from our relocated or combined animal hospitals, including those merged upon acquisition.

⁽²⁾  Computed by dividing same-store revenue by same-store orders.

⁽³⁾  The business day adjustment reflects the impact of one lessbusiness day for the year endedDecember 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.

⁽⁴⁾  Net acquired revenue represents the revenue from those animal hospitals acquired, net of revenue from those animal hospitals sold or closed on or after the beginning of the comparable period, which was January 1, 2012 for the 2013 Comparative Analysis and January 1, 2011 for the 2012 Comparative Analysis. Fluctuations in net acquired revenue occur based on the volume, size and timing of acquisitions and dispositions during the periods from this date through the end of the applicable period.

Our business strategy is to place a greater emphasis on comprehensive wellness visits and advanced medical procedures, which typically generate higher priced orders. The migration of lower priced orders from our animal hospitals to other distribution channels mentioned above and our emphasis on comprehensive wellness visits has, over the past several years, resulted in a decrease in lower priced orders and an increase in higher priced orders.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, we experienced a decrease in the number of lower priced orders while higher priced orders remained relatively flat. We believe these results are a consequence of the competitive environment and the impact of changes in our overall business environment on the mix of the procedures performed. For the year ended December 31, 2012, contrary to historical trends, we experienced a decrease in the number of both lower and higher priced orders, which we believe was primarily a consequence of the economic conditions in the United States at that time.

Price increases as well as the aforementioned mix in year over year growth rates of low to high-priced orders contributed to the overall increase in the average revenue per order. Prices at each of our hospitals are reviewed regularly and adjustments are made based on market considerations, demographics and our costs. These adjustments historically approximated 3% to 6% on most services at the majority of our animal hospitals and are typically implemented in November of each year; however, price increases in 2013 generally ranged between 3% and 4%.

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Gross Profit

Animal Hospital gross profit is calculated as Animal Hospital revenue less Animal Hospital direct costs. Animal Hospital direct costs comprise all costs of services and products at the animal hospitals including, but not limited to, salaries of veterinarians, technicians and all other animal hospital-based personnel, facilities rent, occupancy costs, supply costs, depreciation and amortization, certain marketing and promotional expenses and costs of goods sold associated with the retail sales of pet food and pet supplies.

The following table summarizes gross profit, gross margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization for our Animal Hospital segment (in thousands, except percentages) and the same measures on a same-store basis:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			% Change		2012			2011			% Change
Gross profit	$	209,127		$	189,111		10.6	%	$	189,111		$	179,810		5.2	%
Impact of inventory adjustment	(2,808		)	—					—			—
Impact of rent expense adjustment	(1,396		)	—					—			—
Impact of vacant property adjustment	2,046			—					—			—
Impact of depreciation expense adjustment	—			3,051					3,051			—
Non-GAAP gross profit(1)	$	206,969		$	192,162		7.7	%	$	192,162		$	179,810		6.9	%
Intangible asset amortization associated with acquisitions	16,088			15,118					15,118			9,235
Non-GAAP gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization(1)	$	223,057		$	207,280		7.6	%	$	207,280		$	189,045		9.6	%
Gross margin	14.7		%	14.2		%			14.2		%	15.6		%
Non-GAAP gross margin(1)	14.6		%	14.4		%			14.4		%	15.6		%
Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding amortization(1)	15.7		%	15.6		%			15.6		%	16.4		%
Same-store gross profit(2)	187,763			175,125			7.2	%	164,975			174,446			(5.4	)%
Impact of inventory adjustment	(2,615		)	—					—			—
Impact of rent expense adjustment	(1,396		)	—					—			—
Impact of vacant property adjustment	1,662			—					—			—
Impact of depreciation expense adjustment	—			3,051					3,051			—
Non-GAAP same-store gross profit(1)	$	185,414		$	178,176		4.1	%	$	168,026		$	174,446		(3.7	)%
Intangible asset amortization associated with acquisitions	7,861			9,866					7,284			8,074
Non-GAAP same-store gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization(1)	$	193,275		$	188,042		2.8	%	$	175,310		$	182,520		(4.0	)%
Same-store gross margin	15.5		%	14.7		%			14.8		%	15.8		%
Non-GAAP same-store gross margin(1)	15.3		%	14.9		%			15.1		%	15.8		%
Non-GAAP same-store gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization(1)	16.0		%	15.7		%			15.7		%	16.6		%

__________________________

⁽¹⁾ Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization and the same measures expressed on a same store basis, are not measurements of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

⁽²⁾ Same-store gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2012 was adjusted to reflect one additional business day in 2012 as compared to 2013.

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In 2013, our Animal Hospital gross margin was essentially flat, as compared to 2012. In 2012, our Animal Hospital gross margin declined as a result of lower same-store margins as a result of increased labor costs and to a lesser extent lower gross margins from our acquired hospitals, as compared to 2011.

In 2013, our Animal Hospital same-store gross margin increased, as compared to 2012, primarily due to improved leverage from heartworm medication and retail supplies. In 2012, our Animal Hospital same-store gross margin decreased as compared to 2011, primarily due to deleveraging as a result of increased labor costs.

Over the last several years, we have acquired a significant number of animal hospitals. Many of these newly acquired animal hospitals had lower gross margins at the time of acquisition than those previously operated by us. We have improved these lower gross margins, in the aggregate, subsequent to the acquisition primarily through cost efficiencies.

Laboratory Segment

The following table summarizes revenue and gross profit for our Laboratory segment (in thousands, except percentages):

	For the Years Ended December 31,									% Change
	2013			2012			2011			2013		2012
Revenue	$	344,831		$	327,801		$	316,797		5.2	%	3.5	%
Gross profit	$	163,879		$	151,761		$	143,790		8.0	%	5.5	%
Gross margin	47.5		%	46.3		%	45.4		%

Laboratory revenue increased $17.0 million in 2013, as compared to 2012 and $11.0 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. The components of the increase in Laboratory revenue are detailed below (in thousands, except percentages and average price per requisition):

	2013 Comparative Analysis						2012 Comparative Analysis
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		% Change		2012(5)		2011(5)		% Change
Laboratory Revenue:
Internal growth:
Number of requisitions(1)	12,868		12,584		2.3	%	12,605		12,378		1.8	%
Average revenue per requisition(2)	$	26.77	$	26.00	3.0	%	$	25.99	$	25.55	1.7	%
Total internal revenue(1)	$	344,488	$	327,243	5.3	%	$	327,609	$	316,280	3.6	%
Billing day adjustment(3)	—		558				—		517
Acquired revenue(4)	343		—				192		—
Total	$	344,831	$	327,801	5.2	%	$	327,801	$	316,797	3.5	%

⁽¹⁾  Internal revenue and requisitions were calculated using Laboratory operating results, which are adjusted (i) to exclude the operating results of acquired laboratories that we did not own as of the beginning of the comparable period in the prior year, and (ii) for the impact resulting from any differences in the number of billing days in comparable periods, if applicable.

⁽²⁾  Computed by dividing internal revenue by the number of requisitions.

⁽³⁾  The 2012 billing day adjustment reflects the impact of one less billing day in 2013, as compared to 2012. The 2011 billing day adjustment reflects one less billing day in 2012, as compared to 2011.

⁽⁴⁾  Acquired revenue in both the 2013 and 2012 Comparative Analyses represents the revenue of the laboratories acquired in each of those respective years.

⁽⁵⁾  Prior-year amounts have been adjusted to conform to the current year presentation. The changes were not material.

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Laboratory revenue in both 2013 and 2012 increased in comparison to each of the respective prior year periods due to an increase in internal revenue growth attributable to an increase in number of requisitions and average revenue per requisition.

Historically, requisitions have been driven by an ongoing trend in veterinary medicine to focus on the importance of laboratory diagnostic testing in the diagnosis, early detection and treatment of diseases, and the migration of certain tests to outside laboratories that have historically been performed in animal hospitals. While these factors have resulted in significant increases in requisitions in the past, the economic downturn, slow economic recovery and the effects of increased competition continued to negatively impact requisitions in 2013.

We derive our laboratory revenue from services provided to over 16,000 independently owned animal hospitals. Shifts in the purchasing habits of any individual animal hospital or small group of animal hospitals is not material to our laboratory revenues. Other companies are developing networks of animal hospitals and shifts in the purchasing habits of these networks have the potential of a greater impact on our laboratory revenues.

The average revenue per requisition increased slightly in 2013 due to price increases in both November 2013 and November 2012. The overall increase was partially offset by various factors including changes in the mix, lower-priced tests historically performed at the animal hospitals and a decrease in higher-priced tests as a result of the current economic environment.

Laboratory gross profit is calculated as Laboratory revenue less direct costs. Laboratory direct costs comprise all costs of laboratory services including, but not limited to, salaries of veterinarians, specialists, technicians and other laboratory-based personnel, transportation and delivery costs, facilities rent, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization and supply costs.

Our Laboratory gross margin increased in 2013 and 2012 due to operating leverage from increased revenue.

Intercompany Revenue

Laboratory revenue in 2013, 2012 and 2011 included intercompany revenue of $54.2 million, $52.4 million and $44.3 million, respectively, that was generated by providing laboratory services to our animal hospitals. All Other revenue in 2013, 2012 and 2011 included intercompany revenue of $21.1 million, $22.3 million and $18.7 million, respectively, generated by providing products and services to our animal hospitals and laboratories. For purposes of reviewing the operating performance of our operating segments, all intercompany transactions are generally accounted for as if the transactions were with an independent third party at current market prices. For financial reporting purposes, intercompany transactions are eliminated as part of our consolidation.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

The following table summarizes our selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense and our expense as a percentage of applicable revenue (in thousands, except percentages):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013				2012				2011				% Change
	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		2013		2012
Animal Hospital	$	34,133	2.4	%	$	30,826	2.3	%	$	24,342	2.1	%	10.7	%	26.6	%
Laboratory	31,915		9.3	%	29,660		9.0	%	27,864		8.8	%	7.6	%	6.4	%
All Other	32,941		29.2	%	37,879		33.5	%	19,136		23.8	%	(13.0	)%	97.9	%
Corporate	58,922		3.3	%	58,790		3.5	%	49,770		3.4	%	0.2	%	18.1	%
Total SG&A	$	157,911	8.8	%	$	157,155	9.2	%	$	121,112	8.2	%	0.5	%	29.8	%

Consolidated SG&A expense increased $756,000 in 2013, as compared to 2012 and increased $36.0 million in 2012, as compared to 2011.

Consolidated SG&A in 2013, as compared to 2012, was essentially flat as increased SG&A in our Animal Hospital, Laboratory segments, and at Corporate were mostly offset by decreased SG&A at our Vetstreet business. The increased SG&A in our Animal Hospital, Laboratory segments, and at Corporate were primarily due to increased compensation-related costs.

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Mostly offsetting these increases were decreased administrative expenses related to the 2013 acquisitions, as compared to those incurred on 2012 acquisitions and decreased SG&A at our Vetstreet business due to cost containment. As a result of the above mentioned decreases in year-over-year acquisition costs and decreased Vetstreet SG&A, consolidated SG&A as a percentage of consolidated revenue decreased 40 basis points.

The increased consolidated SG&A in 2012, as compared to 2011, included approximately $17.5 million from the acquisition of AVC, Vetstreet and ThinkPets. Excluding the impact of these acquisitions, consolidated SG&A increased by $18.5 million. The remaining increase was primarily due to increases in corporate costs of which $3.5 million was related to corporate share-based compensation expense, as well as increases in compensation-related expenses in the Animal Hospital and Laboratory segments.

Operating Income

The following table summarizes our consolidated operating income, Non-GAAP consolidated operating income and Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization in both dollars and as a percentage of applicable revenue (in thousands, except percentages):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013					2012					2011					% Change
	$			% of Revenue		$			% of Revenue		$			% of Revenue		2013		2012
Animal Hospital	$	172,141		12.1	%	$	156,356		11.7	%	$	155,141		13.5	%	10.1	%	0.8	%
Laboratory	132,041			38.3	%	122,115			37.3	%	115,905			36.6	%	8.1	%	5.4	%
All Other	5,653			5.0	%	(122,246		)	(108.2	)%	(19,502		)	(24.2	)%	104.6	%	(526.8	)%
Corporate	(58,594		)			(58,684		)			(49,777		)			0.2	%	(17.9	)%
Eliminations	(2,227		)			(4,605		)			(6,114		)			51.6	%	24.7	%
Total GAAP consolidated operating income	$	249,014		13.8	%	$	92,936		5.5	%	$	195,653		13.2	%	167.9	%	(52.5	)%
Impact of inventory adjustment	(2,808		)			—					—
Impact of rent expense adjustment	(1,396		)			—					—
Impact of vacant property adjustment	3,804					—					—
Impact of depreciation expense adjustment	—					3,051					—
Impact of goodwill and other long-lived assets impairment	—					123,573					21,310
Non-GAAP consolidated operating income(1)	$	248,614		13.8	%	$	219,560		12.9	%	$	216,963		14.6	%
Intangible asset amortization associated with acquisitions	20,934					22,731					13,391
Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP operating margin, excluding acquisition related amortization(1)	$	269,548		14.9	%	$	242,291		14.3	%	$	230,354		15.5	%

____________________________

⁽¹⁾  Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, Non-GAAP consolidated operating margin, Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP consolidated operating margin, excluding acquisition related amortization are not measurements of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for information about these Non-GAAP financial measures, including our reasons for including the measures, material limitations with respect to the usefulness of the measures, and a reconciliation of each Non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Consolidated operating income increased by $156.1 million in 2013, as compared to 2012 and decreased $102.7 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. Excluding the impact of the Non-GAAP adjustments detailed in the above table, Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization, increased by $27.3 million in 2013, as compared to 2012. The remaining increases primarily relate to the improved results, mentioned above in our Animal Hospital and Laboratory segments and the cost controls implemented during the year at our Vetstreet business.

Excluding the impact of the Non-GAAP adjustments detailed in the above table, Non-GAAP consolidated operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization, increased by $11.9 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. This remaining increase in consolidated operating income was primarily attributable to acquisitions in the period and increased operating

35

income in our laboratory business, partially offset by a decrease in the same-store animal hospital gross profit and increased corporate SG&A, mentioned above.

Interest Expense, Net

The following table summarizes our interest expense, net of interest income (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Interest expense:
Senior term notes	$	11,448		$	12,394		$	12,239
Capital leases and other	6,235			3,348			3,801
Amortization of debt costs	1,245			1,278			1,445
Consolidated interest expense	18,928			17,020			17,485
Interest income	(379		)	(468		)	(601		)
Total consolidated interest expense, net of interest income	$	18,549		$	16,552		$	16,884

The increase in net interest expense in 2013, as compared to 2012, was primarily due to an additional charge which was the result of an immaterial out-of-period adjustment related to an operating lease that should have been accounted for as a capital lease. In addition to this charge, our interest expense from capital leases increased slightly. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in our senior term note interest resulting from a lower effective LIBOR rate applied against a lower senior term note balance, in comparison to prior year.

The decrease in net interest expense in 2012, as compared to 2011, was primarily attributable to a decrease in mandatorily redeemable partnership interests, interest accrued on executive retirement liabilities, and amortized debt costs written off in the prior year related to the refinancing of our senior term debt notes on August 16, 2011. The change in interest for senior term notes was relatively flat. While we experienced a decline in year-over-year weighted average interest rates, this effect was offset by an increase in the weighted average balance related to additional borrowing completed in association with the purchase of AVC. See Note 7, Long-Term Obligations, in our consolidated financial statements of this annual report on Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion, including applicable interest rates on our debt, which was amended in August 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for 2013, 2012 and 2011 was 38.9%, 41.2% and 44.3%, respectively.

The effective tax rate for 2013 was lower than that of 2012, reflecting a more normalized net effective rate not impacted by those 2012 adjustments discussed below and benefiting from lower tax rates in Canada.

The effective rate for 2012 was lower than 2011 as a result of (i) a non-taxable gain of $5.7 million related to the increase in value of our historical noncontrolling interest in AVC realized upon the acquisition of the remaining equity interest and (ii) lower tax rates in Canada, offset by a nondeductible charge related to goodwill impairment. The effective tax rate for 2011 was impacted by a nondeductible charge related to goodwill impairment.

Inflation

Historically, our operations have not been materially affected by inflation. We cannot assure that our operations will not be affected by inflation in the future.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use Non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the financial information presented on a GAAP basis. We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows our management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and in relationship to the operating results of our segments. We also believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows our management to better project our future consolidated financial performance because our forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these Non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance, and enabling them to make more meaningful period to period comparisons.

The Non-GAAP financial measures presented in this report include Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP gross margin, excluding acquisition related amortization computed on a consolidated basis, for our Animal Hospital segment, and the same measures expressed on a same-store basis. Additionally, our Non-GAAP financial measures include our Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP operating margin, Non-GAAP operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP operating margin, excluding acquisition related amortization on a consolidated basis and lastly our Non-GAAP consolidated net income, Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, Non-GAAP consolidated net income, excluding acquisition related amortization and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, excluding acquisition related amortization. These Non-GAAP financial measures, as defined by us, represent the comparable GAAP measures adjusted to exclude certain charges or credits, as detailed in the tables above and below. In future fiscal periods, we may exclude such items and may incur income and expenses similar to these excluded items. Accordingly, the exclusion of these items and other similar items in our Non-GAAP presentation should not be interpreted as implying that these items are non-recurring, infrequent, or unusual.

There are limitations to the use of the Non-GAAP financial measures presented in this report. Our Non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate the Non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. In addition, these items can have a material impact on earnings. Our management compensates for the foregoing limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using Non-GAAP financial measures supplementally. The Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered as indicators of performance in isolation from or as a substitute for consolidated gross profit or gross margin prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. We have presented reconciliations of each Non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP measure for the years ended 2013, 2012 and 2011 and encourage you to review the reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the Non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods included in this report. Refer to the tables above in the gross profit and operating income sections within Part II, Item 7 of this report for a reconciliation of consolidated gross profit to Non-GAAP gross profit and to Non-GAAP gross profit, excluding acquisition related amortization, consolidated operating income to Non-GAAP operating income and to Non-GAAP operating income, excluding acquisition related amortization.

Our Non-GAAP adjustments include the following:

• Inventory adjustment - We recorded a non-cash physical inventory adjustment in our Animal Hospital business segment, which resulted in a $2.8 million credit adjustment to direct costs.

• Rent and interest expense adjustments - We reclassified an operating lease to a capital lease and accordingly recorded a corresponding credit to rent expense as well as a debit to interest expense.

• Vacant property adjustment - We vacated properties of two animal hospitals whose operations were consolidated into a newly constructed, newly owned animal hospital. Accordingly, we recorded a write-down to fair value.

• Business combination adjustment gain - We recorded a gain on our 20% interest in AVC held at the time that we increased our investment in AVC.

• Depreciation expense adjustment - We recorded additional depreciation expense related to our acquired capital leases.

• Goodwill and other long-lived assets impairment - In 2012, as a result of our annual impairment test we recorded a $123.6 million impairment charge primarily related to our Vetstreet business. In 2011, as a result of our annual impairment test we recorded a $21.3 million impairment charge related to our Medical Technology business.

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• Debt retirement costs - In 2011, we incurred financing costs related to the amendment and restatement of our senior credit facility.

• Intangible asset amortization associated with acquisitions - Our GAAP net income includes amortization expense related to intangible assets in our acquired businesses. The amortization expense related to our acquired intangible assets can vary significantly depending upon the amount and size of our acquisitions in each period; accordingly, we exclude amortization from our GAAP net income to provide investors with more comparable operating results.

The following table reconciles our GAAP net income to Non-GAAP net income, calculates our Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, and reconciles to Non-GAAP net income, excluding acquisition related amortization and calculates our Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, excluding acquisition related amortization for the adjustments mentioned above:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
GAAP Net income	$	137,511		$	45,551		$	95,405
Impact of inventory adjustment	(2,808		)	—			—
Impact of vacant property adjustment	3,804			—			—
Impact of business combination adjustment gain	—			(5,719		)	—
Impact of depreciation expense adjustment	—			3,051			—
Impact of goodwill and other long-lived assets impairment	—			123,573			21,310
Impact of debt retirement costs	—			—			2,764
Tax benefit on above adjustments	(390		)	(45,547		)	(1,082		)
Non-GAAP Net income	$	138,117		$	120,909		$	118,397
Intangible asset amortization associated with acquisitions, net of tax	12,740			13,834			8,150
Non-GAAP net income, excluding acquisition related amortization	$	150,857		$	134,743		$	126,547
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share	$	1.54		$	1.36		$	1.35
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, excluding acquisition related amortization	$	1.68		$	1.52		$	1.45
Shares used for computing adjusted diluted earnings per share	89,663			88,671			87,394

Related Party Transactions

ThinkPets Inc. (formerly known as Zoasis Corporation)

On February 1, 2012, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of ThinkPets, Inc. for $21.0 million, payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. The number of shares of VCA common stock were determined based on the daily volume weighted average closing sales price of the VCA common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acquisition. At the time of the acquisition, Bob Antin, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, owned 54% of the common stock of ThinkPets, and served as a director of ThinkPets, and Art Antin, our Chief Operating Officer, owned 8% of the common stock of ThinkPets. In accordance with its charter, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related-party transactions. Both the Audit Committee and our Board of Directors unanimously approved the acquisition. Due to the related party nature of the acquisition, Bob Antin recused himself from all Board meetings wherein the acquisition was discussed and did not vote in connection with the acquisition.

Related Party Vendors

Frank Reddick joined our company as a director in February 2002 and is a partner in the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP (“Akin”). Akin provided legal services to us during 2013, 2012 and 2011. The amount paid by our company to Akin for these legal services was approximately $375,000, $551,000 and $1.6 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

38

Transactions with VetSource

On October 24, 2013, we entered into a $1.2 million revolving credit agreement with Strategic Pharmaceutical Solutions, Inc. (“VetSource”) in the form of promissory note. Our commitment under the revolving credit agreement is to loan up to $471,600, equitable to our 39.3% pro rata share in VetSource. As of December 31, 2013, we loaned VetSource $275,000.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Introduction

We generate cash primarily from (i) payments made by customers for our veterinary services, (ii) payments from animal hospitals and other clients for our laboratory services, (iii) proceeds received from the sale of our imaging equipment and other related services and (iv) payments received from participating hospitals for Vetstreet subscriptions and reminder notices. Our business historically has experienced strong liquidity, as fees for services provided in our animal hospitals are due at the time of service and fees for laboratory services are collected under standard industry terms. Our cash disbursements are primarily for payments related to the compensation of our employees, supplies and inventory purchases for our operating segments, occupancy and other administrative costs, interest expense, payments on long-term borrowings, capital expenditures and acquisitions. Cash outflows fluctuate with the amount and timing of the settlement of these transactions.

We manage our cash, investments and capital structure so we are able to meet the short-term and long-term obligations of our business while maintaining financial flexibility and liquidity. We forecast, analyze and monitor our cash flows to enable investment and financing within the overall constraints of our financial strategy.

At December 31, 2013, our consolidated cash and cash equivalents totaled $125.0 million, representing an increase of $56.6 million as compared to the prior year. Cash flows generated from operating activities totaled $256.4 million in 2013, representing an increase of $19.1 million as compared to the prior year. We spent $126.7 million on acquisitions, investments and capital expenditures during the year. Additionally, we spent $39.3 million on share repurchases during the year.

At December 31, 2013, $10.3 millionof the$125.0 million of cash and cash equivalents were held by foreign subsidiaries. Our intention is to indefinitely reinvest foreign earnings in our foreign subsidiaries. If these earnings were used to fund domestic operations, they would be subject to additional income taxes upon repatriation.

We have historically funded our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and investment in individual acquisitions primarily from internally-generated cash flows and we expect to do so in the future. As of December 31, 2013, we have access to an unused $125 million revolving credit facility, which expires August 2016, allowing us to maintain further operating and financial flexibility.

Historically, we have been able to access the capital markets to fund acquisitions that could not be funded out of internally generated cash flows. The availability of financing in the form of debt or equity is influenced by many factors including our profitability, operating cash flows, debt levels, debt ratings, contractual restrictions, and market conditions. Although in the past we have been able to obtain financing for material transactions on terms we believe to be reasonable, there is a possibility that we may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms in the future.

Future Cash Flows

Short-term

Other than our acquisitions of animal hospital chains, we historically have funded our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and investments in animal hospital acquisitions from internally-generated cash flow. We anticipate that our cash on hand and net cash provided by operations and available funds under our revolving credit agreement and incremental facilities will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements for more than the next 12 months. If we consummate additional significant acquisitions during this period, we may seek additional debt or equity financing.

In 2014, we expect to spend $50 million to $85 million for the acquisition of independent animal hospitals. The ultimate number of acquisitions is largely dependent upon the attractiveness of the candidates and the strategic fit with our existing operations. In addition, we expect to spend approximately $80 million in 2014 for both property and equipment additions and other capital expenditures primarily to maintain our existing facilities.

39

In April 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program, authorizing us to repurchase up to $125.0 million of our common shares from time to time in open market purchases, pursuant to trading plans established in accordance with SEC rules or through privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2013, we repurchased 1.2 million shares of common stock at an average price of $28.13 per share for an aggregate of $33.8 million. The extent and timing of our repurchases will depend upon market conditions, our cash requirements to fund the long-term growth investments in our business and other corporate considerations. The repurchases will be funded by existing cash balances and by our revolving credit facility. The share repurchase program has no expiration date. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Refer to Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in Part II of this report.

Long-term

Our long-term liquidity needs, other than those related to the day-to-day operations of our business, including commitments for operating leases, generally are comprised of scheduled principal and interest payments for our outstanding long-term indebtedness, capital expenditures related to the expansion of our business and acquisitions in accordance with our growth strategy. The scheduled payments on our long-term obligations are included in our contractual obligations table below.

We are unable to project with certainty whether our long-term cash flow from operations will be sufficient to repay our long-term debt when it comes due. If this cash flow is insufficient, we expect that we will need to refinance such indebtedness, amend its terms to extend maturity dates, or issue common stock on our company. Our management cannot make any assurances that such refinancing or amendments, if necessary, will be available on attractive terms, if at all.

Debt Related Covenants

Our senior credit facility contains certain financial covenants pertaining to fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios. In addition, our senior credit facility has restrictions pertaining to capital expenditures, acquisitions and the payment of cash dividends. As of December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with these covenants, including the two covenant ratios, the fixed charge coverage ratio and the leverage ratio.

At December 31, 2013, we had a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.77 to 1.00, which was in compliance with the required ratio of no less than 1.20 to 1.00. The senior credit facility defines the fixed charge coverage ratio as that ratio that is calculated on a last 12-month basis by dividing pro forma earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as defined by the senior credit facility (“pro forma earnings”), by fixed charges. Fixed charges are defined as cash interest expense, scheduled principal payments on debt obligations, capital expenditures, and provision for current cash taxes based on income with respect to such period. Pro forma earnings include 12 months of operating results for businesses acquired during the period.

At December 31, 2013, we had a leverage ratio of 1.81 to 1.00, which was in compliance with the required ratio of no more than 3.00 to 1.00. The senior credit facility defines the leverage ratio as that ratio which is calculated as total debt divided by pro forma earnings.

40

Historical Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	256,372		$	237,253		$	191,051
Investing activities	(126,731		)	(219,258		)	(271,310		)
Financing activities	(72,013		)	(13,514		)	47,004
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,034		)	303			(220		)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	56,594			4,784			(33,475		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	68,435			63,651			97,126
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	125,029		$	68,435		$	63,651

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities increased$19.1 million in 2013, as compared to 2012. Operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2013 included $142.9 million of net income and net non-cash expenses of $116.8 million, partially offset by net cash used as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.4 million. The changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily included a $11.0 million increase in accounts receivable and a $7.1 million increase in inventory, prepaid expenses and other assets, partially offset by a $7.8 million decrease in prepaid income taxes and a $6.5 million increase in accrued payroll and related liabilities. The increase in accounts receivable was primarily related to the increase in net revenues. The increase in inventory, prepaid expense and other assets was primarily due to an increase in lease receivables as a result of entering into additional Laboratory service contracts. The decrease in prepaid income taxes was due to the timing of payment obligations. The increase in accrued payroll and related liabilities was primarily due to the timing of payment obligations.

Net cash provided by operating activities increased$46.2 million in 2012, as compared to 2011. Cash provided by operating activities of $237.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 consisted of $50.7 million of net income, net non-cash expenses of $180.3 million and net cash provided as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities of $6.2 million. The changes in operating assets and liabilities included a $7.2 million increase in accrued payroll and related liabilities, a $4.1 million decrease in prepaid income taxes, a $3.6 million increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities and a $1.6 million decrease in accounts receivable, partially offset by a $10.3 million increase in inventory, prepaid expenses and other assets. The increases in accrued payroll and related liabilities and accounts payable and accrued liabilities were primarily due to the acquisition of AVC and timing of payment obligations. The decrease in prepaid income taxes was due to the payment of estimated taxes owed from the prior year. The decrease in accounts receivable was primarily related to the timing of deposits-in-transit on our credit card receivables, there was one more day available for deposit for December 31, 2012, as compared to December 31, 2011. In addition, we had improved collection efforts at our Medical Technology business. The increase in inventory, prepaid expense and other assets was primarily due to an increase in lease receivables as a result of entering into additional Laboratory service contracts.

41

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

The table below presents the components of the changes in investing cash flows (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,									Variance
	2013			2012			2011			2013			2012
Investing Cash Flows:
Acquisition of independent animal hospitals and laboratories	$	(52,688	)	$	(78,629	)	$	(34,243	)	$	25,941		$	(44,386	)
Acquisition of AVC	—			(48,819		)	—			48,819			(48,819		)
Acquisition of ThinkPets	—			(7,468		)	—			7,468			(7,468		)
Acquisition of BrightHeart	—			—			(23,490		)	—			23,490
Acquisition of Vetstreet	—			—			(146,420		)	—			146,420
Other	—			—			(1,641		)	—			1,641
Total cash used for acquisitions(1)	(52,688		)	(134,916		)	(205,794		)	82,228			70,878
Property and equipment additions(2)	(73,270		)	(76,807		)	(63,485		)	3,537			(13,322		)
Real estate acquired with acquisitions(3)	(5,328		)	(5,337		)	(1,900		)	9			(3,437		)
Proceeds from sale of assets(4)	7,096			115			465			6,981			(350		)
Other	(2,541		)	(2,313		)	(596		)	(228		)	(1,717		)
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(126,731	)	$	(219,258	)	$	(271,310	)	$	92,527		$	52,052

⁽¹⁾  The number of acquisitions will vary from year-to-year based upon the available pool of suitable candidates. A discussion of our acquisitions is provided above in our Executive Overview.

⁽²⁾  The cash used to acquire property and equipment will vary from year-to-year based on upgrade requirements and expansion of our animal hospitals and laboratory facilities.

⁽³⁾  The cash used to acquire real estate varies dependent upon the number of opportunities that meet our selective acquisition criteria.

⁽⁴⁾  The proceeds from the sale of assets increased in 2013 primarily due to the sale of our previous West Los Angeles location.

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Cash Flows from Financing Activities

The table below presents the components of the changes in financing cash flows (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,									Variance
	2013			2012			2011			2013			2012
Financing Cash Flows:
Repayment of long-term obligations(1)	$	(41,129	)	$	(60,775	)	$	(98,990	)	$	19,646		$	38,215
Proceeds from long-term obligations(2)	—			50,000			150,000			(50,000		)	(100,000		)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	—			50,000			50,000			(50,000		)	—
Repayment of revolving credit facility	—			(50,000		)	(50,000		)	50,000			—
Payment of financing costs(3)	—			(122		)	(2,944		)	122			2,822
Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners(4)	(4,866		)	(4,481		)	(3,277		)	(385		)	(1,204		)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests(5)	(6,581		)	—			—			(6,581		)	—
Proceeds from stock options exercises	17,233			9,533			3,999			7,700			5,534
Excess tax benefits from stock options	3,446			2,868			1,708			578			1,160
Stock repurchases(6)	(39,367		)	(8,159		)	(2,673		)	(31,208		)	(5,486		)
Other	(749		)	(2,378		)	(819		)	1,629			(1,559		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	$	(72,013	)	$	(13,514	)	$	47,004		$	(58,499	)	$	(60,518	)

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, we paid $2.4 million to fully pay off debt related to the acquisition of Groupe Veteri-Medic Inc., and we paid $38.7 million in scheduled senior-term note principal and capital lease payments.

In 2012, the cash payments on our long-term obligations consisted of $25.9 million to fully repay AVC acquisition debt and $34.9 million in scheduled senior-term note principal and capital lease payments.

In 2011, the cash payments on our long-term obligations primarily consisted of $50 million to repay amounts borrowed pursuant to our incremental facilities, $26.0 million to pay-off the BrightHeart acquisition debt and $22.5 million in scheduled senior-term note principal and capital lease payments.

⁽²⁾  In 2012, the proceeds from long-term obligations were related to $50 million of new term loans borrowed pursuant to our incremental facilities permitted under our August 16, 2011 credit and guaranty agreement.

In 2011, the proceeds from long-term obligations included $50 million of new term loans borrowed pursuant to our incremental facilities and $100 million of additional borrowings received in accordance with the amended and restated credit and guaranty agreement dated August 16, 2011.

⁽³⁾  The payment of financing costs in 2011 were related to the August 16, 2011 debt amendment, see Note 7, Long-Term Obligations, of this annual report on Form 10-K.

⁽⁴⁾  The distributions to noncontrolling interest partners represent cash payments to noncontrolling interest partners for their portion of the partnerships’ excess cash.

⁽⁵⁾  We purchased noncontrolling interests in three of our animal hospitals during 2013.

⁽⁶⁾  The cash paid for stock repurchases includes both the repurchase of our common shares, in accordance with our share repurchase program, and income taxes paid on behalf of employees who elected to settle their tax obligations on vested stock with a portion of their vested stock.

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Future Contractual Cash Requirements

The following table sets forth the scheduled principal, interest and other contractual cash obligations due by us for each of the years indicated as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

	Payment due by period
	Total		Less than 1 year		1-3 years		3-5 years		More than 5 years
Contractual Obligations:
Long-term debt	$	557,144	$	47,574	$	509,570	$	—	$	—
Capital lease obligations	62,501		3,515		6,590		7,295		45,101
Operating leases	1,073,783		69,353		137,441		133,284		733,705
Fixed cash interest expense	39,886		3,731		6,672		5,113		24,370
Variable cash interest expense Term A(1)	25,257		10,352		14,905		—		—
Purchase obligations(2)	13,476		11,598		1,878		—		—
Other long-term liabilities(3)	36,962		3,520		6,044		5,344		22,054
Earn-out payments(4)	2,593		1,519		764		—		310
	$	1,811,602	$	151,162	$	683,864	$	151,036	$	825,540

⁽¹⁾  The interest payments on our variable-rate senior term notes are based on rates effective as of December 31, 2013.

⁽²⁾  Our purchase obligations consist primarily of supply purchase agreements related to our medical technology and animal hospital businesses, as well as construction contracts primarily for our animal hospitals.

⁽³⁾  Includes future payments under our SERP, Consulting Agreements and Mandatorily Redeemable Partnership Interests.

⁽⁴⁾  Represents contractual arrangements whereby additional cash may be paid to former owners of acquired businesses upon attainment of specified performance targets.

Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

Other than operating leases, which are included in the Contractual Obligations table listed above as of December 31, 2013, we do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

Description of Indebtedness

Senior Credit Facility

At December 31, 2013, we had $557 million in principal outstanding under our senior term notes and no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

We pay interest on our senior term notes and revolving credit facility based on the interest rate offered to our administrative agent on, the adjusted Eurodollar rate plus the applicable margin determined by reference to the leverage ratio in effect from time-to-time, ranging from 1.25% to 2.25% per annum, as set forth in the table in Note 7, Long-Term Obligations, of this annual report on Form 10-K. We pay a commitment fee on our revolving credit facility determined by reference to the Leverage Ratio in effect from time-to-time ranging from 0.20% to 0.50% per annum.

The senior term notes and the revolving credit facility mature in August 2016.

Other Debt and Capital Lease Obligations

At December 31, 2013, we had a seller note secured by assets of certain animal hospitals and capital leases that totaled $63 million, which is included in long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet of this annual report on Form 10-K. Our seller note matures in 2014 and has an interest rate of 10.0%. Our capital leases have various maturities through 2042 and various interest rates ranging from 1.9% to 14.6%.

44

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

At December 31, 2013, we had borrowings of $557 million under our senior credit facility with fluctuating interest rates based on market benchmarks such as the adjusted Eurodollar rate. Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the market value of our variable-rate debt. To mitigate our exposure to increasing interest rates we had historically entered into interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert a certain amount of our variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. As of December 31, 2013, we had no interest rate swap agreements. In the future, we may enter into new interest rate strategies to hedge against the risk of increasing interest rates as well as to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. However, we have not yet determined what those strategies will be or their possible impact.

If the adjusted Eurodollar rate increases or decreases 1% from December 31, 2013, the additional annual interest expense or savings would amount to $5.4 million.

Foreign Currency Risk

Growth in our Canadian operations will incrementally increase our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations as well as other risks typical of international operations that could impact our business, including, but not limited to, differing economic conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax structures and other regulations and restrictions. Foreign exchange rate fluctuations may adversely impact our consolidated results of operations as exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in currencies other than our functional currencies result in gains and losses which will be reflected in our consolidated income statement. To the extent the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies, the translation of these foreign currency denominated transactions will result in increased net revenues and operating expenses. Conversely, our net revenues and operating expenses will decrease when the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies.

Transaction Exposure

We do not currently hedge our foreign currency exposure.

Translation Exposure

Foreign exchange rate fluctuations may adversely impact our consolidated financial position as the assets and liabilities of our foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars in preparing the consolidated balance sheets. These gains and losses are recognized as an adjustment to stockholders' equity which is reflected in our balance sheet under accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

45

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

	Page
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	47
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	48
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012	50
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011	51
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011	52
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011	53
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011	54
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	56
Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant	92
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	96

46

MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013. In performing this evaluation, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992). Based on our assessment of internal control over financial reporting, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, our internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included below.

February 28, 2014

/s/    ROBERT L. ANTIN

Robert L. Antin

Chairman of the Board, President and

Chief Executive Officer

/s/    TOMAS W. FULLER

Tomas W. Fuller

Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Vice President and Secretary

47

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

VCA Antech, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of VCA Antech, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2013. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement schedules I and II. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of VCA Antech, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the internal control over financial reporting of VCA Antech, Inc. as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 28, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting of VCA Antech, Inc.

/s/    KPMG LLP

Los Angeles, California

February 28, 2014

48

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

VCA Antech, Inc.:

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of VCA Antech, Inc. as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Management of VCA Antech, Inc. is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, VCA Antech, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of VCA Antech, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, and our report dated February 28, 2014, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/    KPMG LLP

Los Angeles, California

February 28, 2014

49

VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except par value)

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	125,029		$	68,435
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $17,702 and $16,546 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	59,900			55,912
Inventory	55,067			51,456
Prepaid expenses and other	25,417			25,086
Deferred income taxes	28,907			22,579
Prepaid income taxes	15,434			20,061
Total current assets	309,754			243,529
Property and equipment, net	448,366			403,444
Goodwill	1,330,917			1,291,231
Other intangible assets, net	86,671			94,823
Notes receivable	3,454			6,080
Deferred financing costs, net	2,987			4,232
Other	55,632			48,241
Total assets	$	2,237,781		$	2,091,580
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	51,087		$	39,002
Accounts payable	36,962			39,416
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	57,337			49,893
Other accrued liabilities	58,762			57,131
Total current liabilities	204,148			185,442
Long-term debt, less current portion	568,558			591,641
Deferred income taxes	100,099			75,846
Other liabilities	36,758			37,267
Total liabilities	909,563			890,196
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	10,678			6,991
Preferred stock, par value $0.001, 11,000 shares authorized, none outstanding	—			—
VCA Antech, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.001, 175,000 shares authorized, 88,508 and 88,372 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	89			88
Additional paid-in capital	384,721			390,359
Retained earnings	928,720			791,209
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,190		)	1,847
Total VCA Antech, Inc. stockholders’ equity	1,307,340			1,183,503
Noncontrolling interests	10,200			10,890
Total equity	1,317,540			1,194,393
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,237,781		$	2,091,580

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Revenue	$	1,803,369		$	1,699,642		$	1,485,361
Direct costs	1,393,989			1,324,668			1,146,904
Gross profit	409,380			374,974			338,457
Selling, general and administrative expense	157,911			157,155			121,112
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	—			123,573			21,310
Net loss on sale of assets	2,455			1,310			382
Operating income	249,014			92,936			195,653
Interest expense	18,928			17,020			17,485
Interest income	(379		)	(468		)	(601		)
Debt retirement costs	—			—			2,764
Business combination adjustment gain	—			(5,719		)	—
Other expense (income)	90			(488		)	118
Income before provision for income taxes	230,375			82,591			175,887
Provision for income taxes	87,453			31,875			76,027
Net income	142,922			50,716			99,860
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,411			5,165			4,455
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511		$	45,551		$	95,405
Basic earnings per share	$	1.55		$	0.52		$	1.10
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.53		$	0.51		$	1.09
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	88,621			87,681			86,606
Weighted-average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	89,663			88,671			87,394

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012		2011
Net income(1)	$	142,922		$	50,716	$	99,860
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(7,999		)	1,429		(319		)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(7,999		)	1,429		(319		)
Total comprehensive income	134,923			52,145		99,541
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(1)	5,449			5,165		4,455
Comprehensive income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	129,474		$	46,980	$	95,086

⁽¹⁾  Includes $3.3 million, $2.5 million and $2.0 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

(In thousands)

	Common Stock					Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interests			Total
	Shares		Amount
Balances, December 31, 2010	86,179		$	86		$	347,848		$	650,253	$	737		$	10,561		$	1,009,485
Net income (excludes $1,555 and $450 related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, respectively)	—		—			—			95,405		—			2,450			97,855
Other comprehensive loss	—		—			—			—		(319		)	—			(319		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	—		—			—			—		—			(1,952		)	(1,952		)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	—		—			263			—		—			(985		)	(722		)
Share-based compensation	—		—			10,773			—		—			—			10,773
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	731		1			3,998			—		—			—			3,999
Stock repurchases	(114	)	—			(2,673		)	—		—			—			(2,673		)
Excess tax benefit from stock options	—		—			1,708			—		—			—			1,708
Tax shortfall and other from stock options and awards	—		—			(202		)	—		—			—			(202		)
Balances, December 31, 2011	86,796		87			361,715			745,658		418			10,074			1,117,952
Net income (excludes $962 and $1,555 related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, respectively)	—		—			—			45,551		—			2,648			48,199
Other comprehensive income	—		—			—			—		1,429			—			1,429
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	—		—			—			—		—			(1,832		)	(1,832		)
Share-based compensation	—		—			14,087			—		—			—			14,087
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	1,506		1			9,532			—		—			—			9,533
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	473		—			10,500			—		—			—			10,500
Stock repurchases	(403	)	—			(8,216		)	—		—			—			(8,216		)
Excess tax benefit from stock options	—		—			2,868			—		—			—			2,868
Tax shortfall and other from stock options and awards	—		—			(127		)	—		—			—			(127		)
Balances, December 31, 2012	88,372		88			390,359			791,209		1,847			10,890			1,194,393
Net income (excludes $1,233 and $2,003 related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, respectively)	—		—			—			137,511		—			2,175			139,686
Other comprehensive loss (excludes $44 related to mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests)	—		—			—			—		(8,037		)	(6		)	(8,043		)
Formation of noncontrolling interests	—		—			—			—		—			3,336			3,336
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	—		—			—			—		—			(1,886		)	(1,886		)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	—		—			(785		)	—		—			(4,309		)	(5,094		)
Share-based compensation	—		—			14,104			—		—			—			14,104
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	1,559		2			17,231			—		—			—			17,233
Stock repurchases	(1,423	)	(1		)	(39,366		)	—		—			—			(39,367		)
Excess tax benefit from stock options	—		—			3,446			—		—			—			3,446
Tax shortfall and other from stock options and awards	—		—			(268		)	—		—			—			(268		)
Balances, December 31, 2013	88,508		$	89		$	384,721		$	928,720	$	(6,190	)	$	10,200		$	1,317,540

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	142,922		$	50,716		$	99,860
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	—			123,573			21,310
Depreciation and amortization	77,409			76,227			56,988
Amortization of debt issue costs	1,245			1,278			1,445
Provision for uncollectible accounts	7,360			6,396			6,742
Debt retirement costs	—			—			2,764
Business combination adjustment gain	—			(5,719		)	—
Net loss on sale of assets	2,455			1,310			382
Share-based compensation	14,104			14,087			10,773
Deferred income taxes	18,064			(33,398		)	19,552
Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options	(3,446		)	(2,868		)	(1,708		)
Other	(377		)	(584		)	(637		)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(11,048		)	1,640			(14,107		)
Inventory, prepaid expenses and other assets	(7,134		)	(10,329		)	(12,297		)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	557			3,640			(5,415		)
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	6,502			7,181			4,583
Income taxes	7,759			4,103			816
Net cash provided by operating activities	256,372			237,253			191,051
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(52,688		)	(134,916		)	(205,794		)
Real estate acquired in connection with business acquisitions	(5,328		)	(5,337		)	(1,900		)
Property and equipment additions	(73,270		)	(76,807		)	(63,485		)
Proceeds from sale of assets	7,096			115			465
Other	(2,541		)	(2,313		)	(596		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(126,731		)	(219,258		)	(271,310		)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - (Continued)

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(41,129		)	(60,775		)	(98,990		)
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	—			50,000			150,000
Payment of financing costs	—			(122		)	(2,944		)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	—			50,000			50,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility	—			(50,000		)	(50,000		)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners	(4,866		)	(4,481		)	(3,277		)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(6,581		)	—			—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	17,233			9,533			3,999
Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options	3,446			2,868			1,708
Stock repurchases	(39,367		)	(8,159		)	(2,673		)
Other	(749		)	(2,378		)	(819		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(72,013		)	(13,514		)	47,004
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,034		)	303			(220		)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	56,594			4,784			(33,475		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	68,435			63,651			97,126
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	125,029		$	68,435		$	63,651
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	16,422		$	15,407		$	15,088
Income taxes paid	$	61,825		$	61,481		$	55,660
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Detail of acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired	$	75,445		$	220,526		$	254,781
Fair value of pre-existing investment in AVC	—			(11,850		)	—
Noncontrolling interest	(6,936		)	(8,161		)	—
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of acquired cash	(52,688		)	(134,916		)	(203,996		)
Assumed debt	(2,360		)	(25,915		)	(26,048		)
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	—			(10,500		)	—
Contingent consideration	(1,285		)	(1,306		)	(560		)
Holdbacks	(1,092		)	(3,475		)	(1,500		)
Liabilities assumed	$	11,084		$	24,403		$	22,677
Other non-cash items:
Capital lease additions	$	21,668		$	—		$	—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. The Company

Our company, VCA Antech, Inc. (“VCA”) is a Delaware corporation formed in 1986 and is based in Los Angeles, California. We are an animal healthcare company with the following four operating segments: animal hospitals (“Animal Hospital”), veterinary diagnostic laboratories (“Laboratory”), veterinary medical technology (“Medical Technology”) and Vetstreet.

Our animal hospitals offer a full range of general medical and surgical services for companion animals. Our animal hospitals treat diseases and injuries, provide pharmaceutical products and perform a variety of pet-wellness programs, including health examinations, diagnostic testing, vaccinations, spaying, neutering and dental care. At December 31, 2013, we operated or managed 609 animal hospitals throughout 41 states and four Canadian provinces.

We operate a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory network serving all 50 states and certain areas in Canada. Our laboratory network provides sophisticated testing and consulting services used by veterinarians in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, treatment and prevention of diseases and other conditions affecting animals. At December 31, 2013, we operated 56 laboratories of various sizes located strategically throughout the United States and Canada.

Our Medical Technology business sells digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment, provides education and training on the use of that equipment, provides consulting and mobile imaging services, and sells software and ancillary services to the veterinary market.

Our Vetstreet business provides online and print communications, professional education, marketing solutions to the veterinary community and an ecommerce platform for independent animal hospitals.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

a.    Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), and include the accounts of our parent company, all majority-owned subsidiaries where we have control, certain fifty-percent owned subsidiaries where we possess the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies and certain veterinary medical groups to which we provide services as discussed below. We have eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances in consolidation.

We provide management and other administrative services to certain veterinary practices in states and Canadian provinces with laws, rules and regulations which require that veterinary medical practices be owned by licensed veterinarians and that corporations which are not owned by licensed veterinarians refrain from providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. In these states and Canadian provinces, we provide management and other administrative services to the veterinary medical practices. At December 31, 2013, we operated 176 animal hospitals in 15 of these states and 52 animal hospitals in four Canadian provinces, under management agreements with these veterinary practices. Pursuant to the management agreements, the veterinary medical practices are each solely responsible for all aspects of the practice of veterinary medicine, as defined by their respective state or province.

We have determined that the veterinary medical practices are variable interest entities as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and that we have a variable interest in those entities through our management agreements. We also determined that our variable interests in these veterinary medical practices, in aggregate with the variable interests held by our related parties, provide us with the power to direct the activities of these practices that most significantly impact their economic performance and obligate us to absorb losses that could potentially be significant or the right to receive benefits from the veterinary medical practices that could potentially be significant. Based on these determinations, we consolidated the veterinary medical practices in our consolidated financial statements.

b.    Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate at the balance sheet date, whereas revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the reporting period.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and realized transaction gains and losses are recorded in the results of operations.

c.    Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements and our reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates. Amounts subject to significant judgment and estimates include, but are not limited to, collectability of receivables, cash flows used in the evaluation of impairment of goodwill, cash flows used in the evaluation of impairment of long-lived assets, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, estimated redemption value of mandatorily redeemable partnership interests and inputs used for computing stock-based compensation.

d.    Revenue and Related Cost Recognition

General

We recognize revenue, barring other facts, when the following revenue recognition criteria are met:

• persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists;

• delivery of goods has occurred or services have been rendered;

• the sales price or fee is fixed or determinable; and

• collectability is reasonably assured.

Revenue is reported net of sales discounts and excludes sales taxes.

We generally recognize revenue and costs as follows:

• For non-contractual services provided by our business units, at the time services are rendered.

• For the sale of merchandise, when delivery of the goods has occurred.

• For services under defined support and maintenance contracts, on a straight-line basis over the contractual period, recognizing costs as incurred; these services include, but are not limited to, technical support, when-and-if available product updates for software and extended warranty coverage.

• For the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and ultrasound imaging equipment sold on a standalone basis, at the time title and risk of loss transfers to the customer, which is generally upon delivery or upon installation and customer acceptance if required per the sale arrangement.

• For the sale of reminder cards, when shipment has occurred.

Multiple Element Arrangements

We account for revenue for certain bundled products and services as follows:

• Sales arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method, whereby any discount in the arrangement is allocated proportionally to each deliverable on the basis of each deliverable’s selling price. The selling price for each deliverable is based on

57

VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence (“TPE”) if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (“ESP”) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. For elements where VSOE is available, VSOE of fair value is based on the price for those products and services when sold separately by us or the price established by management with the relevant authority. TPE of selling price is the price of our, or any of our competitor’s, largely interchangeable products or services in stand-alone sales to similarly situated customers. ESP is generally calculated based upon multiple factors that vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. Key external and internal factors considered in developing the ESPs include prices charged by us for similar arrangements, historical pricing practices and the nature of the product. In addition, when developing ESPs, we may consider other factors as appropriate, including the pricing of competitive alternatives if they exist, and product-specific business objectives. We exercise significant judgment to evaluate the relevant facts and circumstances in calculating the ESP of the deliverables in our arrangements.

Digital radiography (“DR”) imaging equipment and all of its related computer equipment, our proprietary software and services in addition to any other computers sold with our proprietary software are accounted for under the FASB’s accounting guidance related to multiple-deliverable transactions.

We do not currently have VSOE for our DR imaging equipment as units are not sold on a stand-alone basis without the related support packages. As this is also true for our competitors, TPE of selling price is also unavailable. We therefore use the ESP to allocate the arrangement consideration related to our DR imaging equipment.

In domestic markets we have VSOE for our post-contract customer support (“PCS”) as the support package is sold on a stand-alone basis. Our PCS agreements normally include a warranty on the receptor plate and technical support on the software elements. In foreign markets however, we do not have VSOE or TPE on the receptor plate warranties, accordingly we use the ESP.

In certain transactions we sell our ultrasound imaging equipment and related services together with our DR imaging equipment and related services. In these transactions, we account for each item under its respective literature and allocate revenue based upon the relative selling prices.

In certain transactions with pharmaceutical companies we sell subscriptions to our portal products together with other marketing related services. We account for these arrangements under the multiple-deliverable accounting, mentioned above; with the arrangement consideration allocated using the relative selling prices.

Deferred Revenue

We defer revenue for certain transactions as follows:

• We defer revenue for pre-paid services such as our consulting, marketing, education services or PCS and recognize that revenue on a straight-line basis over the contract period or as the services are provided depending on the nature of the service.

• We defer revenue for PCS provided as part of the purchase of equipment and software and recognize that revenue on a straight-line basis over the PCS period.

• We defer revenue when we lack persuasive evidence of a sales agreement and recognize that revenue only when that evidence exists.

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VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

As a result of these policies, we have deferred revenue and costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisting of the following (in thousands):

	2013		2012
Deferred equipment revenue(1)	$	811	$	735
Deferred fixed-priced support or maintenance contract revenue	3,854		3,383
Other deferred revenue(2)	6,578		6,828
Total deferred revenue	11,243		10,946
Less current portion included in other accrued liabilities	11,190		10,811
Long-term portion of deferred revenue included in other liabilities	$	53	$	135
Current portion of deferred costs included in prepaid expenses and other	$	502	$	709
Long-term portion of deferred costs included in other assets	698		1,099
Total deferred costs(3)	$	1,200	$	1,808

⁽¹⁾  Represents amounts received for sales arrangements that include equipment, hardware, software and PCS. See above discussion for the accounting guidance pertaining to revenue recognition — multiple-deliverable transactions.

⁽²⁾  Represents amounts received in advance for services.

⁽³⁾  Represents costs related to warranties, equipment and hardware included in deferred equipment revenue.

Customer Loyalty Programs

We record reductions to revenue related to customer incentive programs, which include various forms of cash consideration. Incentives may be provided in the form of credits, coupons or loans and are earned by clients upon entering into an agreement to purchase products or services in future periods while maintaining defined volume purchase or utilization levels. These incentives are capitalized and recognized as a reduction to revenue over the term of the customer agreement. We monitor customer purchases over the term of their agreement to assess the realizability of our capitalized customer acquisition costs. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we did not have any impaired customer acquisition costs.

e.    Direct Costs

Direct costs are comprised of all service and product costs, including but not limited to, salaries of veterinarians, technicians and other hospital-based, laboratory-based personnel, and content-development personnel, transportation and delivery costs, facilities rent, occupancy costs, supply costs, depreciation and amortization, certain marketing and promotional expenses and costs of goods sold.

f.    Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider only highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than 90 days to be cash equivalents. We maintain balances in our bank accounts that are in excess of FDIC insured levels.

g.    Inventory

Our inventory consists primarily of finished goods and includes imaging equipment, pet food and products and medical supplies. It is valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method and is adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments and market conditions.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

h.    Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Equipment held under capital leases is recorded at the lower of the present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the equipment at the beginning of the lease term.

We develop and implement new software to be used internally, or enhance our existing internal software. We develop the software using our own employees and/or outside consultants. We capitalize software development costs when application development begins, it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used as intended. We expense costs associated with preliminary project stage activities, training, maintenance and all other post implementation stage activities as we incur these costs. The capitalized costs are amortized over the expected useful lives of the software. Costs related to upgrades or enhancements of existing systems are capitalized if the modifications result in additional functionality.

Depreciation and amortization are recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements	5 to 40 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or 15 years
Furniture and equipment	3 to 10 years
Software	3 to 10 years
Equipment held under capital leases	5 to 10 years

Depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of property under capital leases, in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $56.5 million, $53.5 million and $43.6 million, respectively.

Property and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of (in thousands):

	2013			2012
Land	$	58,545		$	56,162
Building and improvements	142,099			137,614
Leasehold improvements	176,487			140,944
Furniture and equipment	272,820			243,429
Software	42,524			32,676
Buildings held under capital leases	59,555			30,550
Equipment held under capital leases	835			849
Construction in progress	9,999			35,683
Total property and equipment	762,864			677,907
Less — accumulated depreciation and amortization	(314,498		)	(274,463		)
Total property and equipment, net	$	448,366		$	403,444

Accumulated amortization on buildings and equipment held under capital leases amounted to $13.7 million and $10.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

i.    Operating Leases

Most of our facilities are under operating leases. The minimum lease payments, including predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent, are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term as defined in the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to leases. The lease term includes contractual renewal options that are reasonably assured based on significant leasehold improvements acquired. Any leasehold improvement incentives paid to us by a landlord are recorded as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

j.    Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). In accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to goodwill and other intangibles, we have determined that we have four reporting units: Animal Hospital, Laboratory, Medical Technology and Vetstreet. Annually, or sooner if circumstances indicate an impairment may exist, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units and compare their estimated fair value against the net book value of those reporting units to determine if our goodwill is impaired.

The recognition and measurement of a goodwill impairment loss involves either a qualitative assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit or a more detailed quantitative two-step process. We have not presently elected to rely on a qualitative assessment, accordingly we measure our goodwill for impairment based upon the two-step process. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit’s assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is required to be recorded as an impairment.

We recorded impairment charges in 2012 related to our Vetstreet reporting unit and in 2011 related to our Medical Technology reporting unit. For additional information related to goodwill impairment, see Note 5, Goodwill.

Our estimated reporting unit fair values are calculated using valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, the weighted-average cost of capital, and risk premiums. Consumer spending habits for our business are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. We believe these factors have and may continue to impact consumer spending for our products and services. Deterioration in consumer spending habits for our business would negatively impact the value of our reporting units and could result in additional goodwill impairment. Any potential impairment charge could be material and would be reflected as expense in our consolidated statements of income. We provide no assurance that forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and discount

rates will not deteriorate in the near term. We will continue to analyze changes to these assumptions in future periods. We adopted the end of October as our annual impairment testing date. Our October 31, 2013 impairment test indicated that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount and therefore step two of the two-step impairment test was unnecessary. Our October 31, 2012 impairment test, however, indicated that we had a $99.5 million goodwill impairment related to our Vetstreet reporting unit. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment. The Vetstreet and Medical Technology reporting units are each included in the “All Other” category of our disclosures in Note 15, Lines of Business.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

k.    Other Intangible Assets

In addition to goodwill, we have amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012, as follows (in thousands):

	2013							2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	109,842	$	(41,895	)	$	67,947	$	110,404	$	(36,605	)	$	73,799
Covenants not-to-compete	8,843		(4,661		)	4,182		12,707		(7,357		)	5,350
Favorable lease asset	7,458		(4,373		)	3,085		7,228		(3,866		)	3,362
Technology	5,240		(3,015		)	2,225		6,588		(4,179		)	2,409
Trademarks	13,115		(4,194		)	8,921		12,494		(3,001		)	9,493
Contracts	608		(305		)	303		956		(570		)	386
Client lists	50		(42		)	8		50		(26		)	24
Total	$	145,156	$	(58,485	)	$	86,671	$	150,427	$	(55,604	)	$	94,823

The recoverability of the carrying values of all intangible assets with finite lives is re-evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate an asset's value may be impaired. We perform a quarterly review of identified intangible assets to determine if facts and circumstances indicate that the useful life is shorter than we had originally estimated or that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If such facts and circumstances exist, we assess recoverability by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their remaining lives against their respective carrying amounts. Impairments, if any, are based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, we accelerate the rate of amortization and amortize the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life.

Our October 31, 2012 impairment test indicated that we had a $22.9 million intangible asset impairment related to non-contractual customer relationships, technology, trademarks and contracts related to Vetstreet. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the intangible assets was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment as mentioned above. The fair values of the impaired intangibles were calculated utilizing valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. The impairment is included under the caption "Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets" in our consolidated income statement.

Amortization is recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Non-contractual hospital customer relationships	5 years
Non-contractual laboratory customer relationships	20 to 25 years
All other non-contractual customer relationships	3 to 10 years
Covenants not-to-compete	2 to 25 years
Favorable lease asset	1 to 18 years
Technology	5 to 7 years
Trademarks	2 to 10 years
Contracts	6 years
Client lists	3 years

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

The following table summarizes our aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Aggregate amortization expense	$	20,934	$	22,731	$	13,391

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter at December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	21,342
2015	18,999
2016	15,689
2017	9,321
2018	5,649
Thereafter	15,671
Total	$	86,671

l.    Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes. In accordance with the guidance, we record deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, which represent taxes to be recovered or settled in the future. We adjust our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to reflect changes in tax rates or other statutory tax provisions. We make judgments in assessing our ability to realize future benefits from our deferred tax assets, which include operating and capital loss carryforwards. As such, we have a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets for the portion we believe will not be realized. Changes in tax rates or other statutory provisions are recognized in the period the change occurs. We also assess differences between our probable tax bases and the as-filed tax bases of certain assets and liabilities.

We account for unrecognized tax benefits also in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes which prescribe a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

m.    Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are financial instruments issued in the normal course of business and are not market traded. The amounts recorded approximate fair value and are shown net of valuation allowances. There were no valuation allowances recorded as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The notes bear interest at rates varying from 2.6% to 8.0% per annum.

n.    Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the related debt. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing costs was $1.2 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

o.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk

The carrying amount reported in our consolidated balance sheets for cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Our policy is to place our cash and cash equivalents in highly-rated financial instruments and institutions,which we believe mitigates our credit risk. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the diversity of our customer base. We routinely review the collection of our accounts receivable and maintain an allowance for potential credit losses, but historically have not experienced any significant losses related to an individual customer or groups of customers in a geographic area.

Our operations depend, in some cases, on the ability of single source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers, to deliver products and supplies on a timely basis. We have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, shortages of or difficulties in acquiring products and supplies in the quantities and of the quality needed. Shortages in the availability of products and supplies for an extended period of time could have a negative impact on our operating results.

p.    Marketing and Advertising

Marketing and advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total marketing and advertising expense included in direct costs amounted to $25.4 million, $25.3 million and $25.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total marketing and advertising expense included in selling, general and administrative expense amounted to $5.9 million, $7.6 million and $3.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

q.    Insurance and Self-Insurance

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance with high-retention or high-deductible provisions for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, property insurance and our group health insurance benefits.

Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated based on an undiscounted basis by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.

r.    Product Warranties

We accrue the cost of basic product warranties included with the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and our ultrasound imaging equipment at the time we sell these units to our customers. Our warranty costs are primarily for our assistance in helping our customers resolve issues with the warranties they have with the original equipment manufacturers. We estimate our warranty costs based on historical warranty claim experience. Accrued warranty costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $73,000 and $70,000, respectively.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

s.    Calculation of Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	88,621		87,681		86,606
Effect of dilutive potential common stock:
Stock options	305		479		560
Non-vested shares and units	737		511		228
Diluted	89,663		88,671		87,394
Basic earnings per common share	$	1.55	$	0.52	$	1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.53	$	0.51	$	1.09

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, potential common shares of 43,300, 1.0 million and 1.2 million, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

t.    Share-Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation in accordance with FASB’s accounting guidance on stock compensation. Accordingly, we measure the cost of share-based payments based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments and recognize the cost over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period.

Our company’s share-based employee compensation plans are described further in Note 10, Share-Based Compensation.

u.    Acquisitions

We account for acquisitions based upon the provisions of the FASB’s accounting guidance on business combinations. Accordingly, acquisitions are accounted for at fair value under the acquisition method of accounting. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred; noncontrolling interests are valued at fair value at the acquisition date; and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date generally affect income tax expense.

v.    Litigation

We are party to various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. We closely monitor these claims and lawsuits and frequently consult with our legal counsel to determine whether they may, when resolved, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations and accrue and/or disclose loss contingencies as appropriate.

w.   Corrections    

During 2013, we recorded a $2.8 million immaterial out-of-period non-cash physical inventory adjustment in our Animal Hospital business segment which resulted in a debit to inventory and a credit to direct costs.

During 2012, we recorded a $3.1 million immaterial out-of-period adjustment to depreciation expense related to our acquired capital leases, which resulted in a debit to depreciation expense and a credit to property and equipment, net.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

During 2011, we recorded an immaterial out-of-period adjustment related to our deferred revenue and related deferred cost for certain equipment sales governed by revised accounting guidance related to multiple element arrangements. The correction resulted in the recognition of $4.0 million of previously deferred revenue and $3.8 million of previously deferred costs in our Medical Technology operating segment that should have been recognized in prior periods.

We have analyzed the impact of each of these items and concluded that none of the adjustments would be material to any individual period, taking into account the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). In accordance with the relevant guidance, we evaluated the materiality of errors from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Based on such evaluation, we concluded that correcting the errors would not have had a material impact on any individual prior period presented in the 2013 Form 10-K nor would it have affected the trend of financial results. As provided by SAB 108, the error correction did not require the restatement of the consolidated financial statements for prior periods.

3. Related Party Transactions

a.   Transactions with ThinkPets Inc. (formerly known as Zoasis Corporation)

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets, Inc., for $21 million, payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. The number of shares of VCA common stock were determined based on the daily volume weighted-average closing sales price of the VCA common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acquisition. At the time of the acquisition, Bob Antin, our CEO and Chairman of the Board, owned 54% of the common stock of ThinkPets, and served as a director of ThinkPets, and Art Antin, our Chief Operating Officer, owned 8% of the common stock of ThinkPets.

b.  Related Party Vendors

Frank Reddick joined our company as a director in February 2002 and is a partner in the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP (“Akin”). Akin provided legal services to us during 2013, 2012 and 2011. The amount paid by our company to Akin for these legal services was approximately $375,000, $551,000 and $1.6 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

c.    Transactions with VetSource

In 2006, we entered into a pharmacy distribution agreement with Strategic Pharmaceutical Solutions, Inc. (“VetSource”) a start-up pharmacy distribution company. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement we are entitled to one representative on the VetSource Board of Directors. Under the agreement we promote the use of VetSource as the preferred provider of pharmaceutical products to VCA animal hospitals. The agreement has a five-year term and will renew for one year terms unless either party provides written notice of termination to the other party at least 120 days prior to expiration of the then current term. The amount paid by our company to VetSource for pharmaceutical products was $13.0 million, $13.1 million and $28.2 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We own 39.3% of the outstanding preferred stock of VetSource.

On October 24, 2013, we entered into a $1.2 million revolving credit agreement with VetSource in the form of promissory note. Our commitment under the revolving credit agreement is to loan up to $471,600, equitable to our 39.3% pro rata share in VetSource. As of December 31, 2013, we loaned VetSource $275,000.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions

Our acquisition strategy includes the acquisition of animal hospitals, animal hospital chains, laboratories or related businesses. In accordance with that strategy, we acquired the following:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Animal hospitals:
Acquisitions (1), excluding AVC in 2012 and BrightHeart in 2011	20		35		18
AVC (1)	—		44		—
BrightHeart(1)	—		—		9
New facilities	—		1		—
Acquisitions relocated into our existing animal hospitals	(2	)	(6	)	(3	)
Sold, closed or merged	(18	)	(6	)	(11	)
Total	—		68		13
Laboratories:
Acquisitions	1		1		1
Acquisitions relocated into our existing laboratories	—		(1	)	—
New facilities	—		2		2
Total	1		2		3

⁽¹⁾  Associate Veterinary Clinics (1981) LTD ("AVC") was acquired on January 31, 2012 and BrightHeart Veterinary Centers (“BrightHeart") was acquired on July 11, 2011.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions, continued

Animal Hospital and Laboratory Acquisitions, excluding AVC and BrightHeart

The following table summarizes the aggregate consideration, including acquisition costs, paid by us for our acquired animal hospitals and laboratories, excluding AVC and BrightHeart, and the allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Consideration:
Cash	$	52,688		$	78,629		$	34,243
Assumed debt	2,360			—			—
Holdback	1,092			2,425			1,500
Contingent consideration	1,285			1,306			79
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	57,425		$	82,360		$	35,822
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	14,779		$	3,515		$	1,237
Identifiable intangible assets	15,001			14,718			6,414
Goodwill(1)	45,665			64,253			28,171
Notes payable and other liabilities assumed	(11,084		)	(126		)	—
	$	64,361		$	82,360		$	35,822
Noncontrolling interest	(6,936		)	—			—
Total	$	57,425		$	82,360		$	35,822

⁽¹⁾  We expect that $15.0 million, $60.4 million and $26.4 million of the goodwill recorded in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, will be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

In addition to the purchase price listed above are cash payments made for real estate acquired in connection with our purchase of animal hospitals totaling $5.3 million, $5.3 million and $1.9 million in 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

2012 AVC Investment

On January 31, 2012, we increased our investment in AVC by approximately CDN $81 million (approximately US $81 million) becoming the sole non-veterinarian shareholder of AVC. At the time of the additional investment, AVC operated 44 animal hospitals in three Canadian provinces, offering services ranging from primary care, to specialty referral services and 24-hour emergency care. This investment and planned additional investments in AVC will facilitate our continued expansion in the Canadian market. At the time of the investment, AVC had annualized revenue of approximately CDN $95 million (approximately US $95 million). Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of AVC since January 31, 2012.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions, continued

The following table summarizes the total investment and final allocation of the investment in AVC (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	48,819
Assumed debt	25,915
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	74,734
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	11,694
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	25,170
Goodwill(2)	79,707
Other liabilities assumed	(21,826		)
	$	94,745
Noncontrolling interest	(8,161		)
Fair value of pre-existing investment in AVC	(11,850		)
Total	$	74,734

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, trademark and covenants-not-to-compete. The weighted- average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately six years. The customer-related intangible assets weighted-average amortization period is approximately five years. The trademark weighted-average amortization period is approximately ten years. The covenants-not-to-compete weighted-average amortization period is approximately three years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $362,000 of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

2011 BrightHeart Acquisition

On July 11, 2011, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of BrightHeart for approximately $50 million in cash. BrightHeart operates nine animal hospitals, eight of which focus on the delivery of specialty and emergency medicine. The acquisition increased our level of market recognition in areas where we had an existing market presence. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of BrightHeart since July 11, 2011.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions, continued

The following table summarizes the final purchase price and the final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	23,490
Assumed debt	26,048
Contingent consideration	481
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	50,019
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	18,921
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	8,796
Goodwill(2)	39,806
Other liabilities assumed	(17,504		)
Total	$	50,019

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets primarily include customer relationships. The weighted average amortization period for both the total identifiable intangible assets and the customer-related intangible assets is approximately five years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $38.8 million of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions, continued

Other Acquisitions

2012 ThinkPets, Inc. ("ThinkPets")

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets for $21 million , payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. We intend to combine the operations of ThinkPets with our Vetstreet business, which we expect will improve the products and services it offers to clients of both companies. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of ThinkPets since February 1, 2012.

The following table summarizes the total purchase price and the final allocation of the investment in ThinkPets (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	7,468
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	10,500
Holdback	1,050
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	19,018
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	2,093
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	7,221
Goodwill(2)	12,155
Other liabilities assumed	(2,451		)
Total	$	19,018

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, contracts and trademarks. The weighted average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately eight years, for the customer-related intangible assets approximately nine years, for the technology approximately four years, and for the trademarks approximately two years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $821,000 of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Our ThinkPets business is reported within our “All Other” category in our segment disclosures combined with our Medical Technology and Vetstreet operating segments.

2011 MediMedia Animal Health, LLC (“Vetstreet”)

On August 9, 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interests of Vetstreet, a provider of online and printed communications, professional education and marketing solutions to the veterinary community. The acquisition of Vetstreet expanded the breadth of our product offerings to the veterinary community. We acquired Vetstreet for a final purchase price of $146.4 million, net of cash acquired. The following table summarizes the final purchase price and final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions, continued

Consideration:
Cash	$	146,420
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	8,565
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	45,810
Goodwill(2)	96,149
Other liabilities assumed	(4,104		)
Total	$	146,420

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, technology, trademarks, non-compete agreements and contracts. The weighted average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately nine years, for the customer-related intangible assets approximately ten years, for the technology and trademarks approximately seven years, for the non-compete agreements approximately two years and for the contracts approximately eight years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that all of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Our Vetstreet business is reported within our “All Other” category in our segment disclosures combined with our Medical Technology operating segment.

Pro Forma Information (unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma financial information for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 presents, (i) the actual results of operations of our 2013 acquisitions and (ii) the combined results of operations for our company and our 2013 acquisitions as if those acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2012, the first day of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The pro forma financial information considers principally (i) our company’s financial results, (ii) the unaudited historical financial results of our acquisitions, and (iii) select pro forma adjustments to the historical financial results of our acquisitions. Such pro forma adjustments represent principally estimates of (i) the impact of the hypothetical amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) the recognition of fair value adjustments relating to tangible assets, (iii) adjustments reflecting the new capital structure, including additional financing or repayments of debt as part of the acquisitions and (iv) the tax effects of the acquisitions and related adjustments as if those acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what our consolidated results of operations would have been had we completed the acquisition at the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period.

In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information does not attempt to project the future results of operations of our company:

	Revenue	Net Income
	(Unaudited)
(In thousands):
Actual from acquisition date to December 31, 2013	12,615	1,350
2013 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013(1)	1,837,872	138,621
2012 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012(1)	1,819,693	47,385

⁽¹⁾  2013 supplemental pro forma net income was adjusted to exclude $869,000 of acquisition-related costs incurred in 2013. 2012 supplemental pro forma net income was adjusted to include these charges.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

5. Goodwill

The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of our goodwill for 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	$	1,035,401		$	96,810		$	126,706		$	1,258,917
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(21,310		)	(21,310		)
Subtotal	1,035,401			96,810			105,396			1,237,607
Goodwill acquired	143,926			34			12,155			156,115
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(99,501		)	(99,501		)
Foreign translation adjustment	1,281			17			—			1,298
Other (1)	(3,260		)	—			(1,028		)	(4,288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	1,177,348			96,861			137,833			1,412,042
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,177,348			96,861			17,022			1,291,231
Goodwill acquired	45,615			50			—			45,665
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,651		)	(40		)	—			(5,691		)
Other(1)	(731		)	—			443			(288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	1,216,581			96,871			138,276			1,451,728
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	17,465		$	1,330,917

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, "Other" primarily includes measurement period adjustments and a write-off related to a sale of an animal hospital. In 2012, "Other" includes acquisition-price adjustments, which consist primarily of an adjustment related to capital leases and buy outs of noncontrolling interest partners.

Goodwill Impairment Charges

2012 Charge

Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at least annually. We perform our annual impairment test as of October 31st. Goodwill is also tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.

We performed our annual test of goodwill as of October 31, 2012 for all of our reporting units. We determined that each of our reporting unit's fair value exceeded their respective carrying values with the exception of our Vetstreet reporting unit. Management ultimately determined that there was impairment to Vetstreet's goodwill primarily due to (i) less than anticipated financial performance for fiscal 2012, including with respect to revenue and operating cash flow, and (ii) new revenue and operating profit growth projections that were significantly lower than previous projections. Accordingly, we recorded a $99.5 million impairment charge during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Revenue and operating profit growth projections were lowered as a result of continued operational delays in part due to our upgrading and migration of Vetstreet's information technology systems from their former parent to ours. Corporate data center. Additionally, we have changed Vetstreet's overall business strategy to better accommodate the needs of the veterinary community. The projected cash flows under our revised strategy were significantly lower than under our

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

5. Goodwill, continued

previous plan. Finally, our revised forecast reflected the impact of new well-capitalized entrants to this business which resulted in increased competition.

The impairment test for goodwill uses a two-step approach, which is performed at the reporting unit level. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and Step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit's assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is recorded as an impairment.

In performing Step one of the impairment test, we estimated the fair value of the reporting unit using a combination of the income and market approaches with greater emphasis placed on the income approach, for purposes of estimating the total enterprise value.

The income approach is based on a discounted cash flow analysis and calculates the fair value of the reporting unit by estimating the after-tax cash flows attributable to the reporting unit and then discounting the after-tax cash flows to a present value, using a weighted average cost of capital ("WACC"). The WACC utilized in our analysis using the income approach was 15.5%. The WACC is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required for equity and debt holders of a business enterprise. The reporting unit's cost of equity and debt was developed based on data and factors relevant to the economy, the industry and the reporting unit. The cost of equity was estimated using the capital asset pricing model ("CAPM"). The CAPM uses a risk-free rate of return and an appropriate market risk premium for equity investments and the specific risks of the investment. The analysis also included comparisons to a group of guideline companies engaged in the same or similar businesses. The cost of debt was estimated using the current after-tax average borrowing cost that a market participant would expect to pay to obtain its debt financing assuming a target capital structure.

The market approach is based on the guideline publicly traded company method to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Due to the significant lack of guideline public companies, little weight was given to this approach. Under this method, market multiples ratios were applied to the reporting unit's earnings with consideration given to our size, product offerings, growth, and other relevant factors compared to those of the guideline companies. The guideline companies selected were engaged in the same or a similar line of business as us. Market multiples were then selected based on consideration of risk, growth, and profitability differences between us and the guideline companies. The selected market multiples were then multiplied by our October 31, 2012 revenue to arrive at an estimate of fair value.

Based on the above analysis, it was determined that the carrying value of the Vetstreet reporting unit including goodwill exceeded the fair value of the reporting unit, requiring us to perform step two of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any.

In performing step two of the goodwill impairment test, we compared the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its carrying value of goodwill. This test resulted in a non-cash, goodwill impairment charge of $99.5 million ($60.6 million after-tax), which was recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2012. This charge had no impact on our cash flows or our compliance with debt covenants.

The fair value estimates used in the goodwill impairment analysis required significant judgment. The Company's fair value estimates for purposes of determining the goodwill impairment charge are considered Level 3 fair value measurements.

We based our fair value estimates on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable but that are inherently uncertain, including estimates of future revenues and operating margins and assumptions about the overall economic climate and the competitive environment for our business. Our estimates assumed that revenues would decline into the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions will prove to be accurate predictions of the future. If our assumptions regarding business plans, competitive environments or anticipated operating results are not correct, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

6. Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2013		2012
Deferred revenue	$	11,190	$	10,811
Accrued health insurance	5,479		6,409
Deferred rent	4,331		3,604
Accrued other insurance	4,381		3,799
Miscellaneous accrued taxes (1)	2,804		3,485
Accrued workers' compensation	3,267		3,570
Holdbacks and earn-outs	3,040		3,599
Customer deposits	3,075		3,140
Accrued consulting fees	3,028		3,114
Accrued lease payments	2,547		888
Other	15,620		14,712
	$	58,762	$	57,131

⁽¹⁾ Includes property, sales, and use taxes.

7. Long-Term Obligations

Long-term obligations consisted of the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

		2013			2012
Senior term notes	Notes payable, maturing in 2016, secured by assets, variable interest rate (1.92% and 1.96% at 2013 and 2012, respectively)	556,914			592,422
Revolving credit	Revolving line of credit, maturing in 2016, secured by assets, variable interest rate	—			—
Secured seller notes	Notes payable matures in 2014, secured by assets and stock of certain subsidiaries, with interest rate of 10.0%	230			266
	Total debt obligations	557,144			592,688
	Capital lease obligations	62,501			37,955
		619,645			630,643
	Less — current portion	(51,087		)	(39,002		)
		$	568,558		$	591,641

The annual aggregate scheduled maturities of our long-term obligations for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2013 are presented below (in thousands):

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

7. Long-Term Obligations, continued

	Debt Obligations		Capital Lease Obligations		Total
2014	$	47,574	$	3,515	$	51,089
2015	51,289		3,419		54,708
2016	458,281		3,171		461,452
2017	—		3,490		3,490
2018	—		3,805		3,805
Thereafter	—		45,101		45,101
Total	$	557,144	$	62,501	$	619,645

Senior Credit Facility

In August 2010, we entered into a new senior credit facility with various lenders for $600 million of senior secured credit facilities with Bank of America, N.A. as the syndication agent and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent, collateral agent, issuing bank and swing line lender. At the time of entering into the senior credit facility, it included $500 million of senior term notes and $100 million revolving credit facility, which may be used to borrow, on a same-day notice under a swing line, the lesser of $10 million and the aggregate unused amount of the revolving credit facility then in effect. In connection with this transaction, we paid financing costs in the amount of $9.1 million, of which $2.1 million, or $1.3 million after tax were recognized as part of income from continuing operations, the remainder was capitalized as deferred financing costs.

In August 2011, we amended and restated our existing senior credit facility to allow for additional senior term notes in the amount of $100 million and an additional $25 million aggregate principal amount of revolving commitments. Bank of America, N.A. and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. are co-syndication agents for the amended senior credit facility, while Wells Fargo, N.A. remains the administrative agent, collateral agent, issuing bank and swing line lender. The amended senior credit facility called for $581.3 million in senior term notes and a $125 million revolving credit facility. The funds borrowed from the additional senior term notes were used to repay in full, amounts borrowed in connection with the acquisition of Vetstreet on August 9, 2011. The terms of the amended and restated senior credit facility are discussed below in this footnote. In connection with the amendment we incurred $2.9 million in financing costs, of which approximately $865,000 were recognized as part of income from continuing operations and approximately $2.0 million was capitalized as deferred financing costs. In addition, we expensed $1.1 million of previously capitalized deferred financing costs associated with lenders who exited the syndicate on the amendment date or those that were determined to be extinguished.

On January 25, 2012, we executed an amendment (the "First Amendment") to our Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement entered into as of August 16, 2011 (our "Senior Credit Facility"). On January 24, 2012, we issued new term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million. The First Amendment replenished the aggregate principal amount of uncommitted incremental facilities by $50.0 million, permitting us to request up to an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million in uncommitted incremental facilities. The funds borrowed from the Incremental Facility were used to fully repay amounts borrowed to fund an additional investment in AVC on February 1, 2012. In connection with the First Amendment we incurred $122,000 in financing costs, of which approximately $47,000 were expensed as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses and $75,000 were capitalized as deferred financing costs.

Interest Rate. In general, borrowings under the senior term notes and the revolving credit facility bear interest, at our option, on either:

• the base rate (as defined below) plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for a base rate loan is an amount equal to the applicable margin for Eurodollar rate (as defined below) minus 1.00%; or

• the adjusted Eurodollar rate (as defined below), plus a margin of 1.75% (Level II, see table below), per annum until the date of delivery of the compliance certificate and the financial statements, for the period ended December 31, 2013, at which time the applicable margin will be determined by reference to the leverage ratio in effect from time to time as set forth in the following table:

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

7. Long-Term Obligations, continued

Level	Leverage Ratio	Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans		Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %
I	≥ 2.50:1.00	2.25	%	0.50	%
II	< 2.50:1.00 and ≥ 1.75:1.00	1.75	%	0.375	%
III	< 1.75:1.00 and ≥ 1.00:1.00	1.50	%	0.25	%
IV	< 1.00:1.00	1.25	%	0.20	%

The base rate for the senior term notes is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo") prime rate in effect on such day, the Federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 0.5% and the adjusted Eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period commencing on such day plus 1.0%. The adjusted Eurodollar rate is defined as the rate per annum obtained by dividing (1) the rate of interest offered to Wells Fargo on the London interbank market by (2) a percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities.”

Maturity and Principal Payments.    The Amended and Restated senior term notes mature on August 19, 2016. Principal payments on the senior term notes are paid quarterly in the amount of (i) $11.8 million for the two years beginning on December 31, 2013 and (ii) $15.8 million for the three quarters prior to maturity, at which time the remaining balance is due. The following table sets forth the remaining scheduled principal payments for our senior term notes (in thousands):

	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
Senior term notes	$	47,344	$	51,289	$	458,281	$	—	$	—

The revolving credit facility has a per annum commitment fee determined by reference to the Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time as set forth in the table above and is applied to the unused portion of the commitment. The revolving credit facility matures on August 19, 2016. Principal payments on the revolving credit facility are made at our discretion with the entire unpaid amount due at maturity. At December 31, 2013, we had no borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Guarantees and Security.    We and each of our wholly-owned subsidiaries guarantee the outstanding debt under the senior credit facility. These borrowings, along with the guarantees of the subsidiaries, are further secured by substantially all of our consolidated assets. In addition, these borrowings are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the capital stock, or similar equity interests, of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Debt Covenants.    The senior credit facility contains certain financial covenants pertaining to fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios. In addition, the senior credit facility has restrictions pertaining to capital expenditures, acquisitions and the payment of cash dividends on all classes of stock. At December 31, 2013, we had a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.77 to 1.00, which was in compliance with the required ratio of no less than 1.20 to 1.00, and a leverage ratio of 1.81 to 1.00, which was in compliance with the required ratio of no more than 3.00 to 1.00.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

8. Fair Value

Current fair value accounting guidance includes a hierarchy that is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon their own market assumptions. The current guidance establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

• Level 1.    Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

• Level 2.    Inputs, other than quoted prices, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and

• Level 3.    Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Non-Recurring Assets

Non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis are accounted for in accordance with FASB’s guidance on fair value measurement.

At December 31, 2013, we did not have any material applicable non-recurring measurements of non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities.     

During the quarter ended December 31, 2012, our Vetstreet goodwill was written down to its implied fair value resulting in an impairment charge of $99.5 million, which was included in earnings in the period. Our Vetstreet goodwill balance as of December 31, 2012 was $8.8 million. Additionally, during the quarter ended December 31, 2012, our Vetstreet long-lived assets were written down to their estimated fair value resulting in an impairment charge of $22.9 million, which was included in earnings in the period. Our Vetstreet long-lived assets balance as of December 31, 2012 was $28.7 million. Both the implied fair value of goodwill and the estimated fair value of long-lived assets were calculated using Level 3 inputs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The FASB accounting guidance requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Fair value as defined by the guidance is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value estimates of financial instruments are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we might pay or receive in actual market transactions. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.    These balances include cash and cash equivalents with maturities of less than three months. The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

Receivables, Less Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Accounts Payable and Certain Other Accrued Liabilities.    Due to their short-term nature, fair value approximates carrying value.

Long-Term Debt.    The fair value of debt at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is based upon the ask price quoted from an external source, which is considered a Level 2 input.

The following table reflects the carrying value and fair value of our variable-rate long-term debt (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2013				2012
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Variable-rate long-term debt	$	556,914	$	556,914	$	592,422	$	592,422

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

9. Dividends and Share Repurchase Program

Dividends

We have not paid cash dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our senior credit facility places limitations on our ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions in respect of our common stock. Specifically, our amended and restated senior credit facility dated August 16, 2011 prohibits us from declaring, ordering, paying, or setting apart any sum for any dividends or other distributions on account of any shares of any class of stock, other than dividends payable solely in shares of stock to holders of such class of stock. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors, including the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits.

Share Repurchase Program

In April, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program, authorizing us to repurchase up to $125.0 million of our common shares from time to time in open market purchases, pursuant to trading plans established in accordance

with SEC rules or through privately negotiated transactions. The extent and timing of our repurchases will depend upon market

conditions, our cash requirements to fund the long-term growth investments in our business and other corporate considerations.

The repurchases will be funded by existing cash balances and by our revolving credit facility. The share repurchase program

has no expiration date. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

10. Share-Based Compensation

Stock Incentive Plans

At December 31, 2013, there were stock options, non-vested shares and restricted stock units outstanding under our existing stock incentive plans. We maintain three plans: the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan; the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan; and the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”). New options and other stock awards may only be granted under the 2006 Plan. At December 31, 2013, the sum of the shares previously issued pursuant to awards under the 2006 Plan and the shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under the 2006 Plan to our employees, directors, consultants and those of our affiliates is 7,789,532 shares. The number of shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under the 2006 Plan may increase by any shares of common stock underlying prior outstanding options that expire, are forfeited, canceled or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full. The number of shares available for issuance at December 31, 2013 was 1,713,732. Outstanding options and non-vested shares granted under our plans typically vest over periods that range from three to six years, and outstanding options typically expire between five and ten years from the date of grant.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

Stock Option Activity

A summary of our stock option activity for 2013 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price and weighted-average remaining contractual term):

	Stock Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	3,776		$	16.92
Granted	462		$	18.94
Exercised	(966	)	$	9.87
Expired	(1,039	)	$	23.68
Forfeited/Canceled	(52	)	$	18.91
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	2,181		$	17.20	3.1	$	8,399
Granted	—		$	—
Exercised	(1,043	)	$	16.73
Expired	(36	)	$	30.70
Forfeited/Canceled	(71	)	$	16.06
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,031		$	17.28	3.7	$	14,516
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	294		$	17.06	3.7	$	4,212
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013.	1,014		$	17.30	3.7	$	14,246

There were no stock options granted during 2013. We granted 462,229 and 894,000 stock options during 2012 and 2011, respectively, which had an estimated weighted-average grant date fair value of approximately $5.48 and $5.21, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of our stock options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $11.4 million, $9.9 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized on options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $4.5 million, $3.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.8 million, $3.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about the options outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts and the weighted-average remaining contractual life):

Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Exercise Price	Outstanding	Weighted-Avg. Remaining Contractual         Life	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price	Exercisable	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price
$15.98 - $18.94	1,031,119	3.7	$17.28	294,422	$17.06

At December 31, 2013, there was $3.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to our stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of over 2.2 years.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

Calculation of Fair Value

The fair value of our options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We amortize the fair value of our options on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. There were no options granted during 2013. The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the fair value of those options granted during 2012 and 2011:

	For Years Ended
	December 31,
	2012	2011
Expected volatility(1)	34.1%	39.0%
Expected dividends	—%	—%
Expected term(2)	4.4 years	4.3 years
Risk-free rate(3)	0.62%	0.79%

⁽¹⁾  We estimated the volatility of our common stock on the date of grant based on both historical and implied volatility.

⁽²⁾  The expected term represents the period of time that we expect options to be outstanding. We estimated the expected term based upon the weighted-average of our historical experience.

⁽³⁾  The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield in effect at the time of option grant on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with equivalent remaining terms.

We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures. We recognize share-based compensation only for those awards that we expect to vest.

The compensation cost charged against income for stock options was $1.8 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $687,000, $603,000 and $636,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Non-Vested Shares

Additionally, under our 2006 Plan, we have issued non-vested stock awards in our common stock to certain employees and members of our Board of Directors. The outstanding non-vested stock awards to employees and executives generally vest in three or four equal annual installments starting with the first anniversary of the grant date. The non-vested stock awards to members of our Board of Directors generally vest in equal annual installments over three years from the date of grant. A summary of our non-vested stock activity for 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average fair value per share):

	Shares		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	1,516		$	20.76
Granted	400		$	19.23
Vested	(457	)	$	22.17
Forfeited/Canceled	(8	)	$	19.03
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	1,451		$	19.90
Granted	211		$	29.77
Vested	(477	)	$	20.18
Forfeited/Canceled	(2	)	$	18.78
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,183		$	21.56

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

During 2013, we granted 211,462 shares of non-vested common stock. Of these awards, 199,410 shares were granted to employees and 12,052 shares were granted to our non-employee directors. The awards to employees will vest in equal annual installments over four years. The shares awarded to our non-employee directors will vest in three equal annual installments.

Total compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards was $8.8 million, $11.4 million and $9.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $3.4 million, $4.4 million and $3.6 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was $16.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to these non-vested shares that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.

Restricted Stock Unit Activity

Pursuant to the terms of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, we have also granted performance-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") to our executive officers representing the right to receive one share of common stock. These RSUs will be earned upon achievement of the applicable performance criteria during the performance periods and in accordance with the specific equity performance award agreement they were issued from. Assuming achievement of the required performance conditions and continued service through each vesting date, these awards will generally vest in equal annual installments over four years from the date of grant.

A summary of our RSU award activities for 2013 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average fair value per share):

	Units		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Unit
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	83		$	22.90
Granted	308		$	18.94
Vested/Paid out	(83	)	$	22.90
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	308		$	18.94
Granted	292		$	27.78
Vested/Paid out	(38	)	$	18.94
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	562		$	23.54

Total compensation cost charged against income, related to RSU awards was $3.5 million and $1.2 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $1.4 million and $468,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively. There was no compensation cost charged against income related to RSUs in 2011. As of December 31, 2013, there was $9.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to our RSU awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of over 3.5 years.

There were 292,478 and 307,989 performance based RSUs granted to our executive officers in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The RSUs earned upon achievement of performance goals are further subject to vesting where an aggregate of 25% of RSUs earned will vest in four equal annual installments starting on the applicable anniversary date. There were no RSUs granted in 2011.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

11. Commitments and Contingencies

a.    Leases

We operate many of our animal hospitals from premises that are leased under operating leases with terms, including renewal options, ranging from five to 35 years. Certain leases include fair-value purchase options that can be exercised at our discretion at various times within the lease terms.

The future minimum lease payments on operating leases at December 31, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	69,353
2015	68,975
2016	68,466
2017	67,338
2018	65,946
Thereafter	733,705
Total	$	1,073,783

Rent expense totaled $67.6 million, $66.0 million and $55.2 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Rental income totaled $1,049,000, $955,000 and $920,000 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

b.    Purchase Commitments

Under the terms of certain purchase agreements, we have aggregate commitments to purchase approximately $13.5 million of products and services through 2016.

c.    Earn-out Payments

We have contractual arrangements in connection with certain acquisitions, whereby additional cash may be paid to former owners of acquired companies upon attainment of specified financial criteria as set forth in the respective agreements. The amount to be paid cannot be determined until the earn-out periods have expired and the attainment of criteria is established. If the specified financial criteria are attained, we will be obligated to pay an additional $2.6 million.

In accordance with business combination accounting guidance, contingent consideration, such as earn-out agreements, are recognized as part of the consideration transferred on the acquisition date. A liability is initially recorded based upon its acquisition date fair value. The changes in fair value are recognized in earnings where applicable at each reporting period. The fair value is determined using a contractually stated formula using either a multiple of revenue or Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). The formulas used to determine the estimated fair value are level 3 inputs. The changes in fair value were immaterial to our consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. We recorded $2.2 million and $1.5 million in earnout liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which are included in other accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

d.    Holdbacks

In connection with certain acquisitions, we withheld a portion of the purchase price, or the holdback, as security for indemnification obligations of the sellers under the acquisition agreement. The amounts withheld are typically payable within a 12-month period. The total outstanding holdbacks at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $886,000 and $2.2 million, respectively, and are included in other accrued liabilities.

We paid $2.4 million, $2.7 million and $1.8 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, to sellers for the unused portion of holdbacks.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

11. Commitments and Contingencies, continued

e.    Other Contingencies

On May 29, 2013, a former veterinary assistant at one of our animal hospitals filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, titled Jorge Duran vs. VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc., et. al. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of current and former veterinary assistants employed by us in California, and alleges, among other allegations, that we improperly failed to pay overtime wages, improperly failed to

provide proper meal and rest periods, and engaged in unfair business practices. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

Additionally, on July 12, 2013, an individual who provided courier services with respect to our laboratory clients in California filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Clara - San Jose Branch, titled Carlos Lopez vs. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, Antech Diagnostics, Inc., et. al. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, is a company with which Antech has contracted to provide courier services in California. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of individuals who were engaged by Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC to perform such courier services and alleges, among other allegations, that Logistics Delivery Solutions, and Antech Diagnostics improperly classified the plaintiffs as independent contractors, improperly failed to pay overtime wages, and improperly failed to provide proper meal and rest periods. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

We are vigorously defending these lawsuits. Because these lawsuits are in the initial stages, the financial impact to us, if any, cannot be estimated.

We have certain contingent liabilities resulting from litigation and claims incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We believe that the probable resolution of such contingencies will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

12. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Federal:
Current	$	54,915		$	51,342		$	45,765
Deferred	16,150			(27,103		)	17,330
	71,065			24,239			63,095
State:
Current	11,156			9,896			10,710
Deferred	3,017			(5,081		)	2,222
	14,173			4,815			12,932
Foreign:
Current	3,318			4,035			—
Deferred	(1,103		)	(1,214		)	—
	2,215			2,821			—
	$	87,453		$	31,875		$	76,027

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12. Income Taxes, continued

The net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are comprised of the following (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Current deferred income tax assets:
Accounts receivable	$	6,598		$	6,085
State taxes	4,333			2,471
Other liabilities and reserves	14,298			9,716
Other assets	7,042			7,119
Inventory	1,547			1,275
Valuation allowance	(4,911		)	(4,087		)
Total current deferred income tax assets	$	28,907		$	22,579
Non-current deferred income tax (liabilities) assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	28,111		$	29,805
Write-down of assets	—			1,222
Start-up costs	—			335
Other assets	27,287			24,955
Intangible assets	(126,451		)	(107,112		)
Property and equipment	(26,393		)	(22,649		)
Share-based compensation	6,226			7,377
Valuation allowance	(8,879		)	(9,779		)
Total non-current deferred income tax (liabilities), net	$	(100,099	)	$	(75,846	)

At December 31, 2013, we had Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $68.5 million, comprised mainly of acquired NOL carryforwards. These NOLs expire at various dates through 2032. The utilization of NOL carryforwards to reduce taxable income is subject to certain statutory limitations. Events that cause such a limitation include, but are not limited to, a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three-year period. We believe that some of our acquisitions caused such a change of ownership and, accordingly, utilization of the NOL carryforwards may be limited in future years. Accordingly, the valuation allowance is principally related to subsidiaries’ NOL carryforwards. The change in valuation allowance in 2012 is related to investment-related loss carryforwards which expired in 2012. We believe that it is more likely than not that the benefit from the remaining net deferred tax assets will be realizable.

Our effective tax rate was 38.9%, 41.2% and 44.3% in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed at the Federal statutory rate is as follows:

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State taxes, net of Federal benefit	4.2		4.1		4.9
Goodwill impairment	—		4.6		4.3
AVC gain	—		(2.6	)	—
Foreign rate differential	(0.4	)	(1.1	)	—
Miscellaneous	0.1		1.2		0.1
	38.9	%	41.2	%	44.3	%

We are regularly audited by federal and state tax authorities. The statute is generally open for four years for state audits. We are currently under IRS audit for the 2011 taxable year.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

13. Noncontrolling Interests

We own some of our animal hospitals in partnerships with noncontrolling interest holders. We consolidate our partnerships in our 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 consolidated income statements. Noncontrolling interest in income of subsidiaries was $5.4 million, $5.2 million and $4.5 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, we reflect our noncontrolling partners’ cumulative share in the equity of the respective partnerships as either noncontrolling interests in equity, mandatorily reedemable noncontrolling interests in other liabilities, or redeemable noncontrolling interests in temporary equity (mezzanine) in our consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, noncontrolling interest was $10.2 million and $10.9 million, respectively.

a.    Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

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 discounted cash flow technique, both of which are used as an approximation of fair value. The discounted cash flow inputs used to determine the redemption value are level 3 and include forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and the weighted average cost of capital. We recognize changes in the obligation as an interest cost in the consolidated income statement.

The following table provides a summary of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	505
Noncontrolling interest expense	450
Redemption value change	557		1,007
Formation of noncontrolling interests			800
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(424		)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests			1,223
Balance as of December 31, 2011			$	3,111
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	1,555
Redemption value change	37		1,592
Formation of noncontrolling interests			8,161
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,714		)
Currency translation adjustment			(103		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	11,047
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	2,003
Redemption value change	74		2,077
Formation of noncontrolling interests			80
Purchase of noncontrolling interests			(1,703		)
Dissolution of noncontrolling interests			(357		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,833		)
Currency translation adjustment			44
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	9,355

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

13. Noncontrolling Interests, continued

b.    Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

We also enter into partnership agreements whereby the noncontrolling interest 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.

The following table provides a summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	5,799
Noncontrolling interest	$	840
Redemption value change	716		1,556
Formation of noncontrolling interests			510
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(901		)
Balance as of December 31, 2011			6,964
Noncontrolling interest	$	806
Redemption value change	156		962
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(935		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			6,991
Noncontrolling interest	$	1,146
Redemption value change	87		1,233
Formation of noncontrolling interests			3,601
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,147		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	10,678

14. 401(k) Plan

In 1992, we established a voluntary retirement plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers all employees with at least six months of employment with our company and provides the annual matching contributions by us at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Our expense for matching contributions to our voluntary retirement plan approximated $1.6 million, $1.5 million and $1.0 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

15. Lines of Business

Our reportable segments are Animal Hospital and Laboratory. Our Animal Hospital segment provides veterinary services for companion animals and sells related retail and pharmaceutical products. Our Laboratory segment provides diagnostic laboratory testing services for veterinarians, both associated with our animal hospitals and those independent of us. Our other operating segments included in “All Other” in the following tables are our medical technology business, which sells digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment, related computer hardware, software and ancillary services to the veterinary market and our Vetstreet business, which provides online and printed communications, professional education, marketing solutions to the veterinary community and an ecommerce platform for independent animal hospitals. These operating segments do not meet the quantitative requirements for reportable segments. Our operating segments are strategic business units that have different services, products and/or functions. The segments are managed separately because each is a distinct and different business venture with unique challenges, risks and rewards. We also operate a corporate office that provides general and administrative support services for our other segments.

The accounting policies of our segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. We evaluate the performance of our segments based

on gross profit and operating income. For purposes of reviewing the operating performance of our segments, all intercompany sales and purchases are generally accounted for as if they were transactions with independent third parties at current market prices.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

15. Lines of Business, continued

The following is a summary of certain financial data for each of our segments (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital		Laboratory			All Other			Corporate			Eliminations			Total
2013
External revenue	$	1,417,908	$	290,583		$	91,686		$	—		$	3,192		$	1,803,369
Intercompany revenue	—		54,248			21,054			—			(75,302		)	—
Total revenue	1,417,908		344,831			112,740			—			(72,110		)	1,803,369
Direct costs	1,208,781		180,952			74,139			—			(69,883		)	1,393,989
Gross profit	209,127		163,879			38,601			—			(2,227		)	409,380
Selling, general and administrative expense	34,133		31,915			32,941			58,922			—			157,911
Operating income (loss) before charges	174,994		131,964			5,660			(58,922		)	(2,227		)	251,469
Net loss (gain) on sale of assets	2,853		(77		)	7			(328		)	—			2,455
Operating income (loss)	$	172,141	$	132,041		$	5,653		$	(58,594	)	$	(2,227	)	$	249,014
Depreciation and amortization	$	57,748	$	10,251		$	7,909		$	3,284		$	(1,783	)	$	77,409
Capital expenditures	$	54,116	$	11,148		$	4,288		$	5,908		$	(2,190	)	$	73,270
Total assets at December 31, 2013	$	1,854,609	$	247,591		$	96,245		$	77,153		$	(37,817	)	$	2,237,781
2012
External revenue	$	1,331,314	$	275,406		$	90,616		$	—		$	2,306		$	1,699,642
Intercompany revenue	—		52,395			22,344			—			(74,739		)	—
Total revenue	1,331,314		327,801			112,960			—			(72,433		)	1,699,642
Direct costs	1,142,203		176,040			74,253			—			(67,828		)	1,324,668
Gross profit	189,111		151,761			38,707			—			(4,605		)	374,974
Selling, general and administrative expense	30,826		29,660			37,879			58,790			—			157,155
Operating income (loss) before charges	158,285		122,101			828			(58,790		)	(4,605		)	217,819
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	1,216		—			122,357			—			—			123,573
Net loss (gain) on sale of assets	713		(14		)	717			(106		)	—			1,310
Operating income (loss)	$	156,356	$	122,115		$	(122,246	)	$	(58,684	)	$	(4,605	)	$	92,936
Depreciation and amortization	$	54,835	$	10,141		$	9,582		$	3,198		$	(1,529	)	$	76,227
Capital expenditures	$	55,651	$	8,334		$	5,921		$	9,695		$	(2,794	)	$	76,807
Total assets at December 31, 2012	$	1,648,578	$	244,551		$	98,159		$	127,963		$	(27,671	)	$	2,091,580
2011
External revenue	$	1,150,120	$	272,468		$	61,736		$	—		$	1,037		$	1,485,361
Intercompany revenue	—		44,329			18,694			—			(63,023		)	—
Total revenue	1,150,120		316,797			80,430			—			(61,986		)	1,485,361
Direct costs	970,310		173,007			59,459			—			(55,872		)	1,146,904
Gross profit	179,810		143,790			20,971			—			(6,114		)	338,457
Selling, general and administrative expense	24,342		27,864			19,136			49,770			—			121,112
Operating income (loss) before charges	155,468		115,926			1,835			(49,770		)	(6,114		)	217,345
Goodwill impairment	—		—			21,310			—			—			21,310
Net loss on sale of assets	327		21			27			7			—			382
Operating income (loss)	$	155,141	$	115,905		$	(19,502	)	$	(49,777	)	$	(6,114	)	$	195,653
Depreciation and amortization	$	40,319	$	10,111		$	5,022		$	2,853		$	(1,317	)	$	56,988
Capital expenditures	$	45,753	$	6,082		$	6,448		$	7,299		$	(2,097	)	$	63,485
Total assets at December 31, 2011	$	1,439,103	$	232,423		$	202,187		$	142,793		$	(21,138	)	$	1,995,368

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

15. Lines of Business, continued

The table below lists our revenue by geographic area for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	2013		2012		2011
Revenue*
United States	$	1,671,170	$	1,589,588	$	1,474,294
Canada	132,199		110,054		11,067
Total	$	1,803,369	$	1,699,642	$	1,485,361

*Revenues are determined based on the location of the customer. Long-lived assets were not disclosed, as the amounts attributable to the Canadian operations are immaterial, as compared to total consolidated long-lived assets.

16. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

Quarterly Results

The following table sets forth selected unaudited quarterly results for the eight quarters commencing January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

	2013 Quarter Ended								2012 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31		Sept. 30(1)		Jun. 30		Mar. 31(2)		Dec. 31(3)			Sept. 30		Jun. 30(4)		Mar. 31(5)
Revenue	$	435,453	$	464,055	$	465,255	$	438,606	$	418,192		$	433,613	$	438,372	$	409,465
Gross profit	$	87,486	$	110,677	$	114,294	$	96,923	$	81,807		$	99,181	$	100,607	$	93,379
Operating income (loss)	$	45,923	$	72,039	$	75,701	$	55,351	$	(83,553	)	$	61,186	$	61,498	$	53,805
Net income (loss)	$	25,728	$	41,911	$	43,460	$	31,823	$	(57,025	)	$	35,642	$	35,778	$	36,321
Net income (loss) attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	24,717	$	40,647	$	41,662	$	30,485	$	(58,051	)	$	34,037	$	34,320	$	35,245
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.28	$	0.46	$	0.47	$	0.34	$	(0.66	)	$	0.39	$	0.39	$	0.41
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.28	$	0.45	$	0.46	$	0.34	$	(0.66	)	$	0.38	$	0.39	$	0.40

⁽¹⁾  Included in the third quarter is a non-cash physical inventory adjustment in our Animal Hospital business segment which resulted in a $2.8 million credit adjustment to direct costs, or $0.02 per diluted share.

⁽²⁾  Included in the first quarter we recorded a write-down to net realizable value of $1.8 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, related to a vacant property that was held for sale and accrued costs totaling $2.0 million, or $0.01 per diluted share related to a vacant leased property.

⁽³⁾  Included in 2012 fourth quarter operating income is a $123.6 million, non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charge, or $0.90 per diluted share. The charge is primarily related to our Vetstreet reporting unit, see Note 5, Goodwill.

⁽⁴⁾  Included in 2012 second quarter gross profit is a $3.1 million depreciation expense adjustment, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to acquired capital leases.

⁽⁵⁾  Included in 2012 first quarter net income is a $5.7 million business combination adjustment gain, or $0.06 per diluted share, related to the acquisition of AVC, see Note 4, Acquisitions.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

16. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited), continued

Although not readily detectable because of the impact of acquisitions, our operations are subject to seasonal fluctuation. In particular, our Animal Hospital and Laboratory revenue historically has been greater in the second and third quarters than in the first and fourth quarters.

The demand for our veterinary services is significantly higher during warmer months because pets spend a greater amount of time outdoors, where they are more likely to be injured and are more susceptible to disease and parasites. In addition, use of veterinary services may be affected by levels of infestation of fleas, heartworms and ticks, and the number of daylight hours. A substantial portion of our costs for our veterinary services are fixed and do not vary with the level of demand. Consequently, our operating income and operating margins generally have been higher for the second and third quarters than that experienced in the first and fourth quarters.

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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	$	1,208,080		$	1,078,606
Intercompany receivable	99,260			104,897
Total assets	$	1,307,340		$	1,183,503
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock	$	89		$	88
Additional paid-in capital	384,721			390,359
Retained earnings	928,720			791,209
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,190		)	1,847
Total stockholders’ equity	$	1,307,340		$	1,183,503

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Statements of Income

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Revenue	$	—	$	—	$	—
Direct costs	—		—		—
Gross profit	—		—		—
Selling, general and administrative expense	—		—		—
Loss on sale of assets	—		—		—
Operating income	—		—		—
Interest income, net	—		—		—
Equity interest in income of subsidiaries	137,511		45,551		95,405
Income before provision for income taxes	137,511		45,551		95,405
Provision for income taxes	—		—		—
Net income	137,511		45,551		95,405
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—		—		—
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	137,511		$	45,551		$	95,405
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity interest in earnings of subsidiaries	(137,511		)	(45,551		)	(95,405		)
Increase in intercompany receivable	—			—			(3,999		)
Net cash used in operating activities	—			—			(3,999		)
Cash flows provided by investing activities:
Other	(17,233		)	(9,533		)	—
Net cash used in investing activities	(17,233		)	(9,533		)	—
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock option plans	17,233			9,533			3,999
Net cash provided by financing activities	17,233			9,533			3,999
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	—			—			—
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	—			—			—
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	—		$	—		$	—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

Note 1.    Guarantees

The borrowings under the senior credit facility are guaranteed by VCA Antech, Inc. (“VCA”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Vicar Operating, Inc. (“Vicar”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of VCA, may borrow up to $125 million under a revolving line of credit under the senior credit facility. VCA’s guarantee under the senior credit facility is secured by the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiaries in addition to a pledge of capital stock or similar equity interest of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

See Note 7, Long-Term Obligations, in our accompanying consolidated financial statements of this annual report on Form 10-K for a five-year schedule of debt maturities.

Note 2.    Dividends from Subsidiaries

The senior credit facility has restrictions on the ability of Vicar and its consolidated subsidiaries to transfer assets in the form of cash, dividends, loans or advances to VCA. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, VCA did not receive any cash dividends from its consolidated subsidiaries.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

(In thousands)

			Additions
	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Charged to Other Accounts		Write-offs			Other(1)		Balance at End of Period
Year ended December 31, 2013
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	16,546	$	7,360	$	—	$	(6,325	)	$	121	$	17,702
Year ended December 31, 2012
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	14,978	$	6,396	$	—	$	(5,134	)	$	306	$	16,546
Year ended December 31, 2011
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	13,801	$	6,742	$	—	$	(6,178	)	$	613	$	14,978

⁽¹⁾  “Other” changes in the allowance for uncollectible accounts include allowances acquired with animal hospitals and laboratory acquisitions.

⁽²⁾  Balance includes allowance for trade accounts receivable and notes receivable.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the 1934 Act, as of December 31, 2013. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management does not expect that our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. Internal controls over financial reporting, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the internal control over financial reporting are met. Further, the design of internal controls over financial reporting must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal controls over financial reporting, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective internal control over financial reporting, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Our management’s report on internal control over financial reporting, and the related report of our independent public accounting firm, are included in Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K under Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, respectively, and are incorporated by reference.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During our most recent fiscal quarter, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

97

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information regarding our directors and executive officers will appear in the proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by this reference.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information regarding executive compensation will appear in the proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by this reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters will appear in the proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by this reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions will appear in the proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by this reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information regarding principal accountant fees and services will appear in the proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by this reference.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — See Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM — See Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

(2) SCHEDULE I — CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION — See Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS — See Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

All other schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required, or the information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.

(3) EXHIBITS — See Exhibit Index attached to this annual report on Form 10-K.

98

List of Exhibits

Number	Exhibit Description
3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2002.
3.2	Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed July 16, 2004.
3.3	Certificate of Correction to the Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed July 16, 2004.
3.4	Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed February 14, 2013.
4.1	Specimen Certificate for shares of common stock of Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed November 16, 2001.
10.1	Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated August 16, 2011, by and among Vicar Operating, Inc., VCA Antech, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Vicar Operating, Inc. as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank and Swing Line Lender, Bank of America, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agents, and U.S. Bank National Association and Union Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, concerning newly acquired assets of the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed August 22, 2011.
10.2	First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit & Guaranty Agreement dated January 25, 2012, by and among Vicar Operating, Inc., VCA Antech, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Vicar Operating, Inc. as guarantors, and Wells Fargo as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank and Swing Line Lender. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed January 27, 2012.
10.3	Second Amendment to Credit & Guaranty Agreement dated April 19, 2013, by and among Vicar Operating, Inc., VCA Antech, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Vicar Operating, Inc. as guarantors, various lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank and Swing Line Lender. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed April 25, 2013.
10.4*	Employment Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2001, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Robert L. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registration statement of Vicar Operating, Inc., on Form S-4 filed February 1, 2002.
10.5*	Employment Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2001, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Arthur J. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the registration statement of Vicar Operating, Inc., on Form S-4 filed February 1, 2002.
10.6*	Employment Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2001, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Tomas W. Fuller. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the registration statement of Vicar Operating, Inc., on Form S-4 filed February 1, 2002.
10.7*	Letter Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2004, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Robert L. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 12, 2004.
10.8*	Letter Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2004, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Arthur J. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 12, 2004.
10.9*	Letter Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2004, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Tomas W. Fuller. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 12, 2004.
10.10*	VCA Antech, Inc. 2007 Annual Cash Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Registrant's proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 27, 2007.
10.11*	Post-Retirement Medical Benefits Coverage Agreement dated as of December 27, 2007, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Robert L. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 29, 2008.
10.12*	Post-Retirement Medical Benefits Coverage Agreement dated as of December 27, 2007, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Arthur J. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 29, 2008.

99

Number	Exhibit Description
10.13*	Post-Retirement Medical Benefits Coverage Agreement dated as of December 27, 2007, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Neil Tauber. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 29, 2008.
10.14*	Post-Retirement Medical Benefits Coverage Agreement dated as of December 27, 2007, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Tomas W. Fuller. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 29, 2008.
10.15*	Letter Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2008, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Neil Tauber. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed April 28, 2008.
10.16*	Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2009, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Robert L. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2010.
10.17*	Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2009, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Arthur J. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2010.
10.18*	Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2009, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Tomas W. Fuller. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2010.
10.19*	Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2010, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Robert L. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2010.
10.20*	Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2010, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Arthur J. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2010.
10.21*	Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2010, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Neil Tauber. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2010.
10.22*	Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2010, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Tomas W. Fuller. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2010.
10.23*	Consulting Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2010, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Robert L. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2010.
10.24*	Consulting Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2010, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Arthur J. Antin. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2010.
10.25*	Letter Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2011, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Josh Drake. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed August 22, 2011.
10.26*	Summary of Executive Officer Compensation.
10.27*	Summary of Board of Directors Compensation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2010.
10.28	VCA Antech, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended on May 22, 2006. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-8 filed on December 15, 2006.

100

Number	Exhibit Description
10.29	Stock Option Agreement for VCA Antech, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-8 filed on December 15, 2006.
10.30	Restricted Stock Award Agreement for VCA Antech, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-8 filed on December 15, 2006.
10.31	Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for VCA Antech, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2010.
10.32	Corporate Headquarters Lease, dated as of January 1, 1999, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Werner Wolfen, Michael Duritz, Nancy Bruch, Dorothy A. Duritz, Harvey Rosenberg and Judy Rosenberg (Landlords). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed October 15, 2001.
10.33	First Amendment to Standard Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease - Net, dated as of March 11, 1999, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Werner Wolfen, Michael Duritz, Nancy Bruch, Dorothy A. Duritz, Harvey Rosenberg and Judy Rosenberg (Landlords).
10.34	Second Amendment to Lease, dated as of January 16, 2013, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Werner Wolfen, Michael Duritz, Nancy Bruch, Dorothy A. Duritz and Judy Rosenberg (Landlords). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed May 10, 2013.
10.35	Third Amendment to Lease, dated as of December 23, 2014, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Werner Wolfen, Michael Duritz, Nancy Bruch, Dorothy A. Duritz and Judy Rosenberg (Landlords).
10.36	Corporate Headquarters Lease, dated as of June 9, 2004, by and between VCA Antech, Inc. and Martin Shephard, Trustee of the Shephard Family Trust of 1998 (Lessor). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 14, 2006.
10.37	Form of Indemnification Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed August 9, 2001.
14.1	Code of Conduct and Business Ethics of the Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 12, 2004.
21.1	Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1	Power of Attorney (included in signature page).
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 ____________________

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

101

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on February 28, 2014.

VCA Antech, Inc.
By:	/s/    TOMAS W. FULLER
	Tomas W. Fuller
	Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer,
	Vice President and Secretary

KNOWN BY ALL PERSONS THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Robert L. Antin and Tomas W. Fuller, or any one of them, their attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature		Title	Date
/s/    Robert L. Antin		Chairman of the Board, President and	February 28, 2014
Robert L. Antin	Chief Executive Officer
/s/    Tomas W. Fuller		Chief Financial Officer, Principal	February 28, 2014
Tomas W. Fuller	Accounting Officer, Vice President
		and Secretary
/s/    John M. Baumer		Director	February 28, 2014
John M. Baumer
/s/    John Heil		Director	February 28, 2014
John Heil
/s/    Frank Reddick		Director	February 28, 2014
Frank Reddick
/s/    John B. Chickering, Jr.		Director	February 28, 2014
John B. Chickering, Jr.

*By:		Director
	Attorney-in-Fact

102

EX-10.33

EXHIBIT 10.33

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

STANDARD INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL SINGLE-TENANT LEASE - NET

This First Amendment to Standard Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease - Net (“Amendment” herein) is made and entered into as of March 11,1999 by and between WERNER WOLFEN , TRUSTEE OF THE LOUIS GLASIER 1974 REVOCABLE TRUST, MICHAEL DUNITZ, NANCYBRUCH, DOROTHY A. DUNITZ, HARVEY ROSENBERG, AND JUDY ROSENBERG (“Lessor” collectively herein) and VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION (“Lessee” herein) with reference to the following facts:

A.    Lessor and Lessee entered into that certain Standard Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease - Net dated January 1, 1999 (“Lease” herein).

B.    The Lease provided that certain matters would be left for future agreement of the Parties.

C.    The Parties desire to amend the Lease as hereinafter more particularly provided.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and agreements, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

1. Description of Lessor’s Work. Paragraph 54.1 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is hereby inserted in lieu thereof:

“54.1 Description of Lessor’s Work.

54.1.1 Lessor’s Phase One Work. After all contingencies to the effectiveness of this Lease have expired or been waived, at Lessor’s sole cost and expense, Lessor shall perform only the following Alterations for Lessee (“Lessor’s Phase One Work” collectively herein):

(A)Lessor shall deliver Buildings A, B and C to Lessee in broom clean condition; and,

(B)Lessor shall demolish the non-structural improvements in Buildings A, B and C (including the presently existing men’s and women’s restrooms in Buildings A, B and C) which improvements are shown on the Demolition Plan which is attached hereto as Exhibit “B”; and,

(C)Lessor shall perform Lessor’s Phase One Work in compliance with all Applicable Requirements including, but not limited to, compliance with fire code requirements and any work necessary for the Lessor’s Phase One Work to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act or any similar Applicable Requirements pertaining to access by handicapped persons, all of which shall be accomplished without regard to Lessee’s Work. Lessee shall at Lessee's sole cost and expense cause any of Lessee’s Work to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act including but not limited to any compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act for matters which are not Lessee’s Work which are triggered by Lessee’s Work. After the Commencement Date, Lessee shall at Lessee's sole cost and expense (except as provided above) cause the Premises and any Alterations and/or Utility Installations done by Lessee and Lessee’s Work to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act; and,

(D)Lessor shall provide Lessee with information concerning the condition and specifications of the presently existing electrical system. By signing this Lease, Lessee approves such condition and specifications; and,

(E)Provide level floors throughout the Premises using the existing floor as a benchmark; and,

(F)Abate asbestos-containing material, if any, or other Hazardous Substances, if any, in the Premises in accordance with Applicable Requirements. Lessor shall have the sole right to determine whether the method employed will be removing or remediating the asbestos, taking into consideration the extent that Lessee’s Work will disturb any existing asbestos-containing materials or other Hazardous Substances; and,

(G)The presently existing fire sprinkler system shall be delivered in good working order without reference to the use for which Lessee shall use the Premises.

54.1.2 Lessor’s Phase Two Work. After all contingencies to the effectiveness of this Lease have expired or been waived, and after Lessee has delivered Lessor Plans (as defined in Paragraph 55.7 which have been approved by the City of Los Angeles and Lessor, Lessor's sole cost and expense, Lessor shall perform only the following Alterations for Lessee (“Lessor’s Phase Two Work” collectively herein); provided, however, Lessor may, but shall not be obligated to, perform the Lessor’s Phase Two Work prior to Lessee delivering to Lessor the Plans which have been approved by the City of Los Angeles and Lessor:

(A)     HVAC.

(1)    In General. Lessor shall provide information to Lessee regarding the condition and specifications of the presently existing HVAC units. By signing this Lease, Lessee approves such condition and specifications. Lessor shall deliver the HVAC units to Lessee in good operating condition as required by and subject to Paragraph 2.2 of this Lease. Lessor and Lessee shall use the same contractor for performing their respective work in connection with the HVAC system in Building A, Building B and Building C. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Lease, Lessee shall not be responsible for the capital costs of replacing such HVAC units unless the reason for such replacement was that Lessee failed to maintain the HVAC service contracts required by this Lease or failed to perform routine maintenance of such units. Lessee shall keep in force and effect at Lessee’s sole cost and expense a service and maintenance contract with respect to the HVAC units

(2)    Building A. Lessor shall install new HVAC equipment for Building A, the tonnage for which shall not exceed 57 tons. Lessee (not Lessor) shall be responsible for: (a) distribution of the HVAC within the Building A as well as condensate drains; and, (b) bringing electricity from the panel to the HVAC units for Building A. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Lease, Lessee shall provide the specific size of the units, number of units and location of said units. Lessor is not able to order nor perform such work unless and until Lessee has provided said information to Lessor.

(3)    Building B. Lessor shall provide one (1) of the presently existing 10 ton HVAC units and one (1) presently existing 7.5 ton HVAC units; both of said units are presently on Building B. Lessor shall also provide heat. Lessee (not Lessor) shall be responsible for distribution of the HVAC within Building B as well as condensate drains. Lessor shall bring electricity from the panel to the HVAC units for Building B.

(4)    Building C. Lessor shall provide one (1) of the presently existing 5 ton HVAC units and one (1) of the presently existing 10 ton units; both of said units are presently on Building C. In addition, Lessor shall relocate one (1) of the presently existing 10 ton units from Building B to Building C. In addition, Lessor shall provide a new 6 to 7 ton unit on Building C. Lessor shall also hook up the gas to provide heat to Building C. Lessee (not Lessor) shall be responsible for distribution of the HVAC within the Building C as well as condensate drains. Lessor shall bring electricity from the panel to the HVAC units for Building C; and,

(B)    Re-install or install the windows shown on the Window Plan which is attached hereto as Exhibit “C” and incorporated herein by this reference. The Window Plan shall also contain the size and specifications for such windows; and,

(C)    Remove the presently existing broadcast tower at the rear of the Premises; and,

(D)    Install a new roof on the A Building, B Building and C Building; and,

(E)    Lessor shall sandblast the interior and exterior walls and ceilings of Buildings A and B only, including the north exterior side of Building B as to which side approximately four inches of concrete shall not be removed unless Lessee, in Lessee’s sole and absolute discretion, disapproves the appearance of the north exterior side of Building B after it has been sandblasted and sealed. If Lessee disapproves such appearance, Lessor shall apply a plaster skim coat to said north exterior side of Building B; and,

(F)    Building to meet City seismic code requirements but only if mandated and required by any earthquake hazard ordinance in effect as of the Commencement Date (but not if required due to Lessee’s Work, Lessee Owned Alterations and/or Utility Installations or by the use to which Lessee will put the Premises); and,

(G)    Install rigid insulation with an R-factor of R-19, which meets current building codes on the roof of Building A, Building B and Building C; provided, however, that if Lessee wants any insulation which costs more than R-19, Lessee shall pay be increased cost; and,

(H)    Lessor to provide sewer and water to Building B. Any modifications required by Lessee’s Plans to the presently existing sewer and water lines to Building C shall be paid for and performed by Lessee; and,

(I)    Slurry coat, re-stripe and repair the parking lot area; and,

(J)    Install skylights in the front two (2) buildings; and,

(K)    Install windows where there are roll-up doors in the C Building.”

2. Exhibit “C” - Window Plan. Exhibit “C” which is attached to the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and Exhibit “C” which is attached to this Amendment is hereby substituted in lieu thereof.

3.Lessee’s Work. Paragraph 55.1 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is hereby inserted in lieu thereof:

“    55.1    Lessee’s Work. If Lessee desires any Alterations and/or Utility Installations to the Premises (“Lessee’s Work” herein), Lessee shall comply with all of the terms and provisions of this Lease including but not limited toParagraph 7 of this Lease. Lessee shall construct all of such Lessee's Work at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, except as hereinafter provided. Lessor hereby agrees to provide Lessee with an Allowance in the total amount of One Hundred Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($100,300), subject to Paragraph 54.7, so that Lessee shall perform the following as part of Lessee's Work:

55.1.1    Install new men’s and women's restrooms in Buildings A, B and C in compliance with all Applicable Requirements. The restroom fixtures and configuration shall be subject to the mutual approval of Lessor and Lessee; and,

55.1.2    Slurry coat, re-stripe and repair the parking lot area; and,

55.1.3Install skylights in the front two (2) buildings; and,

55.1.4Install windows where there are roll-up doors in the C Building as shown on the Window Plan which is attached hereto as Exhibit “C”. The Window Plan shall also contain the size and specifications for such windows.

The amount of the Allowance is based on amounts contained in Exhibit “D”. The Parties recognize that said figure is based on estimates which have not been bid out to subcontractors. The only way to determine the exact amount of any particular item is to have it bid out to subcontractors. The successful subcontractor would then sign a contract becoming contractually bound to honor the price for the particular work in question. The Lessee has an immediate need for the Premises because Lessee's existing office lease expires soon. The Parties are using said estimates, rather than figures which have been bid to subcontractors, in order to get this Lease signed in time for work to be done so Lessee may move into the Premises on or about the time its existing office lease expires. Lessee acknowledges that Lessee has had said estimates reviewed by Lessee and by its design professionals, including but not limited to architect, space planner, engineers, and contractors. Lessor shall not be liable to Lessee and the amount of the Allowance shall not be increased if said estimates are not accurate, except as hereinafter provided."

4. Exhibit “D”. Exhibit “D” which is attached to the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and Exhibit “D” which is attached to this Amendment is hereby substituted in lieu thereof.

5.Assignment and Subletting - Permitted Transfer. Paragraph 82.2 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is hereby inserted in lieu thereof:

“    82.2    Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Paragraph 12 of the Lease, Lessee shall have the right to make “Permitted Transfers” (as that term is more particularly hereinafter defined) without Lessor’s prior written consent and without payment of any Transfer Consideration; provided, however, that prior to such Permitted Transfer Lessee gives Lessor written evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lessor that the Transfer in question fulfills the definition of a Permitted Transfer together with a written representation and warranty of Lessee that the Permitted Transfer is a Permitted Transfer. Lessee shall be entitled to keep all consideration of any kind received in connection with any Permitted Transfer. In the event of a Permitted Transfer, the original Lessee named herein, shall remain primarily liable after such Permitted Transfer under this Lease for all of the obligations and payments of Rent required under this Lease. The term

“Permitted Transfer” shall mean and include only the involvement of Lessee or its assets in any transaction, or series of transactions (by way of merger, sale, acquisition, financing, transfer, leveraged buy-out or otherwise), whether or not a formal assignment or hypothecation of this Lease or Lessee's assets occurs, which does not result or will not result in a reduction of the Net Worth of Lessee below the “Permitted Transfer Net Worth” (as that term is hereinafter more particularly defined). “Permitted Transfer Net Worth” shall mean: (a) during the first twelve (12) months after the date of this Lease, the Net Worth of Lessee in the amount of Thirty Five Million Dollars ($35,000,000); and, in each twelve (12) month period thereafter during the Original Term and during any Option Period, the amount of the Permitted Transfer Net Worth for the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period multiplied by 1.03. “NetWorth of Lessee” shall mean the net worth of Lessee (excluding any guarantors) established under generally accepted accounting principles.”

6.    Assignment and Subletting - Change in Control. Paragraph 82.4 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is hereby inserted in lieu thereof:

“    82.4    Change in Control. Paragraph 12. 1(b) of the Printed Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is hereby substituted in lieu thereof:

‘(b) If the stock in Lessee (or in Lessee’s parent or successor corporation) is not publicly traded on a national stock exchange such as, by way of illustration only, NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or Pacific Stock Exchange, then a change in control of Lessee shall constitute an assignment requiring consent. The transfer, on a cumulative basis, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting control of Lessee shall constitute a change in control for this purpose.’ ”

7.     Defined Terms. Capitalized terms which are not defined in this Amendment shall have the same definitions as in the Agreement.

[The remainder of this page has intentionally been left blank.]

[Continuation of First Amendment to Standard Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease - Net made and entered into as of

March 11, 1999]

8.    Ratification. Except as provided in this Amendment, the Lease shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first mentioned above.

LESSOR:	DATED: March __, 1999.
/s/ Werner Wolfen, Trustee
WERNER WOLFEN, TRUSTEE OF THE LOUIS GLASIER 1974 REVOCABLE TRUST
/s/ Michael Dunitz
MICHAEL DUNITZ
/s/ Nancy Bruch
NANCY BRUCH
/s/ Dorothy A. Dunitz
DOROTHY A. DUNITZ
/s/ Harvey Rosenberg
HARVEY ROSENBERG
/s/ Judy Rosenberg
JUDY ROSENBERG

LESSEE:			DATED: March 11, 1999.
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
BY:	/s/ Robert L. Antin
	Its	PRESIDENT
BY:	/s/ Tomas W. Fuller
	Its	ASST. SECRETARY

Exhibit “C”

WINDOW PLAN

1.Building A.

a.    In General. Lessor shall clean the interior and exterior sides of the presently existing perimeter windows and perimeter window frames. Lessor shall replace any broken glass. If any windows have been blacked-out, Lessor will remove the blacked-out portions. If the blacked-out panes cannot be removed, Lessor will replace the glass with clear glass panes. Lessor shall not have any obligation to demolish nor to replace the presently existing interior windows.

b.    North Wall. Lessor shall clean and repair the presently existing window and door. The presently existing bathroom window in the bathroom along the north side of the building shall be enlarged and replaced to match the other presently existing windows, subject to structural engineer’s review and approval.

2.Building B.

a.    East Wall. Lessor shall clean the interior and exterior sides of the presently existing windows and window frames. Lessor shall replace any broken glass. If any windows have been blacked-out, Lessor will remove the blacked-out portions. If the blacked-out panes cannot be removed, Lessor will replace the glass with clear glass panes.

b.    West Wall.

i.    Lessor shall clean the interior and exterior sides of the presently existing window and window frame. Lessor shall replace any broken glass. If any window has been blacked-out, Lessor will remove the blacked-out portions. If the blacked-out panes cannot be removed, Lessor will replace the glass with clear glass panes.

ii.    There is a presently existing door in the west wall. If Lessee’s floor plan calls for a window to be installed where said door exists, the Lessor shall install a window and window frame where said door exists, subject to structural engineering for the building permitting same.

iii.    In lieu of restoring the northernmost window on the west wall Building B, Lessor will pay for and install a standard size, roll-up, garage door (with window glass) to fit the existing opening and fill in the area around the new door.

c.    North Wall. There are currently no windows in the north wall. Since Lessee’s plan shows no window in this wall, Lessor shall not be required to install window frames or windows where there were once windows which are presently bricked up or otherwise covered over with stucco or other building materials.

d.    South Wall. Lessor shall clean the interior and exterior sides of the presently existing perimeter windows and perimeter window frames. Lessor shall replace any broken glass. If any windows have been blacked-out, Lessor will remove the blacked-out portions. If the blacked-out panes cannot be removed, Lessor will replace the glass with clear glass panes.

3.Building C.

a.    South Wall. There are roll-up doors in the south wall of each unit of Building C. Any work in connection with removing any or all of said roll-up doors and replacing same with windows, shall be part of Lessee’s Work for which the Allowance is being furnished, as more particularly provided in Paragraph 55.1 of this Lease.

4.General.

a.    The size and materials for any new window frames and windows Lessor is obligated to install shall match as closely as possible the presently existing windows in any of the Buildings.

b.    In the event Lessor is obligated to install new window frames, the parties acknowledge that the lead time to order the window frames is approximately 6 weeks. Lessor will require at least that much time after it receives Lessee's floor

plan to order the window frames and windows and any time periods provided in this Lease for Lessor to install such new windows shall be automatically extended to incorporate said lead time.

c.    In lieu of Lessor providing any of Lessor’s Work for Building A and for Building B which is provided under this Exhibit “C”, Lessee may elect to receive an Allowance from Lessor in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000), which amount shall be in addition to the Allowance provided in Paragraph 55.1 of the Lease. In order to make this election, Lessee shall give Lessor written notice thereof on or before March 15, 1999. If Lessee fails to give such written notice within the time and in the manner provided herein, it shall be deemed that Lessee has elected not to accept said Allowance.

End of Exhibit “C”

Exhibit “D”

Computation of Allowance for Lessee’s Work

Item	Amount
Installation of new restrooms	$85,000.00
Add: 18% from profit and overhead	$15,300.00
Total Allowance	$100,300.00

End of Exhibit “D”

P R A T S / C O F F E E I N C O R P O R A T E D

1/18/99

Mr. Rick Wolfen

ROCK ASSET MANAGEMENT

9777 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 710

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

RE: Estimate.

DESCRIPTION: Olympic property.

1. DEMOLITION                                 $115,000.00

-Demolish and remove the existing improvements in the three (3) buildings, including mechanical roof equipment not in use to be discarded.

-Miscellaneous items typically not part of improvements.

2.    SAND BLASTING                            $16,200.00

-Sand blast brick wall in building #1 and building #2.

-Sand blast trusses and roof decking.

-Clean up.

3.    ROOFING                                $90,000.00

-Remove existing roof material to wood deck.

-Furnish and install 2-1/2” rigid foam board.

-Furnish and install 1/2” fiber board.

-Install 3-ply roof system.

*This roof is guaranteed for 10 years.

**Price does not include 1/2 plywood sheathing if required.

4. HVAC                                     $76,000.00

-Install new HVAC system in building #1.

-System is to be designed to accommodate new tenant.

-55-ton package is estimated.

-Building #2 design and reuse existing equipment.

-Remove equipment not needed.

3710 South Robertson Boulevard Suite #202 Culver City, California 90232-2349

(310) 559-8436 Facsimile (310) 559-7312

California State License #470092

Exhibit "D"

Mr. Rick Wolfen

Olympic Property Estimate

Page 2

5.    FLOORING                                $10,000.00

-Provide clean floor.

- Evaluate condition of floor after demolition.

-patch to level condition.

*This item will need to be discussed, an allowance has been made.

6.    REST ROOMS                                $50,000.00

-Build new restrooms in building #1 and building #2.

-Location and size to be determined.

*This is an allowance

7.    SKYLIGHTS                                $30,000.00

-Clerestory type of skylights considered for the three buildings.

-Location and size to be determined.

*This is an allowance only as we need to know structural requirements.

8.    WINDOWS                                $15,000.00

-Windows are to be cleaned.

-Broken glass replaced.

-Hardware shall be repaired and left in working condition.

-Windows removed by previous tenant shall be replaced to match existing.

9.    SPRINKLERS                                $6,500.00

-Existing sprinkler heads shall be removed and relocated under roof deck to accommodate new design.

*This is an allowance only.

Mr. Rick Wolfen

Olympic Property Estimate

Page 3

10.    PARKING LOT                                 $3,900.00

-Repair damaged areas and slurry coat surface of front parking lot (approximately 12,000 s.f.)

-Replace damaged concrete bumpers and restripe area.

Sub-total	$412,600.00
Contingency 5%	$20,630.00
Sub-total	$433,230.00
General Conditions/Overhead/Profit 20%	$86.646.00
TOTAL PROPOSAL	$519,876.00

COMMENCEMENT DATE MEMORANDUM

Lease: Standard Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease-Net dated January 1, 1999 as amended by First Amendment to Standard Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease-Net dated March 11, 1999.

Lessor: Werner Wolfen, Trustee of the Louis Glasier 1974 Revocable Trust, Michael Dunitz, Nancy Bruch, Dorothy A. Dunitz, Harvey Rosenberg and Judy Rosenberg.

Lessee:    Veterinary Centers of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Lessor and Lessee hereby confirm the following:

1.    “Commencement Date”:                    April 1, 1999.

2.     “Rent Commencement Date”:                August 1, 1999.

3.    “Expiration Date”:                    July 31, 2014.

4.    “Adjustment Dates”:                    The “Adjustment Dates” (defined in Paragraph                              52.1.3 of the Lease) shall be as follows

Months after Rent Commencement Date	Actual Date for Adjustment
19th month	February 1, 2001
37th month	August 1, 2002
55th month	February 1, 2004
73rd month .	August 1, 2005
91st month	February 1, 2007
109th month	August 1 , 2008
127th month	February 1, 2010
145th month	August 1, 2011
157th month	August 1, 2012
175th month	February 1, 2014

[Commencement Date Memorandum continued on next page]

EX-10.35

EXHIBIT 10.35

THIRD AMENDMENT TO LEASE

This Third Amendment to Lease (this “Amendment”) is made effective as of December 23, 2013 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Werner Wolfen, Trustee of the Louis Glasier 1974 Revocable Trust, Michael Dunitz, Nancy Bruch, Dorothy A. Dunitz, and Judy Rosenberg (collectively, “Lessor”) and VCA Antech, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. (“Lessee”).

A. Lessor and Lessee are parties to that certain Standard Industrial/ Commercial Single- Tenant Lease - Net dated January 1, 1999 (the “Original Lease”), as amended by that certain First Amendment to Standard Industrial/ Commercial Single-Tenant Lease - Net dated March 11, 1999 (the “First Amendment”) and that certain Second Amendment to Lease dated January 16, 2013 (the “Second Amendment,” and together with the First Amendment and the Original Lease, the “Lease”) pursuant to which Lessee leases from Lessor certain premises commonly known as 12401 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California (the “Premises”) as more particularly described in the Lease. Any capitalized terms used herein not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Lease.

B. The current term of the Lease expires July 31, 2014 (the “Expiration Date”) subject to Lessee's two (2) five-year Options as set forth in Section 53 of the Original Lease.

C. Lessor and Lessee hereby desire to amend the Lease on the terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment. The Lease, as amended hereby, shall be referred to as the “Lease”.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee hereby agree as follows:

1.Amendments to Lease Term and Option Periods.

1.1 The term of the Lease is hereby extended for a period of nine (9) months beginning August 1, 2014 and ending April 30, 2015 (the “Abbreviated Option Period”);

1.2 Except as expressly set forth herein, all terms and conditions in the Lease applicable to Option Periods shall be applicable to the Abbreviated Option Period;    

1.3 Lessee shall have the right to convert the Abbreviated Option Period into the first five-year Option Period provided to Lessee under the Lease, subject to the following conditions:

(a) Lessee must notify Lessor in writing no later than June 30, 2014, of the conversion of the Abbreviated Option Period into the first five-year Option Period;

(b) The term of the five-year period shall include the Abbreviated Option Period, such that the five-year Option Period shall be deemed to begin August 1, 2014, and end on July 31, 2019.

(c) Lessee’s right to convert the Abbreviated Option Period into the first five-year Option Period shall be expressly subject to the terms and conditions of Section 39.4 of the Original Lease.

1.4 Regardless of whether or not Lessee elects to convert the Abbreviated Option Period into the first five-year Option Period as set forth in Section 1.3 above, Lessee shall thereafter only have one single remaining five-year Option to extend the term of the Lease following the expiration of the Abbreviated Option Period or the first five-year Option Period, as applicable.

2.Other Amendments to Lease.

2.1 Notwithstanding anything in the Lease to the contrary, beginning May 1, 2014, monthly Base Rent payable by Lessee under the Lease shall be calculated by multiplying the “Building Area” (as defined in this Section 2.1) by $3.00. Notwithstanding anything in the Lease to the contrary, including without limitation the provisions of Section 50.1 of the Original Lease, the parties agree that the Building Area

shall be deemed to be 30,782 square feet for all purposes under the Lease. Lessor and Lessee hereby acknowledge and agree that the monthly Base Rent shall be calculated based upon such measurement, and that such measurement shall not be subject to any remeasurement or recalculation during the term of the Lease including any extensions;

2.2 In the event Lessee exercises its right to convert the Abbreviated Option Period into the first five-year Option Period, then beginning August 1, 2015, and on August 1 of each year during the first five-year Option Period thereafter, Base Rent shall increase by three percent (3%) over the amount of Base Rent payable immediately prior to such adjustment;

2.3 Lessor is not providing any tenant improvement allowance or other landlord contribution in connection with the amendments contemplated hereunder.

3. Effectiveness of Lease. The Lease, except as amended by this Amendment, remains unmodified and in full force and effect.

4.Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, together, shall constitute one document.

[Signature Page Follows]

LESSOR:

/s/ Werner Wolfen

Werner Wolfen, Trustee of the Louis

Glasier 1974 Revocable Trust

/s/ Michael Dunitz

Michael Dunitz

/s/ Nancy Bruch

Nancy Bruch

/s/ Dorothy A. Dunitz

Dorothy A. Dunitz

/s/ Judy Rosenberg

Judy Rosenberg

LESSEE:

VCA Antech, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

By: /s/ Robert L. Antin

Name: Robert L. Antin    

Its: CEO & President

EX-21.1

EXHIBIT 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF VCA ANTECH, INC.

The following is a list of subsidiaries of the Company as of December 31, 2013, omitting subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate, would not constitute a significant subsidiary.

NAME OF SUBSIDIARY	JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION
Vicar Operating, Inc.	Delaware
Antech Diagnostics Canada Ltd.	Alberta, Canada
Antech Diagnostics, Inc.	California
Arroyo PetCare Center, Inc.	California
Associate Veterinary Clinics (1981) Ltd.	Alberta, Canada
Pets’ Rx, Inc.	Delaware
Sound Technologies, Inc.	Delaware
VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc.	California
VCA Canada Ventures, Ltd.	British Columbia, Canada
VCA Maple Leaf, Inc.	California
VCA of New York, Inc.	Delaware
VCA Real Property Acquisition Corporation	California
Veterinary Centers of America-Texas, Inc.	Texas
Vetstreet, Inc.	California

EX-23.1

EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

VCA Antech, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos. 333-139410, 333-81614 and 333-107557) on Form S-8 and the registration statements (Nos. 333-108135 and 333-114471) on Form S-3 of VCA Antech, Inc. of our reports dated February 28, 2014, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of VCA Antech, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, and all related financial statement schedules, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, which reports appear in the December 31, 2013 annual report on Form 10-K of VCA Antech, Inc. and subsidiaries.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Los Angeles, California

February 28, 2014

EX-26.1

EXHIBIT 10.26

SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Annual Base Salaries

The executive officers of VCA Antech., Inc., are paid the following annual base salaries:

Name	Title	Base Salary
Robert L. Antin (1)	Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer	$994,000
Arthur J. Antin (1)	Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President	$633,000
Tomas W. Fuller (1)	Chief Financial Officer, Vice President & Secretary	$427,000
Neil Tauber (1)	Senior Vice President	$427,000
Josh Drake	President, Antech Diagnostics	$375,000

(1) Please refer to the employment agreements and other agreements of these executive officers, each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the other terms and conditions of their employment.

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

Certification of

Chief Executive Officer

of VCA Antech, Inc.

I, Robert L. Antin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 of VCA Antech, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: 

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the Audit Committee of the registrant's Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 28, 2014

/s/ Robert L. Antin

Robert L. Antin

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

Certification of

Chief Financial Officer

of VCA Antech, Inc.

I, Tomas W. Fuller, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 of VCA Antech, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 28, 2014

/s/ Tomas W. Fuller

Tomas W. Fuller

Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, and Vice President and Secretary

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

Certification of

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer

of VCA Antech, Inc.

This certification is provided pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and accompanies this annual report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) for the period ended December 31, 2013 of VCA Antech, Inc. (the “Issuer”).

Each of the undersigned, who are the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of VCA Antech, Inc., hereby certify that, to the best of each such officer’s knowledge:

(i) the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and

(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.

Dated:	February 28, 2014
		/s/ Robert L. Antin
		Robert L. Antin
		Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
		/s/ Tomas W. Fuller
		Tomas W. Fuller
		Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, and Vice President and Secretary

XML

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Provision for income taxes

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Federal:
Current	$	54,915		$	51,342		$	45,765
Deferred	16,150			(27,103		)	17,330
	71,065			24,239			63,095
State:
Current	11,156			9,896			10,710
Deferred	3,017			(5,081		)	2,222
	14,173			4,815			12,932
Foreign:
Current	3,318			4,035			—
Deferred	(1,103		)	(1,214		)	—
	2,215			2,821			—
	$	87,453		$	31,875		$	76,027

Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities)

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Current deferred income tax assets:
Accounts receivable	$	6,598		$	6,085
State taxes	4,333			2,471
Other liabilities and reserves	14,298			9,716
Other assets	7,042			7,119
Inventory	1,547			1,275
Valuation allowance	(4,911		)	(4,087		)
Total current deferred income tax assets	$	28,907		$	22,579
Non-current deferred income tax (liabilities) assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	28,111		$	29,805
Write-down of assets	—			1,222
Start-up costs	—			335
Other assets	27,287			24,955
Intangible assets	(126,451		)	(107,112		)
Property and equipment	(26,393		)	(22,649		)
Share-based compensation	6,226			7,377
Valuation allowance	(8,879		)	(9,779		)
Total non-current deferred income tax (liabilities), net	$	(100,099	)	$	(75,846	)

Reconciliation of provision for income taxes to the amount computed at the Federal statutory rate

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State taxes, net of Federal benefit	4.2		4.1		4.9
Goodwill impairment	—		4.6		4.3
AVC gain	—		(2.6	)	—
Foreign rate differential	(0.4	)	(1.1	)	—
Miscellaneous	0.1		1.2		0.1
	38.9	%	41.2	%	44.3	%

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Client lists [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	$ 22.9
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives		6 years	3 years

XML

The Company (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013 province Laboratory Hospital State
The Company (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of hospitals operated	609
Number of states in which hospitals are operated	41
Number of Canadian Provinces	4
Number of states in which the company operate a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory network	50
Number of laboratories operated	56

XML

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$ 123,600,000	$ 99,501,000	$ 21,310,000
Goodwill	1,291,231,000	1,291,231,000	1,237,607,000	1,330,917,000
Carrying value and fair value of long-term debt
Variable-rate long-term debt, Carrying Value	592,422,000	592,422,000		556,914,000
Variable-rate long-term debt, Fair Value	592,422,000	592,422,000		556,914,000
Vetstreet [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges		22,900,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		99,500,000
Goodwill	8,800,000	8,800,000
Long-Lived Assets	$ 28,700,000	$ 28,700,000

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Aggregate amortization expense
Aggregate amortization expense	$ 20,934	$ 22,731	$ 13,391
Estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets
2012	21,342
2013	18,999
2014	15,689
2015	9,321
2016	5,649
Thereafter	15,671
Other intangible assets, net	$ 86,671	$ 94,823

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items]
Minimum Period Of Lease Including Renewal Options Operating Leases	5 years
Maximum Period Of Lease Including Renewal Options Operating Leases	35 years
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Additional payment if specified financial criteria are attained based on contractual arrangement	$ 2,200,000	$ 1,500,000
Total rent expense	67,600,000	66,000,000	55,200,000
Total rental income	1,049,000	955,000	920,000
Purchase commitments of products and services through 2016	13,500,000
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Earnout Payment	2,600,000
Total outstanding holdbacks	886,000.000	2,200,000
Amount paid to sellers for unused portion of holdbacks	$ 2,400,000	$ 2,700,000	$ 1,800,000

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Dividends Share Repurchases (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013
Dividends and Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	$ 125.0

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Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]

Dec. 31, 2013

AVC [Member]

Dec. 31, 2012

BrightHeart [Member]

Dec. 31, 2012

Vetstreet [Member]

Dec. 31, 2013

Think Pets Inc [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Animal hospitals:
Acquisitions (1), excluding AVC in 2012 and BrightHeart in 2011	20		35		18
AVC (1)	—		44		—
BrightHeart(1)	—		—		9
New facilities	—		1		—
Acquisitions relocated into our existing animal hospitals	(2	)	(6	)	(3	)
Sold, closed or merged	(18	)	(6	)	(11	)
Total	—		68		13
Laboratories:
Acquisitions	1		1		1
Acquisitions relocated into our existing laboratories	—		(1	)	—
New facilities	—		2		2
Total	1		2		3

⁽¹⁾  Associate Veterinary Clinics (1981) LTD ("AVC") was acquired on January 31, 2012 and BrightHeart Veterinary Centers (“BrightHeart") was acquired on July 11, 2011.

Summary of purchase price and allocation of the purchase price

Animal Hospital and Laboratory Acquisitions, excluding AVC and BrightHeart

The following table summarizes the aggregate consideration, including acquisition costs, paid by us for our acquired animal hospitals and laboratories, excluding AVC and BrightHeart, and the allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Consideration:
Cash	$	52,688		$	78,629		$	34,243
Assumed debt	2,360			—			—
Holdback	1,092			2,425			1,500
Contingent consideration	1,285			1,306			79
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	57,425		$	82,360		$	35,822
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	14,779		$	3,515		$	1,237
Identifiable intangible assets	15,001			14,718			6,414
Goodwill(1)	45,665			64,253			28,171
Notes payable and other liabilities assumed	(11,084		)	(126		)	—
	$	64,361		$	82,360		$	35,822
Noncontrolling interest	(6,936		)	—			—
Total	$	57,425		$	82,360		$	35,822

⁽¹⁾  We expect that $15.0 million, $60.4 million and $26.4 million of the goodwill recorded in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, will be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

AVC Investment

On January 31, 2012, we increased our investment in AVC by approximately CDN $81 million (approximately US $81 million) becoming the sole non-veterinarian shareholder of AVC. At the time of the additional investment, AVC operated 44 animal hospitals in three Canadian provinces, offering services ranging from primary care, to specialty referral services and 24-hour emergency care. This investment and planned additional investments in AVC will facilitate our continued expansion in the Canadian market. At the time of the investment, AVC had annualized revenue of approximately CDN $95 million (approximately US $95 million). Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of AVC since January 31, 2012.

4. Acquisitions, continued

The following table summarizes the total investment and final allocation of the investment in AVC (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	48,819
Assumed debt	25,915
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	74,734
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	11,694
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	25,170
Goodwill(2)	79,707
Other liabilities assumed	(21,826		)
	$	94,745
Noncontrolling interest	(8,161		)
Fair value of pre-existing investment in AVC	(11,850		)
Total	$	74,734

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, trademark and covenants-not-to-compete. The weighted- average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately six years. The customer-related intangible assets weighted-average amortization period is approximately five years. The trademark weighted-average amortization period is approximately ten years. The covenants-not-to-compete weighted-average amortization period is approximately three years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $362,000 of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

BrightHeart Acquisition

On July 11, 2011, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of BrightHeart for approximately $50 million in cash. BrightHeart operates nine animal hospitals, eight of which focus on the delivery of specialty and emergency medicine. The acquisition increased our level of market recognition in areas where we had an existing market presence. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of BrightHeart since July 11, 2011.

4. Acquisitions, continued

The following table summarizes the final purchase price and the final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	23,490
Assumed debt	26,048
Contingent consideration	481
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	50,019
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	18,921
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	8,796
Goodwill(2)	39,806
Other liabilities assumed	(17,504		)
Total	$	50,019

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets primarily include customer relationships. The weighted average amortization period for both the total identifiable intangible assets and the customer-related intangible assets is approximately five years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $38.8 million of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

On August 9, 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interests of Vetstreet, a provider of online and printed communications, professional education and marketing solutions to the veterinary community. The acquisition of Vetstreet expanded the breadth of our product offerings to the veterinary community. We acquired Vetstreet for a final purchase price of $146.4 million, net of cash acquired. The following table summarizes the final purchase price and final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

4. Acquisitions, continued

Consideration:
Cash	$	146,420
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	8,565
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	45,810
Goodwill(2)	96,149
Other liabilities assumed	(4,104		)
Total	$	146,420

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, technology, trademarks, non-compete agreements and contracts. The weighted average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately nine years, for the customer-related intangible assets approximately ten years, for the technology and trademarks approximately seven years, for the non-compete agreements approximately two years and for the contracts approximately eight years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that all of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Our Vetstreet business is reported within our “All Other” category in our segment disclosures combined with our Medical Technology operating segment.

4. Acquisitions, continued

Other Acquisitions

2012 ThinkPets, Inc. ("ThinkPets")

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets for $21 million , payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. We intend to combine the operations of ThinkPets with our Vetstreet business, which we expect will improve the products and services it offers to clients of both companies. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of ThinkPets since February 1, 2012.

The following table summarizes the total purchase price and the final allocation of the investment in ThinkPets (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	7,468
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	10,500
Holdback	1,050
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	19,018
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	2,093
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	7,221
Goodwill(2)	12,155
Other liabilities assumed	(2,451		)
Total	$	19,018

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, contracts and trademarks. The weighted average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately eight years, for the customer-related intangible assets approximately nine years, for the technology approximately four years, and for the trademarks approximately two years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $821,000 of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Business Acquisition Pro Forma Financial information

ro Forma Information (unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma financial information for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 presents, (i) the actual results of operations of our 2013 acquisitions and (ii) the combined results of operations for our company and our 2013 acquisitions as if those acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2012, the first day of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The pro forma financial information considers principally (i) our company’s financial results, (ii) the unaudited historical financial results of our acquisitions, and (iii) select pro forma adjustments to the historical financial results of our acquisitions. Such pro forma adjustments represent principally estimates of (i) the impact of the hypothetical amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) the recognition of fair value adjustments relating to tangible assets, (iii) adjustments reflecting the new capital structure, including additional financing or repayments of debt as part of the acquisitions and (iv) the tax effects of the acquisitions and related adjustments as if those acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what our consolidated results of operations would have been had we completed the acquisition at the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period.

In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information does not attempt to project the future results of operations of our company:

	Revenue	Net Income
	(Unaudited)
(In thousands):
Actual from acquisition date to December 31, 2013	12,615	1,350
2013 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013(1)	1,837,872	138,621
2012 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012(1)	1,819,693	47,385

⁽¹⁾  2013 supplemental pro forma net income was adjusted to exclude $869,000 of acquisition-related costs incurred in 2013. 2012 supplemental pro forma net income was adjusted to include these charges.

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Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Federal:
Current	$ 54,915	$ 51,342	$ 45,765
Deferred	16,150	(27,103)	17,330
Federal, Total	71,065	24,239	63,095
State:
Current	11,156	9,896	10,710
Deferred	3,017	(5,081)	2,222
State, Total	14,173	4,815	12,932
Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit)	3,318	4,035	0
Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,103)	(1,214)	0
Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	2,215	2,821	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total	$ 87,453	$ 31,875	$ 76,027

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Share-Based Compensation (Details 2)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected dividends	0.00%	0.00%
Risk-free rate	0.62%	0.79%
Expected term	4 years 146 days	4 years 110 days
Expected volatility	34.10%	39.00%

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Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Total assets	$ 2,237,781	$ 2,091,580	$ 1,995,368
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock	89	88
Additional paid-in capital	384,721	390,359
Accumulated earnings	928,720	791,209
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(6,190)	1,847
Total stockholders' equity	1,307,340	1,183,503
Parent [Member]
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries	1,208,080	1,078,606
Intercompany receivable	99,260	104,897
Total assets	1,307,340	1,183,503
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock	89	88
Additional paid-in capital	384,721	390,359
Accumulated earnings	928,720	791,209
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(6,190)	1,847
Total stockholders' equity	$ 1,307,340	$ 1,183,503

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

province

State

Hospital

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

$ 77,409,000

$ 76,227,000

$ 56,988,000

Depreciation expense adjustment

3,100,000

3,100,000

Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance

16,546,000

17,702,000

16,546,000

14,978,000

Unrecognized Tax Benefit

We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]

Number of animal hospitals where management services are provided

176

Number of states in which management services are provided to animal hospitals

15

Maturity period of cash equivalents

less than 90 days

Goodwill impairment

123,600,000

99,501,000

21,310,000

Likelihood of benefit amount being realized upon settlement in order to be recognized as a tax benefit

greater than 50%

Accumulated amortization of deferred financing cost

1,300,000

1,200,000

1,300,000

Total marketing and advertising expense included in direct costs

25,400,000

25,300,000

25,200,000

Total marketing and advertising expenses included in selling, general and administrative expense

5,900,000

7,600,000

3,200,000

Accrued warranty costs

70,000

73,000

70,000

Common shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share

0

1.0

1.2

Recognition of previously deferred revenue resulting from error correction

4,000,000

Recognition of previously deferred costs in Medical Technology segment resulting from error correction

3,800,000

Minimum [Member]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

note receivable interest rate

2.60%

Maximum [Member]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

note receivable interest rate

8.00%

Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

56,500,000

53,500,000

43,600,000

Notes Receivable [Member]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance

$ 0

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Share-Based Compensation Share-Based Compensation (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period				0	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period					(38,000)	(83,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value				$ 22.90	$ 18.94
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Restricted Stock Units Granted	292,478	307,989	0		292,000	308,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value					$ 27.78	$ 18.94
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number					562,000	308,000	83,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value					$ 23.54	$ 18.94	$ 22.90
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeitures, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value					$ 0.00	$ 0.00

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Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Unaudited quarterly results
Revenue, Net	$ 435,453	$ 464,055	$ 465,255	$ 438,606	$ 418,192	$ 433,613	$ 438,372	$ 409,465	$ 1,803,369	$ 1,699,642	$ 1,485,361
Gross profit	87,486	110,677	114,294	96,923	81,807	99,181	100,607	93,379	409,380	374,974	338,457
Operating income	45,923	72,039	75,701	55,351	(83,553)	61,186	61,498	53,805	249,014	92,936	195,653
Net income	25,728	41,911	43,460	31,823	(57,025)	35,642	35,778	36,321	142,922	50,716	99,860
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$ 24,717	$ 40,647	$ 41,662	$ 30,485	$ (58,051)	$ 34,037	$ 34,320	$ 35,245	$ 137,511	$ 45,551	$ 95,405
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.46	$ 0.47	$ 0.34	$ (0.66)	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.41	$ 1.55	$ 0.52	$ 1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.45	$ 0.46	$ 0.34	$ (0.66)	$ 0.38	$ 0.39	$ 0.40	$ 1.53	$ 0.51	$ 1.09

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Income Taxes (Details 2)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of provision for income taxes to the amount computed at the Federal statutory rate
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State taxes, net of Federal benefit	4.20%	4.10%	4.90%
Goodwill impairment	0.00%	4.60%	4.30%
Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation Business Combination Gain	0.00%	(2.60%)	0.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential	(0.40%)	(1.10%)	0.00%
Miscellaneous	0.10%	1.20%	0.10%
Effective income tax rate, Total	38.90%	41.20%	44.30%

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Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventory Adjustments	$ 2,800,000
diluted earnings per share, inventory adjustment	$ 0.02
Vacant Property Value Adjustment		1,800,000
diluted earnings per share, vacant property adjustment		$ 0.01
Accrued lease cost adjustment		2,000,000
diluted earnings per share, accrued lease costs		$ 0.01
Selected quarterly financial data (Textual) [Abstract]
Diluted per share impact of business combination gain					$ 0.06
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain					5,700,000	0	5,719,000	0
Diluted per share impact of depreciation expense adjustment				$ 0.02
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt						0	0	(2,764,000)
Depreciation expense adjustment				3,100,000			3,100,000
Diluted per share impact of non-cash, goodwill impairment charge			$ 0.90
Goodwill impairment			123,600,000				99,501,000	21,310,000
Asset Impairment Charges						$ 0

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Future minimum lease payments on operating leases
2012	$ 69,353
2013	68,975
2014	68,466
2015	67,338
2016	65,946
Thereafter	733,705
Total	$ 1,073,783

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Share-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of stock option activity
Stock Options, Beginning balance	2,181,000	2,181,000	3,776,000
Stock Options, Granted		0	462,000
Stock Options, Exercised		(1,043,450)	(966,000)
Stock option, Forfeited/Canceled		(71,000)	(52,000)
Stock Options, Ending balance		1,031,119	2,181,000
Stock Options, Exercisable		294,422
Stock Options, Vested and Expected to Vest		1,014,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Beginning balance	$ 17.20	$ 17.20	$ 16.92
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Granted		$ 0.00	$ 18.94
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercised		$ 16.73	$ 9.87
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period		(36,000)	(1,039,000)
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price		$ 30.70	$ 23.68
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Forfeited/Canceled		$ 16.06	$ 18.91
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Ending balance		$ 17.28	$ 17.20
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercisable		$ 17.06
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Vested and expected to vest		$ 17.30
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years), Outstanding	3 years 256 days	3 years 256 days	3 years 37 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years), Exercisable		3 years 256 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years), Vested and expected to vest		3 years 256 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding		$ 14,516	$ 8,399
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable		4,212
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested and expected to vest		$ 14,246

XML

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

Quarterly Results

The following table sets forth selected unaudited quarterly results for the eight quarters commencing January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

	2013 Quarter Ended								2012 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31		Sept. 30(1)		Jun. 30		Mar. 31(2)		Dec. 31(3)			Sept. 30		Jun. 30(4)		Mar. 31(5)
Revenue	$	435,453	$	464,055	$	465,255	$	438,606	$	418,192		$	433,613	$	438,372	$	409,465
Gross profit	$	87,486	$	110,677	$	114,294	$	96,923	$	81,807		$	99,181	$	100,607	$	93,379
Operating income (loss)	$	45,923	$	72,039	$	75,701	$	55,351	$	(83,553	)	$	61,186	$	61,498	$	53,805
Net income (loss)	$	25,728	$	41,911	$	43,460	$	31,823	$	(57,025	)	$	35,642	$	35,778	$	36,321
Net income (loss) attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	24,717	$	40,647	$	41,662	$	30,485	$	(58,051	)	$	34,037	$	34,320	$	35,245
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.28	$	0.46	$	0.47	$	0.34	$	(0.66	)	$	0.39	$	0.39	$	0.41
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.28	$	0.45	$	0.46	$	0.34	$	(0.66	)	$	0.38	$	0.39	$	0.40

⁽¹⁾  Included in the third quarter is a non-cash physical inventory adjustment in our Animal Hospital business segment which resulted in a $2.8 million credit adjustment to direct costs, or $0.02 per diluted share.

⁽²⁾  Included in the first quarter we recorded a write-down to net realizable value of $1.8 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, related to a vacant property that was held for sale and accrued costs totaling $2.0 million, or $0.01 per diluted share related to a vacant leased property.

⁽³⁾  Included in 2012 fourth quarter operating income is a $123.6 million, non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charge, or $0.90 per diluted share. The charge is primarily related to our Vetstreet reporting unit, see Note 5, Goodwill.

⁽⁴⁾  Included in 2012 second quarter gross profit is a $3.1 million depreciation expense adjustment, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to acquired capital leases.

⁽⁵⁾  Included in 2012 first quarter net income is a $5.7 million business combination adjustment gain, or $0.06 per diluted share, related to the acquisition of AVC, see Note 4, Acquisitions.

16. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited), continued

Although not readily detectable because of the impact of acquisitions, our operations are subject to seasonal fluctuation. In particular, our Animal Hospital and Laboratory revenue historically has been greater in the second and third quarters than in the first and fourth quarters.

The demand for our veterinary services is significantly higher during warmer months because pets spend a greater amount of time outdoors, where they are more likely to be injured and are more susceptible to disease and parasites. In addition, use of veterinary services may be affected by levels of infestation of fleas, heartworms and ticks, and the number of daylight hours. A substantial portion of our costs for our veterinary services are fixed and do not vary with the level of demand. Consequently, our operating income and operating margins generally have been higher for the second and third quarters than that experienced in the first and fourth quarters.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 1)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member] | Buildings and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Minimum [Member] | Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	Lesser of lease term
Minimum [Member] | Furniture and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Minimum [Member] | Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	3
Minimum [Member] | Equipment held under capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Maximum [Member] | Buildings and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	40
Maximum [Member] | Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	15
Maximum [Member] | Furniture and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	7
Maximum [Member] | Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	10
Maximum [Member] | Equipment held under capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	10
Lease Agreements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	1 year
Lease Agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	18 years
Customer Lists [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	3 years
Contractual Rights [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	6 years
Trademarks [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	2 years
Trademarks [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	10 years
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	5 years
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	7 years
Non Compete Agreements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	2 years
Non Compete Agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	25 years
Animal Hospital [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	5 years
Laboratory [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	20 years
Laboratory [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	25 years
All Other [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	3 years
All Other [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment estimated useful lives
Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives	10 years

XML

Lines of Business (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

The table below lists our revenue by geographic area for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	2013		2012		2011
Revenue*
United States	$	1,671,170	$	1,589,588	$	1,474,294
Canada	132,199		110,054		11,067
Total	$	1,803,369	$	1,699,642	$	1,485,361

*Revenues are determined based on the location of the customer. Long-lived assets were not disclosed, as the amounts attributable to the Canadian operations are immaterial, as compared to total consolidated long-lived assets.

Lines of Business

The following is a summary of certain financial data for each of our segments (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital		Laboratory			All Other			Corporate			Eliminations			Total
2013
External revenue	$	1,417,908	$	290,583		$	91,686		$	—		$	3,192		$	1,803,369
Intercompany revenue	—		54,248			21,054			—			(75,302		)	—
Total revenue	1,417,908		344,831			112,740			—			(72,110		)	1,803,369
Direct costs	1,208,781		180,952			74,139			—			(69,883		)	1,393,989
Gross profit	209,127		163,879			38,601			—			(2,227		)	409,380
Selling, general and administrative expense	34,133		31,915			32,941			58,922			—			157,911
Operating income (loss) before charges	174,994		131,964			5,660			(58,922		)	(2,227		)	251,469
Net loss (gain) on sale of assets	2,853		(77		)	7			(328		)	—			2,455
Operating income (loss)	$	172,141	$	132,041		$	5,653		$	(58,594	)	$	(2,227	)	$	249,014
Depreciation and amortization	$	57,748	$	10,251		$	7,909		$	3,284		$	(1,783	)	$	77,409
Capital expenditures	$	54,116	$	11,148		$	4,288		$	5,908		$	(2,190	)	$	73,270
Total assets at December 31, 2013	$	1,854,609	$	247,591		$	96,245		$	77,153		$	(37,817	)	$	2,237,781
2012
External revenue	$	1,331,314	$	275,406		$	90,616		$	—		$	2,306		$	1,699,642
Intercompany revenue	—		52,395			22,344			—			(74,739		)	—
Total revenue	1,331,314		327,801			112,960			—			(72,433		)	1,699,642
Direct costs	1,142,203		176,040			74,253			—			(67,828		)	1,324,668
Gross profit	189,111		151,761			38,707			—			(4,605		)	374,974
Selling, general and administrative expense	30,826		29,660			37,879			58,790			—			157,155
Operating income (loss) before charges	158,285		122,101			828			(58,790		)	(4,605		)	217,819
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	1,216		—			122,357			—			—			123,573
Net loss (gain) on sale of assets	713		(14		)	717			(106		)	—			1,310
Operating income (loss)	$	156,356	$	122,115		$	(122,246	)	$	(58,684	)	$	(4,605	)	$	92,936
Depreciation and amortization	$	54,835	$	10,141		$	9,582		$	3,198		$	(1,529	)	$	76,227
Capital expenditures	$	55,651	$	8,334		$	5,921		$	9,695		$	(2,794	)	$	76,807
Total assets at December 31, 2012	$	1,648,578	$	244,551		$	98,159		$	127,963		$	(27,671	)	$	2,091,580
2011
External revenue	$	1,150,120	$	272,468		$	61,736		$	—		$	1,037		$	1,485,361
Intercompany revenue	—		44,329			18,694			—			(63,023		)	—
Total revenue	1,150,120		316,797			80,430			—			(61,986		)	1,485,361
Direct costs	970,310		173,007			59,459			—			(55,872		)	1,146,904
Gross profit	179,810		143,790			20,971			—			(6,114		)	338,457
Selling, general and administrative expense	24,342		27,864			19,136			49,770			—			121,112
Operating income (loss) before charges	155,468		115,926			1,835			(49,770		)	(6,114		)	217,345
Goodwill impairment	—		—			21,310			—			—			21,310
Net loss on sale of assets	327		21			27			7			—			382
Operating income (loss)	$	155,141	$	115,905		$	(19,502	)	$	(49,777	)	$	(6,114	)	$	195,653
Depreciation and amortization	$	40,319	$	10,111		$	5,022		$	2,853		$	(1,317	)	$	56,988
Capital expenditures	$	45,753	$	6,082		$	6,448		$	7,299		$	(2,097	)	$	63,485
Total assets at December 31, 2011	$	1,439,103	$	232,423		$	202,187		$	142,793		$	(21,138	)	$	1,995,368

XML

Share-Based Compensation (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value			$ 1,800,000	$ 3,100,000	$ 2,200,000
Number of shares available for issuance			7,789,532
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant			1,713,732
Tax Benefit from Stock Options Exercised			4,500,000	3,900,000	2,200,000
Stock option granted			0	462,229	894,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised			11,400,000	9,900,000	5,600,000
Shares of non-vested common stock granted			211,462
Number of restricted stock units granted			292,478	307,989	0
Estimated weighted average grant date fair value of stock options				$ 5.48	$ 5.21
Minimum [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum vesting period of outstanding options and non vested shares			3 years
Expiration period of outstanding options			P5Y
Maximum [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum vesting period of outstanding options and non vested shares			6 years
Expiration period of outstanding options			P10Y
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			$ 27.78	$ 18.94
Weighted-average period of recognition of unrecognized compensation cost	3 years 172 days
Compensation cost charged against income			3,500,000.0	1,200,000.0
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options			9,200,000
Income tax benefit recognized during the period		468,000	1,400,000.0
Number of restricted stock units granted			292,000	308,000
Shares of non-vested common stock to vest in equal installments		308,000	562,000	308,000	83,000
Nonvested Stock Awards [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			$ 29.77	$ 19.23
Weighted-average period of recognition of unrecognized compensation cost			2 years 274 days
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options			16,600,000
Compensation cost charged against income			8,800,000	11,400,000	9,100,000
Income tax benefit recognized during the period			3,400,000	4,400,000	3,600,000
Shares of non-vested common stock granted			211,000	400,000
Shares of non-vested common stock to vest in equal installments		1,451,000	1,183,000	1,451,000	1,516,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted-average period of recognition of unrecognized compensation cost			2 years 73 days
Compensation cost charged against income			1,800,000	1,500,000	1,600,000
Income tax benefit recognized during the period			687,000	603,000	636,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Stock Options			$ 3,400,000
Executive Officer [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum vesting period of outstanding options and non vested shares			4 years
Employees - Non-Vested Shares 1 [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Shares of non-vested common stock granted			199,410
Board of Directors [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum vesting period of outstanding options and non vested shares			3 years
Shares of non-vested common stock granted			12,052
Board of Directors [Member] | Nonvested Stock Awards [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum vesting period of outstanding options and non vested shares			3 years
Employees - Non Vested Shares Two Member
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum vesting period of outstanding options and non vested shares			4 years
AVC [Member]
Share-Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life			6 years

XML

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Schedule of Unvested Restricted Stock Units Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

	Units		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Unit
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	83		$	22.90
Granted	308		$	18.94
Vested/Paid out	(83	)	$	22.90
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	308		$	18.94
Granted	292		$	27.78
Vested/Paid out	(38	)	$	18.94
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	562		$	23.54

Summary of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) activity

Restricted Stock Unit Activity

Pursuant to the terms of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, we have also granted performance-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") to our executive officers representing the right to receive one share of common stock. These RSUs will be earned upon achievement of the applicable performance criteria during the performance periods and in accordance with the specific equity performance award agreement they were issued from. Assuming achievement of the required performance conditions and continued service through each vesting date, these awards will generally vest in equal annual installments over four years from the date of grant.

A summary of our RSU award activities for 2013 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average fair value per share):

	Units		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Unit
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	83		$	22.90
Granted	308		$	18.94
Vested/Paid out	(83	)	$	22.90
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	308		$	18.94
Granted	292		$	27.78
Vested/Paid out	(38	)	$	18.94
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	562		$	23.54

Total compensation cost charged against income, related to RSU awards was $3.5 million and $1.2 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $1.4 million and $468,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively. There was no compensation cost charged against income related to RSUs in 2011. As of December 31, 2013, there was $9.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to our RSU awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of over 3.5 years.

There were 292,478 and 307,989 performance based RSUs granted to our executive officers in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The RSUs earned upon achievement of performance goals are further subject to vesting where an aggregate of 25% of RSUs earned will vest in four equal annual installments starting on the applicable anniversary date. There were no RSUs granted in 2011.

Summary of options outstanding

Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Exercise Price	Outstanding	Weighted-Avg. Remaining Contractual         Life	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price	Exercisable	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price
$15.98 - $18.94	1,031,119	3.7	$17.28	294,422	$17.06

Assumptions used to determine fair value of options granted

	For Years Ended
	December 31,
	2012	2011
Expected volatility(1)	34.1%	39.0%
Expected dividends	—%	—%
Expected term(2)	4.4 years	4.3 years
Risk-free rate(3)	0.62%	0.79%

Summary of nonvested stock activity

Non-Vested Shares

Additionally, under our 2006 Plan, we have issued non-vested stock awards in our common stock to certain employees and members of our Board of Directors. The outstanding non-vested stock awards to employees and executives generally vest in three or four equal annual installments starting with the first anniversary of the grant date. The non-vested stock awards to members of our Board of Directors generally vest in equal annual installments over three years from the date of grant. A summary of our non-vested stock activity for 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average fair value per share):

	Shares		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	1,516		$	20.76
Granted	400		$	19.23
Vested	(457	)	$	22.17
Forfeited/Canceled	(8	)	$	19.03
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	1,451		$	19.90
Granted	211		$	29.77
Vested	(477	)	$	20.18
Forfeited/Canceled	(2	)	$	18.78
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,183		$	21.56

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

During 2013, we granted 211,462 shares of non-vested common stock. Of these awards, 199,410 shares were granted to employees and 12,052 shares were granted to our non-employee directors. The awards to employees will vest in equal annual installments over four years. The shares awarded to our non-employee directors will vest in three equal annual installments.

Total compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards was $8.8 million, $11.4 million and $9.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $3.4 million, $4.4 million and $3.6 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was $16.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to these non-vested shares that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.

Summary of stock option activity

Stock Option Activity

A summary of our stock option activity for 2013 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price and weighted-average remaining contractual term):

	Stock Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	3,776		$	16.92
Granted	462		$	18.94
Exercised	(966	)	$	9.87
Expired	(1,039	)	$	23.68
Forfeited/Canceled	(52	)	$	18.91
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	2,181		$	17.20	3.1	$	8,399
Granted	—		$	—
Exercised	(1,043	)	$	16.73
Expired	(36	)	$	30.70
Forfeited/Canceled	(71	)	$	16.06
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,031		$	17.28	3.7	$	14,516
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	294		$	17.06	3.7	$	4,212
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013.	1,014		$	17.30	3.7	$	14,246

There were no stock options granted during 2013. We granted 462,229 and 894,000 stock options during 2012 and 2011, respectively, which had an estimated weighted-average grant date fair value of approximately $5.48 and $5.21, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of our stock options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $11.4 million, $9.9 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized on options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $4.5 million, $3.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.8 million, $3.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about the options outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts and the weighted-average remaining contractual life):

Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Exercise Price	Outstanding	Weighted-Avg. Remaining Contractual         Life	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price	Exercisable	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price
$15.98 - $18.94	1,031,119	3.7	$17.28	294,422	$17.06

At December 31, 2013, there was $3.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to our stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of over 2.2 years.

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

Calculation of Fair Value

The fair value of our options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We amortize the fair value of our options on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. There were no options granted during 2013. The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the fair value of those options granted during 2012 and 2011:

	For Years Ended
	December 31,
	2012	2011
Expected volatility(1)	34.1%	39.0%
Expected dividends	—%	—%
Expected term(2)	4.4 years	4.3 years
Risk-free rate(3)	0.62%	0.79%

⁽¹⁾  We estimated the volatility of our common stock on the date of grant based on both historical and implied volatility.

⁽²⁾  The expected term represents the period of time that we expect options to be outstanding. We estimated the expected term based upon the weighted-average of our historical experience.

⁽³⁾  The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield in effect at the time of option grant on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with equivalent remaining terms.

We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures. We recognize share-based compensation only for those awards that we expect to vest.

The compensation cost charged against income for stock options was $1.8 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $687,000, $603,000 and $636,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		$ 1,291,231	$ 1,237,607
Goodwill acquired		45,665	156,115
Goodwill impairment	(123,600)		(99,501)	(21,310)
Other		(288)	(4,288)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,291,231	1,330,917	1,291,231	1,237,607
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	120,811	(120,811)	120,811	21,310
Animal Hospital [Member]
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		1,177,348	1,035,401
Goodwill acquired		45,615	143,926
Goodwill impairment			0	0
Other		(731)	(3,260)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,177,348	1,216,581	1,177,348	1,035,401
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	0	0	0	0
Laboratory [Member]
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		96,861	96,810
Goodwill acquired		50	34
Goodwill impairment			0	0
Other		0	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	96,861	96,871	96,861	96,810
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	0	0	0	0
All Other [Member]
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		17,022	105,396
Goodwill acquired		0	12,155
Goodwill impairment			(99,501)	(21,310)
Other		443	(1,028)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	17,022	17,465	17,022	105,396
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	$ 120,811	$ (120,811)	$ 120,811	$ 21,310

XML

Long Term Obligations (Details 2)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time
Leverage Ratio	1.81
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans	1.75%
Level One [Member]
Summary of Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time
Leverage Ratio	≥ 2.50:1.00
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans	2.25%
Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %	0.50%
Level Two [Member]
Summary of Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time
Leverage Ratio	< 2.50:1.00 and ≥ 1.75:1.00
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans	1.75%
Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %	0.375%
Level Three [Member]
Summary of Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time
Leverage Ratio	< 1.75:1.00 and ≥ 1.00:1.00
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans	1.50%
Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %	0.25%
Level Four [Member]
Summary of Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time
Leverage Ratio	< 1.00:1.00
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans	1.25%
Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %	0.20%

XML

Acquisitions (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	$ 52,688,000	$ 134,916,000	$ 205,794,000
Revenue	12,615
Net Income	1,350
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	45,665,000	156,115,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	57,425,000	82,360,000	35,822,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue	1,837,872	1,819,693
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)	138,621	47,385
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid To Bondholders	2,360,000	0	0
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, at Fair Value	(2,200,000)	(1,500,000)
Vetstreet [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid			146,420,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets			8,565,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill			45,810,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			96,149,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Liabilities Assumed			(4,104,000)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net			146,420,000
BrightHeart [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid			23,490,000
Fair value of total consideration transferred			50,019,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets			18,921,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill			8,796,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			39,806,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Liabilities Assumed			(17,504,000)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net			50,019,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid To Bondholders			26,048,000
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, at Fair Value			481,000
Think Pets Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid		7,468,000
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Value Assigned		10,500,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid For Hold Backs		1,050,000
Fair value of total consideration transferred		19,018,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets		2,093,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill		7,221,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		12,155,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Liabilities Assumed		(2,451,000)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net		$ 19,018,000

XML

Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Fee received for advisory services	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares		473,389
Percentage Of Outstanding Preferred Stock Purchased	39.30%
Related Party Transactions, Pro Rata Share in Revolving Credit Agreement	471,600
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interest of Chief Operating Officer		54.00%
Chief Operating Officer [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interest of Chief Operating Officer		8.00%
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Business acquisition, total cost	375,000	551,000	1,600,000
VetSource [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Business acquisition, total cost	13,000,000	13,100,000	28,200,000
Related Party Transactions, Amount Available in Revolving Credit Agreement	1,200,000
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Noncurrent	275,000
Think Pets Inc [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		21,000,000
Percentage of Company acquired		100.00%
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Value Assigned		$ 10,500,000

XML

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	$ 17,233,000	$ 9,533,000	$ 3,999,000
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	3,446,000	2,868,000	1,708,000
Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation		8,216,000	2,673,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	0	(10,500,000)	0
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred	21,668,000	0	0
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	(1,285,000)	(1,306,000)	(560,000)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	142,922,000	50,716,000	99,860,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Asset Impairment Charges	0
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment		123,573,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		99,501,000	21,310,000
Depreciation and amortization	77,409,000	76,227,000	56,988,000
Amortization of debt issue costs	(1,245,000)	(1,278,000)	(1,445,000)
Provision for uncollectible accounts	7,360,000	6,396,000	6,742,000
Debt retirement costs	0	0	2,764,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain	0	(5,719,000)	0
Net loss on sale of assets	2,455,000	1,310,000	382,000
Share-based compensation	14,104,000	14,087,000	10,773,000
Deferred income taxes	(18,064,000)	33,398,000	(19,552,000)
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	(3,446,000)	(2,868,000)	(1,708,000)
Other	(377,000)	(584,000)	(637,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	11,048,000	(1,640,000)	14,107,000
Inventory, prepaid expenses and other assets	(7,134,000)	(10,329,000)	(12,297,000)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(557,000)	(3,640,000)	5,415,000
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	(6,502,000)	(7,181,000)	(4,583,000)
Income taxes	(7,759,000)	(4,103,000)	(816,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	256,372,000	237,253,000	191,051,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Real estate acquired in connection with business acquisitions	(5,328,000)	(5,337,000)	(1,900,000)
Property and equipment additions	(73,270,000)	(76,807,000)	(63,485,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	(7,096,000)	(115,000)	(465,000)
Other	(2,541,000)	(2,313,000)	(596,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(126,731,000)	(219,258,000)	(271,310,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(41,129,000)	(60,775,000)	(98,990,000)
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	50,000,000	150,000,000
Payment of financing costs	0	(122,000)	(2,944,000)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	0	50,000,000	50,000,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility	0	(50,000,000)	(50,000,000)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners	(4,866,000)	(4,481,000)	(3,277,000)
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	(6,581,000)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	17,233,000	9,533,000	3,999,000
Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options	3,446,000	2,868,000	1,708,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	39,367,000	8,159,000	2,673,000
Other	749,000	2,378,000	819,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(72,013,000)	(13,514,000)	47,004,000
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,034,000)	303,000	(220,000)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	56,594,000	4,784,000	(33,475,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	68,435,000	63,651,000	97,126,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	125,029,000	68,435,000	63,651,000
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	16,422,000	15,407,000	15,088,000
Income taxes paid	61,825,000	61,481,000	55,660,000
Detail of acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired	75,445,000	220,526,000	254,781,000
Holdbacks	(1,092,000)	(3,475,000)	(1,500,000)
Liabilities assumed	11,084,000	24,403,000	22,677,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Fair Value	0	(11,850,000)	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	(3,336,000)	8,161,000	0
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(52,688,000)	(134,916,000)	(205,794,000)
payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired and prior year acquisition adjustments			203,996,000
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Debt Assumed	(2,360,000)	(25,915,000)	(26,048,000)
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]
Detail of acquisitions:
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	(6,936,000)	0	0
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$ (52,688,000)	$ (78,629,000)	$ (34,243,000)

XML

Acquisitions (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares		473,389
Cash payment made for acquisitions	$ 5,328,000	$ 5,337,000	$ 1,900,000
Vetstreet [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of Company acquired			100.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			146,400,000
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	9 years
Bright Heart [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount of goodwill deducted for income tax purpose	38,800,000
Percentage of Company acquired			100.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			50,000,000
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	5 years
Number of Businesses Acquired	0	0	9
Pro forma [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs	869,000.000
Think Pets Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount of goodwill deducted for income tax purpose	821,000
Percentage of Company acquired		100.00%
Business Acquisition, Cash and equity interest issued		21,000,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		21,000,000
business acquisition cash including acquired cash		10,500,000
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	8 years
AVC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price in CAD		81,000,000
Amount of goodwill deducted for income tax purpose	362,000
US Annualized Revenue At Acquisition		95,000,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		81,000,000
Annualized Revenue At Acquisition CAD		95,000,000
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	6 years
Number of Businesses Acquired	0	44	0
Acquisitions Excluding Bright Heart And Pet DRx [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount of goodwill deducted for income tax purpose	$ 15,000,000	$ 60,400,000	$ 26,400,000
Number of Businesses Acquired	20	35	18
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | Vetstreet [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	2 years
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | AVC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	3 years
Contracts [Member] | Vetstreet [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	8 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Vetstreet [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	10 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Think Pets Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	9 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | AVC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	5 years
Technology And Trademarks [Member] | Vetstreet [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	7 years
Technology And Trademarks [Member] | Think Pets Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	4 years
Trademarks [Member] | Think Pets Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	2 years
Trademarks [Member] | AVC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period of identifiable intangible assets	10 years

XML

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Unaudited quarterly results

	2013 Quarter Ended								2012 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31		Sept. 30(1)		Jun. 30		Mar. 31(2)		Dec. 31(3)			Sept. 30		Jun. 30(4)		Mar. 31(5)
Revenue	$	435,453	$	464,055	$	465,255	$	438,606	$	418,192		$	433,613	$	438,372	$	409,465
Gross profit	$	87,486	$	110,677	$	114,294	$	96,923	$	81,807		$	99,181	$	100,607	$	93,379
Operating income (loss)	$	45,923	$	72,039	$	75,701	$	55,351	$	(83,553	)	$	61,186	$	61,498	$	53,805
Net income (loss)	$	25,728	$	41,911	$	43,460	$	31,823	$	(57,025	)	$	35,642	$	35,778	$	36,321
Net income (loss) attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	24,717	$	40,647	$	41,662	$	30,485	$	(58,051	)	$	34,037	$	34,320	$	35,245
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.28	$	0.46	$	0.47	$	0.34	$	(0.66	)	$	0.39	$	0.39	$	0.41
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.28	$	0.45	$	0.46	$	0.34	$	(0.66	)	$	0.38	$	0.39	$	0.40

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Signigicant Accounting Policies (Policies) (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

k.    Other Intangible Assets

In addition to goodwill, we have amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012, as follows (in thousands):

	2013							2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	109,842	$	(41,895	)	$	67,947	$	110,404	$	(36,605	)	$	73,799
Covenants not-to-compete	8,843		(4,661		)	4,182		12,707		(7,357		)	5,350
Favorable lease asset	7,458		(4,373		)	3,085		7,228		(3,866		)	3,362
Technology	5,240		(3,015		)	2,225		6,588		(4,179		)	2,409
Trademarks	13,115		(4,194		)	8,921		12,494		(3,001		)	9,493
Contracts	608		(305		)	303		956		(570		)	386
Client lists	50		(42		)	8		50		(26		)	24
Total	$	145,156	$	(58,485	)	$	86,671	$	150,427	$	(55,604	)	$	94,823

The recoverability of the carrying values of all intangible assets with finite lives is re-evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate an asset's value may be impaired. We perform a quarterly review of identified intangible assets to determine if facts and circumstances indicate that the useful life is shorter than we had originally estimated or that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If such facts and circumstances exist, we assess recoverability by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their remaining lives against their respective carrying amounts. Impairments, if any, are based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, we accelerate the rate of amortization and amortize the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life.

Our October 31, 2012 impairment test indicated that we had a $22.9 million intangible asset impairment related to non-contractual customer relationships, technology, trademarks and contracts related to Vetstreet. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the intangible assets was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment as mentioned above. The fair values of the impaired intangibles were calculated utilizing valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. The impairment is included under the caption "Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets" in our consolidated income statement.

Amortization is recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Non-contractual hospital customer relationships	5 years
Non-contractual laboratory customer relationships	20 to 25 years
All other non-contractual customer relationships	3 to 10 years
Covenants not-to-compete	2 to 25 years
Favorable lease asset	1 to 18 years
Technology	5 to 7 years
Trademarks	2 to 10 years
Contracts	6 years
Client lists	3 years

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

The following table summarizes our aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Aggregate amortization expense	$	20,934	$	22,731	$	13,391

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter at December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	21,342
2015	18,999
2016	15,689
2017	9,321
2018	5,649
Thereafter	15,671
Total	$	86,671

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes. In accordance with the guidance, we record deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, which represent taxes to be recovered or settled in the future. We adjust our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to reflect changes in tax rates or other statutory tax provisions. We make judgments in assessing our ability to realize future benefits from our deferred tax assets, which include operating and capital loss carryforwards. As such, we have a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets for the portion we believe will not be realized. Changes in tax rates or other statutory provisions are recognized in the period the change occurs. We also assess differences between our probable tax bases and the as-filed tax bases of certain assets and liabilities.

We account for unrecognized tax benefits also in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes which prescribe a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are financial instruments issued in the normal course of business and are not market traded. The amounts recorded approximate fair value and are shown net of valuation allowances. There were no valuation allowances recorded as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The notes bear interest at rates varying from 2.6% to 8.0% per annum.

Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the related debt. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing costs was $1.2 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk [Policy Text Block]

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

o.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk

The carrying amount reported in our consolidated balance sheets for cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Our policy is to place our cash and cash equivalents in highly-rated financial instruments and institutions,which we believe mitigates our credit risk. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the diversity of our customer base. We routinely review the collection of our accounts receivable and maintain an allowance for potential credit losses, but historically have not experienced any significant losses related to an individual customer or groups of customers in a geographic area.

Our operations depend, in some cases, on the ability of single source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers, to deliver products and supplies on a timely basis. We have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, shortages of or difficulties in acquiring products and supplies in the quantities and of the quality needed. Shortages in the availability of products and supplies for an extended period of time could have a negative impact on our operating results.

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Marketing and Advertising

Marketing and advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total marketing and advertising expense included in direct costs amounted to $25.4 million, $25.3 million and $25.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total marketing and advertising expense included in selling, general and administrative expense amounted to $5.9 million, $7.6 million and $3.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Insurance and Self Insurance [Policy Text Block]

.    Insurance and Self-Insurance

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance with high-retention or high-deductible provisions for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, property insurance and our group health insurance benefits.

Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated based on an undiscounted basis by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Guarantees, Indemnifications and Warranties Policies [Policy Text Block]

.    Product Warranties

We accrue the cost of basic product warranties included with the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and our ultrasound imaging equipment at the time we sell these units to our customers. Our warranty costs are primarily for our assistance in helping our customers resolve issues with the warranties they have with the original equipment manufacturers. We estimate our warranty costs based on historical warranty claim experience. Accrued warranty costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $73,000 and $70,000, respectively.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Calculation of Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	88,621		87,681		86,606
Effect of dilutive potential common stock:
Stock options	305		479		560
Non-vested shares and units	737		511		228
Diluted	89,663		88,671		87,394
Basic earnings per common share	$	1.55	$	0.52	$	1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.53	$	0.51	$	1.09

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, potential common shares of 43,300, 1.0 million and 1.2 million, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Share-Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation in accordance with FASB’s accounting guidance on stock compensation. Accordingly, we measure the cost of share-based payments based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments and recognize the cost over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period.

Our company’s share-based employee compensation plans are described further in Note 10, Share-Based Compensation.

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Acquisitions

We account for acquisitions based upon the provisions of the FASB’s accounting guidance on business combinations. Accordingly, acquisitions are accounted for at fair value under the acquisition method of accounting. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred; noncontrolling interests are valued at fair value at the acquisition date; and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date generally affect income tax expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications [Policy Text Block]

During 2011, we recorded an immaterial out-of-period adjustment related to our deferred revenue and related deferred cost for certain equipment sales governed by revised accounting guidance related to multiple element arrangements. The correction resulted in the recognition of $4.0 million of previously deferred revenue and $3.8 million of previously deferred costs in our Medical Technology operating segment that should have been recognized in prior periods.

We have analyzed the impact of each of these items and concluded that none of the adjustments would be material to any individual period, taking into account the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). In accordance with the relevant guidance, we evaluated the materiality of errors from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Based on such evaluation, we concluded that correcting the errors would not have had a material impact on any individual prior period presented in the 2013 Form 10-K nor would it have affected the trend of financial results. As provided by SAB 108, the error correction did not require the restatement of the consolidated financial statements for prior periods.

Lease, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Operating Leases

Most of our facilities are under operating leases. The minimum lease payments, including predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent, are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term as defined in the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to leases. The lease term includes contractual renewal options that are reasonably assured based on significant leasehold improvements acquired. Any leasehold improvement incentives paid to us by a landlord are recorded as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). In accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to goodwill and other intangibles, we have determined that we have four reporting units: Animal Hospital, Laboratory, Medical Technology and Vetstreet. Annually, or sooner if circumstances indicate an impairment may exist, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units and compare their estimated fair value against the net book value of those reporting units to determine if our goodwill is impaired.

The recognition and measurement of a goodwill impairment loss involves either a qualitative assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit or a more detailed quantitative two-step process. We have not presently elected to rely on a qualitative assessment, accordingly we measure our goodwill for impairment based upon the two-step process. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit’s assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is required to be recorded as an impairment.

We recorded impairment charges in 2012 related to our Vetstreet reporting unit and in 2011 related to our Medical Technology reporting unit. For additional information related to goodwill impairment, see Note 5, Goodwill.

Our estimated reporting unit fair values are calculated using valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, the weighted-average cost of capital, and risk premiums. Consumer spending habits for our business are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. We believe these factors have and may continue to impact consumer spending for our products and services. Deterioration in consumer spending habits for our business would negatively impact the value of our reporting units and could result in additional goodwill impairment. Any potential impairment charge could be material and would be reflected as expense in our consolidated statements of income. We provide no assurance that forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and discount

rates will not deteriorate in the near term. We will continue to analyze changes to these assumptions in future periods. We adopted the end of October as our annual impairment testing date. Our October 31, 2013 impairment test indicated that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount and therefore step two of the two-step impairment test was unnecessary. Our October 31, 2012 impairment test, however, indicated that we had a $99.5 million goodwill impairment related to our Vetstreet reporting unit. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment. The Vetstreet and Medical Technology reporting units are each included in the “All Other” category of our disclosures in Note 15, Lines of Business.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Foreign Currency Disclosure [Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate at the balance sheet date, whereas revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the reporting period.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and realized transaction gains and losses are recorded in the results of operations.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

.    Revenue and Related Cost Recognition

General

We recognize revenue, barring other facts, when the following revenue recognition criteria are met:

• persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists;

• delivery of goods has occurred or services have been rendered;

• the sales price or fee is fixed or determinable; and

• collectability is reasonably assured.

Revenue is reported net of sales discounts and excludes sales taxes.

We generally recognize revenue and costs as follows:

• For non-contractual services provided by our business units, at the time services are rendered.

• For the sale of merchandise, when delivery of the goods has occurred.

• For services under defined support and maintenance contracts, on a straight-line basis over the contractual period, recognizing costs as incurred; these services include, but are not limited to, technical support, when-and-if available product updates for software and extended warranty coverage.

• For the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and ultrasound imaging equipment sold on a standalone basis, at the time title and risk of loss transfers to the customer, which is generally upon delivery or upon installation and customer acceptance if required per the sale arrangement.

• For the sale of reminder cards, when shipment has occurred.

Multiple Element Arrangements

We account for revenue for certain bundled products and services as follows:

• Sales arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method, whereby any discount in the arrangement is allocated proportionally to each deliverable on the basis of each deliverable’s selling price. The selling price for each deliverable is based on

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence (“TPE”) if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (“ESP”) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. For elements where VSOE is available, VSOE of fair value is based on the price for those products and services when sold separately by us or the price established by management with the relevant authority. TPE of selling price is the price of our, or any of our competitor’s, largely interchangeable products or services in stand-alone sales to similarly situated customers. ESP is generally calculated based upon multiple factors that vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. Key external and internal factors considered in developing the ESPs include prices charged by us for similar arrangements, historical pricing practices and the nature of the product. In addition, when developing ESPs, we may consider other factors as appropriate, including the pricing of competitive alternatives if they exist, and product-specific business objectives. We exercise significant judgment to evaluate the relevant facts and circumstances in calculating the ESP of the deliverables in our arrangements.

Digital radiography (“DR”) imaging equipment and all of its related computer equipment, our proprietary software and services in addition to any other computers sold with our proprietary software are accounted for under the FASB’s accounting guidance related to multiple-deliverable transactions.

We do not currently have VSOE for our DR imaging equipment as units are not sold on a stand-alone basis without the related support packages. As this is also true for our competitors, TPE of selling price is also unavailable. We therefore use the ESP to allocate the arrangement consideration related to our DR imaging equipment.

In domestic markets we have VSOE for our post-contract customer support (“PCS”) as the support package is sold on a stand-alone basis. Our PCS agreements normally include a warranty on the receptor plate and technical support on the software elements. In foreign markets however, we do not have VSOE or TPE on the receptor plate warranties, accordingly we use the ESP.

In certain transactions we sell our ultrasound imaging equipment and related services together with our DR imaging equipment and related services. In these transactions, we account for each item under its respective literature and allocate revenue based upon the relative selling prices.

In certain transactions with pharmaceutical companies we sell subscriptions to our portal products together with other marketing related services. We account for these arrangements under the multiple-deliverable accounting, mentioned above; with the arrangement consideration allocated using the relative selling prices.

Deferred Revenue

We defer revenue for certain transactions as follows:

• We defer revenue for pre-paid services such as our consulting, marketing, education services or PCS and recognize that revenue on a straight-line basis over the contract period or as the services are provided depending on the nature of the service.

• We defer revenue for PCS provided as part of the purchase of equipment and software and recognize that revenue on a straight-line basis over the PCS period.

• We defer revenue when we lack persuasive evidence of a sales agreement and recognize that revenue only when that evidence exists.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

As a result of these policies, we have deferred revenue and costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisting of the following (in thousands):

	2013		2012
Deferred equipment revenue(1)	$	811	$	735
Deferred fixed-priced support or maintenance contract revenue	3,854		3,383
Other deferred revenue(2)	6,578		6,828
Total deferred revenue	11,243		10,946
Less current portion included in other accrued liabilities	11,190		10,811
Long-term portion of deferred revenue included in other liabilities	$	53	$	135
Current portion of deferred costs included in prepaid expenses and other	$	502	$	709
Long-term portion of deferred costs included in other assets	698		1,099
Total deferred costs(3)	$	1,200	$	1,808

⁽¹⁾  Represents amounts received for sales arrangements that include equipment, hardware, software and PCS. See above discussion for the accounting guidance pertaining to revenue recognition — multiple-deliverable transactions.

⁽²⁾  Represents amounts received in advance for services.

⁽³⁾  Represents costs related to warranties, equipment and hardware included in deferred equipment revenue.

Customer Loyalty Programs

We record reductions to revenue related to customer incentive programs, which include various forms of cash consideration. Incentives may be provided in the form of credits, coupons or loans and are earned by clients upon entering into an agreement to purchase products or services in future periods while maintaining defined volume purchase or utilization levels. These incentives are capitalized and recognized as a reduction to revenue over the term of the customer agreement. We monitor customer purchases over the term of their agreement to assess the realizability of our capitalized customer acquisition costs. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we did not have any impaired customer acquisition cost

Principles of Consolidation

a.    Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), and include the accounts of our parent company, all majority-owned subsidiaries where we have control, certain fifty-percent owned subsidiaries where we possess the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies and certain veterinary medical groups to which we provide services as discussed below. We have eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances in consolidation.

We provide management and other administrative services to certain veterinary practices in states and Canadian provinces with laws, rules and regulations which require that veterinary medical practices be owned by licensed veterinarians and that corporations which are not owned by licensed veterinarians refrain from providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. In these states and Canadian provinces, we provide management and other administrative services to the veterinary medical practices. At December 31, 2013, we operated 176 animal hospitals in 15 of these states and 52 animal hospitals in four Canadian provinces, under management agreements with these veterinary practices. Pursuant to the management agreements, the veterinary medical practices are each solely responsible for all aspects of the practice of veterinary medicine, as defined by their respective state or province.

We have determined that the veterinary medical practices are variable interest entities as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and that we have a variable interest in those entities through our management agreements. We also determined that our variable interests in these veterinary medical practices, in aggregate with the variable interests held by our related parties, provide us with the power to direct the activities of these practices that most significantly impact their economic performance and obligate us to absorb losses that could potentially be significant or the right to receive benefits from the veterinary medical practices that could potentially be significant. Based on these determinations, we consolidated the veterinary medical practices in our consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

.    Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements and our reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates. Amounts subject to significant judgment and estimates include, but are not limited to, collectability of receivables, cash flows used in the evaluation of impairment of goodwill, cash flows used in the evaluation of impairment of long-lived assets, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, estimated redemption value of mandatorily redeemable partnership interests and inputs used for computing stock-based compensation.

Direct Costs

.    Direct Costs

Direct costs are comprised of all service and product costs, including but not limited to, salaries of veterinarians, technicians and other hospital-based, laboratory-based personnel, and content-development personnel, transportation and delivery costs, facilities rent, occupancy costs, supply costs, depreciation and amortization, certain marketing and promotional expenses and costs of goods sold.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

.    Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider only highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than 90 days to be cash equivalents. We maintain balances in our bank accounts that are in excess of FDIC insured levels.

Inventory

.    Inventory

Our inventory consists primarily of finished goods and includes imaging equipment, pet food and products and medical supplies. It is valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method and is adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments and market conditions.

Property and Equipment

.    Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Equipment held under capital leases is recorded at the lower of the present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the equipment at the beginning of the lease term.

We develop and implement new software to be used internally, or enhance our existing internal software. We develop the software using our own employees and/or outside consultants. We capitalize software development costs when application development begins, it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used as intended. We expense costs associated with preliminary project stage activities, training, maintenance and all other post implementation stage activities as we incur these costs. The capitalized costs are amortized over the expected useful lives of the software. Costs related to upgrades or enhancements of existing systems are capitalized if the modifications result in additional functionality.

Depreciation and amortization are recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements	5 to 40 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or 15 years
Furniture and equipment	3 to 10 years
Software	3 to 10 years
Equipment held under capital leases	5 to 10 years

Depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of property under capital leases, in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $56.5 million, $53.5 million and $43.6 million, respectively.

Property and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of (in thousands):

	2013			2012
Land	$	58,545		$	56,162
Building and improvements	142,099			137,614
Leasehold improvements	176,487			140,944
Furniture and equipment	272,820			243,429
Software	42,524			32,676
Buildings held under capital leases	59,555			30,550
Equipment held under capital leases	835			849
Construction in progress	9,999			35,683
Total property and equipment	762,864			677,907
Less — accumulated depreciation and amortization	(314,498		)	(274,463		)
Total property and equipment, net	$	448,366		$	403,444

Accumulated amortization on buildings and equipment held under capital leases amounted to $13.7 million and $10.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Operating Leases

.    Operating Leases

Most of our facilities are under operating leases. The minimum lease payments, including predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent, are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term as defined in the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to leases. The lease term includes contractual renewal options that are reasonably assured based on significant leasehold improvements acquired. Any leasehold improvement incentives paid to us by a landlord are recorded as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). In accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to goodwill and other intangibles, we have determined that we have four reporting units: Animal Hospital, Laboratory, Medical Technology and Vetstreet. Annually, or sooner if circumstances indicate an impairment may exist, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units and compare their estimated fair value against the net book value of those reporting units to determine if our goodwill is impaired.

The recognition and measurement of a goodwill impairment loss involves either a qualitative assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit or a more detailed quantitative two-step process. We have not presently elected to rely on a qualitative assessment, accordingly we measure our goodwill for impairment based upon the two-step process. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit’s assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is required to be recorded as an impairment.

We recorded impairment charges in 2012 related to our Vetstreet reporting unit and in 2011 related to our Medical Technology reporting unit. For additional information related to goodwill impairment, see Note 5, Goodwill.

Our estimated reporting unit fair values are calculated using valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, the weighted-average cost of capital, and risk premiums. Consumer spending habits for our business are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. We believe these factors have and may continue to impact consumer spending for our products and services. Deterioration in consumer spending habits for our business would negatively impact the value of our reporting units and could result in additional goodwill impairment. Any potential impairment charge could be material and would be reflected as expense in our consolidated statements of income. We provide no assurance that forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and discount

rates will not deteriorate in the near term. We will continue to analyze changes to these assumptions in future periods. We adopted the end of October as our annual impairment testing date. Our October 31, 2013 impairment test indicated that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount and therefore step two of the two-step impairment test was unnecessary. Our October 31, 2012 impairment test, however, indicated that we had a $99.5 million goodwill impairment related to our Vetstreet reporting unit. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment. The Vetstreet and Medical Technology reporting units are each included in the “All Other” category of our disclosures in Note 15, Lines of Business.

Other Intangible Assets

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

k.    Other Intangible Assets

In addition to goodwill, we have amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012, as follows (in thousands):

	2013							2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	109,842	$	(41,895	)	$	67,947	$	110,404	$	(36,605	)	$	73,799
Covenants not-to-compete	8,843		(4,661		)	4,182		12,707		(7,357		)	5,350
Favorable lease asset	7,458		(4,373		)	3,085		7,228		(3,866		)	3,362
Technology	5,240		(3,015		)	2,225		6,588		(4,179		)	2,409
Trademarks	13,115		(4,194		)	8,921		12,494		(3,001		)	9,493
Contracts	608		(305		)	303		956		(570		)	386
Client lists	50		(42		)	8		50		(26		)	24
Total	$	145,156	$	(58,485	)	$	86,671	$	150,427	$	(55,604	)	$	94,823

The recoverability of the carrying values of all intangible assets with finite lives is re-evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate an asset's value may be impaired. We perform a quarterly review of identified intangible assets to determine if facts and circumstances indicate that the useful life is shorter than we had originally estimated or that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If such facts and circumstances exist, we assess recoverability by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their remaining lives against their respective carrying amounts. Impairments, if any, are based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, we accelerate the rate of amortization and amortize the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life.

Our October 31, 2012 impairment test indicated that we had a $22.9 million intangible asset impairment related to non-contractual customer relationships, technology, trademarks and contracts related to Vetstreet. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the intangible assets was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment as mentioned above. The fair values of the impaired intangibles were calculated utilizing valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. The impairment is included under the caption "Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets" in our consolidated income statement.

Amortization is recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Non-contractual hospital customer relationships	5 years
Non-contractual laboratory customer relationships	20 to 25 years
All other non-contractual customer relationships	3 to 10 years
Covenants not-to-compete	2 to 25 years
Favorable lease asset	1 to 18 years
Technology	5 to 7 years
Trademarks	2 to 10 years
Contracts	6 years
Client lists	3 years

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

The following table summarizes our aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Aggregate amortization expense	$	20,934	$	22,731	$	13,391

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter at December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	21,342
2015	18,999
2016	15,689
2017	9,321
2018	5,649
Thereafter	15,671
Total	$	86,671

Income Taxes

.    Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes. In accordance with the guidance, we record deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, which represent taxes to be recovered or settled in the future. We adjust our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to reflect changes in tax rates or other statutory tax provisions. We make judgments in assessing our ability to realize future benefits from our deferred tax assets, which include operating and capital loss carryforwards. As such, we have a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets for the portion we believe will not be realized. Changes in tax rates or other statutory provisions are recognized in the period the change occurs. We also assess differences between our probable tax bases and the as-filed tax bases of certain assets and liabilities.

We account for unrecognized tax benefits also in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes which prescribe a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Notes Receivable

.    Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are financial instruments issued in the normal course of business and are not market traded. The amounts recorded approximate fair value and are shown net of valuation allowances. There were no valuation allowances recorded as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The notes bear interest at rates varying from 2.6% to 8.0% per annum.

Deferred Financing Costs

.    Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the related debt. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing costs was $1.2 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

o.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk

The carrying amount reported in our consolidated balance sheets for cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Our policy is to place our cash and cash equivalents in highly-rated financial instruments and institutions,which we believe mitigates our credit risk. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the diversity of our customer base. We routinely review the collection of our accounts receivable and maintain an allowance for potential credit losses, but historically have not experienced any significant losses related to an individual customer or groups of customers in a geographic area.

Our operations depend, in some cases, on the ability of single source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers, to deliver products and supplies on a timely basis. We have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, shortages of or difficulties in acquiring products and supplies in the quantities and of the quality needed. Shortages in the availability of products and supplies for an extended period of time could have a negative impact on our operating results.

Marketing and Advertising

.    Marketing and Advertising

Marketing and advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total marketing and advertising expense included in direct costs amounted to $25.4 million, $25.3 million and $25.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total marketing and advertising expense included in selling, general and administrative expense amounted to $5.9 million, $7.6 million and $3.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Insurance and Self-Insurance

.    Insurance and Self-Insurance

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance with high-retention or high-deductible provisions for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, property insurance and our group health insurance benefits.

Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated based on an undiscounted basis by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.

Product Warranties

.    Product Warranties

We accrue the cost of basic product warranties included with the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and our ultrasound imaging equipment at the time we sell these units to our customers. Our warranty costs are primarily for our assistance in helping our customers resolve issues with the warranties they have with the original equipment manufacturers. We estimate our warranty costs based on historical warranty claim experience. Accrued warranty costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $73,000 and $70,000, respectively.

Calculation of Earnings per Share

.    Calculation of Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	88,621		87,681		86,606
Effect of dilutive potential common stock:
Stock options	305		479		560
Non-vested shares and units	737		511		228
Diluted	89,663		88,671		87,394
Basic earnings per common share	$	1.55	$	0.52	$	1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.53	$	0.51	$	1.09

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, potential common shares of 43,300, 1.0 million and 1.2 million, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

Share-Based Compensation

.    Share-Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation in accordance with FASB’s accounting guidance on stock compensation. Accordingly, we measure the cost of share-based payments based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments and recognize the cost over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period.

Our company’s share-based employee compensation plans are described further in Note 10, Share-Based Compensation.

Acquisitions

.    Acquisitions

We account for acquisitions based upon the provisions of the FASB’s accounting guidance on business combinations. Accordingly, acquisitions are accounted for at fair value under the acquisition method of accounting. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred; noncontrolling interests are valued at fair value at the acquisition date; and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date generally affect income tax expense.

Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]

   Litigation

We are party to various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. We closely monitor these claims and lawsuits and frequently consult with our legal counsel to determine whether they may, when resolved, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations and accrue and/or disclose loss contingencies as appropriate.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Reclassifications/Corrections

During 2011, we recorded an immaterial out-of-period adjustment related to our deferred revenue and related deferred cost for certain equipment sales governed by revised accounting guidance related to multiple element arrangements. The correction resulted in the recognition of $4.0 million of previously deferred revenue and $3.8 million of previously deferred costs in our Medical Technology operating segment that should have been recognized in prior periods.

We have analyzed the impact of each of these items and concluded that none of the adjustments would be material to any individual period, taking into account the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). In accordance with the relevant guidance, we evaluated the materiality of errors from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Based on such evaluation, we concluded that correcting the errors would not have had a material impact on any individual prior period presented in the 2013 Form 10-K nor would it have affected the trend of financial results. As provided by SAB 108, the error correction did not require the restatement of the consolidated financial statements for prior periods.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$ 24,717	$ 40,647	$ 41,662	$ 30,485	$ (58,051)	$ 34,037	$ 34,320	$ 35,245	$ 137,511	$ 45,551	$ 95,405
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic									88,621	87,681	86,606
Effect of dilutive potential common stock:
Stock options									305	479	560
Nonvested shares									737	511	228
Diluted									89,663	88,671	87,394
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.46	$ 0.47	$ 0.34	$ (0.66)	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.41	$ 1.55	$ 0.52	$ 1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.45	$ 0.46	$ 0.34	$ (0.66)	$ 0.38	$ 0.39	$ 0.40	$ 1.53	$ 0.51	$ 1.09

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Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]

valuation and qualifying accounts [Table Text Block]

			Additions
	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Charged to Other Accounts		Write-offs			Other(1)		Balance at End of Period
Year ended December 31, 2013
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	16,546	$	7,360	$	—	$	(6,325	)	$	121	$	17,702
Year ended December 31, 2012
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	14,978	$	6,396	$	—	$	(5,134	)	$	306	$	16,546
Year ended December 31, 2011
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	13,801	$	6,742	$	—	$	(6,178	)	$	613	$	14,978

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Noncontrolling Interests Mandatorily Redeemable Partnership Interests (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Mandatorily Noncontrolling Partnership Interests [Abstract]

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 discounted cash flow technique, both of which are used as an approximation of fair value. The discounted cash flow inputs used to determine the redemption value are level 3 and include forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and the weighted average cost of capital. We recognize changes in the obligation as an interest cost in the consolidated income statement.

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Lines of Business Lines of Business (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Our reportable segments are Animal Hospital and Laboratory. Our Animal Hospital segment provides veterinary services for companion animals and sells related retail and pharmaceutical products. Our Laboratory segment provides diagnostic laboratory testing services for veterinarians, both associated with our animal hospitals and those independent of us. Our other operating segments included in “All Other” in the following tables are our medical technology business, which sells digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment, related computer hardware, software and ancillary services to the veterinary market and our Vetstreet business, which provides online and printed communications, professional education, marketing solutions to the veterinary community and an ecommerce platform for independent animal hospitals. These operating segments do not meet the quantitative requirements for reportable segments. Our operating segments are strategic business units that have different services, products and/or functions. The segments are managed separately because each is a distinct and different business venture with unique challenges, risks and rewards. We also operate a corporate office that provides general and administrative support services for our other segments.

The accounting policies of our segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. We evaluate the performance of our segments based

on gross profit and operating income. For purposes of reviewing the operating performance of our segments, all intercompany sales and purchases are generally accounted for as if they were transactions with independent third parties at current market prices.

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Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Redemption value change, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	$ 1,233	$ 962
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	2,003	1,555
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 44

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Maturity Period Of Cash Equivalents

less than 90 days

Deferred revenue and costs

As a result of these policies, we have deferred revenue and costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisting of the following (in thousands):

	2013		2012
Deferred equipment revenue(1)	$	811	$	735
Deferred fixed-priced support or maintenance contract revenue	3,854		3,383
Other deferred revenue(2)	6,578		6,828
Total deferred revenue	11,243		10,946
Less current portion included in other accrued liabilities	11,190		10,811
Long-term portion of deferred revenue included in other liabilities	$	53	$	135
Current portion of deferred costs included in prepaid expenses and other	$	502	$	709
Long-term portion of deferred costs included in other assets	698		1,099
Total deferred costs(3)	$	1,200	$	1,808

⁽¹⁾  Represents amounts received for sales arrangements that include equipment, hardware, software and PCS. See above discussion for the accounting guidance pertaining to revenue recognition — multiple-deliverable transactions.

⁽²⁾  Represents amounts received in advance for services.

⁽³⁾  Represents costs related to warranties, equipment and hardware included in deferred equipment revenue.

Property and equipment estimated useful lives

Depreciation and amortization are recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements	5 to 40 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or 15 years
Furniture and equipment	3 to 10 years
Software	3 to 10 years
Equipment held under capital leases	5 to 10 years

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of (in thousands):

	2013			2012
Land	$	58,545		$	56,162
Building and improvements	142,099			137,614
Leasehold improvements	176,487			140,944
Furniture and equipment	272,820			243,429
Software	42,524			32,676
Buildings held under capital leases	59,555			30,550
Equipment held under capital leases	835			849
Construction in progress	9,999			35,683
Total property and equipment	762,864			677,907
Less — accumulated depreciation and amortization	(314,498		)	(274,463		)
Total property and equipment, net	$	448,366		$	403,444

Goodwill

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	$	1,035,401		$	96,810		$	126,706		$	1,258,917
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(21,310		)	(21,310		)
Subtotal	1,035,401			96,810			105,396			1,237,607
Goodwill acquired	143,926			34			12,155			156,115
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(99,501		)	(99,501		)
Foreign translation adjustment	1,281			17			—			1,298
Other (1)	(3,260		)	—			(1,028		)	(4,288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	1,177,348			96,861			137,833			1,412,042
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,177,348			96,861			17,022			1,291,231
Goodwill acquired	45,615			50			—			45,665
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,651		)	(40		)	—			(5,691		)
Other(1)	(731		)	—			443			(288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	1,216,581			96,871			138,276			1,451,728
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	17,465		$	1,330,917

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, "Other" primarily includes measurement period adjustments and a write-off related to a sale of an animal hospital. In 2012, "Other" includes acquisition-price adjustments, which consist primarily of an adjustment related to capital leases and buy outs of noncontrolling interest partners.

Other Intangible Assets

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

k.    Other Intangible Assets

In addition to goodwill, we have amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012, as follows (in thousands):

	2013							2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	109,842	$	(41,895	)	$	67,947	$	110,404	$	(36,605	)	$	73,799
Covenants not-to-compete	8,843		(4,661		)	4,182		12,707		(7,357		)	5,350
Favorable lease asset	7,458		(4,373		)	3,085		7,228		(3,866		)	3,362
Technology	5,240		(3,015		)	2,225		6,588		(4,179		)	2,409
Trademarks	13,115		(4,194		)	8,921		12,494		(3,001		)	9,493
Contracts	608		(305		)	303		956		(570		)	386
Client lists	50		(42		)	8		50		(26		)	24
Total	$	145,156	$	(58,485	)	$	86,671	$	150,427	$	(55,604	)	$	94,823

Amortization of intangible assets estimated useful lives

Amortization is recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Non-contractual hospital customer relationships	5 years
Non-contractual laboratory customer relationships	20 to 25 years
All other non-contractual customer relationships	3 to 10 years
Covenants not-to-compete	2 to 25 years
Favorable lease asset	1 to 18 years
Technology	5 to 7 years
Trademarks	2 to 10 years
Contracts	6 years
Client lists	3 years

Aggregate amortization expense

The following table summarizes our aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Aggregate amortization expense	$	20,934	$	22,731	$	13,391

Estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Aggregate amortization expense	$	20,934	$	22,731	$	13,391

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter at December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	21,342
2015	18,999
2016	15,689
2017	9,321
2018	5,649
Thereafter	15,671
Total	$	86,671

Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	88,621		87,681		86,606
Effect of dilutive potential common stock:
Stock options	305		479		560
Non-vested shares and units	737		511		228
Diluted	89,663		88,671		87,394
Basic earnings per common share	$	1.55	$	0.52	$	1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.53	$	0.51	$	1.09

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Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

$ 1,233

$ 962

Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests

(5,094)

(722)

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

5,411

5,165

4,455

Distribution to noncontrolling interests, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

(1,886)

(1,832)

(1,952)

Securities Subject to Mandatory Redemption [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]

The following table provides a summary of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	505
Noncontrolling interest expense	450
Redemption value change	557		1,007
Formation of noncontrolling interests			800
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(424		)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests			1,223
Balance as of December 31, 2011			$	3,111
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	1,555
Redemption value change	37		1,592
Formation of noncontrolling interests			8,161
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,714		)
Currency translation adjustment			(103		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	11,047
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	2,003
Redemption value change	74		2,077
Formation of noncontrolling interests			80
Purchase of noncontrolling interests			(1,703		)
Dissolution of noncontrolling interests			(357		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,833		)
Currency translation adjustment			44
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	9,355

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Noncontrolling interest, Income Statement Impact

2,003

1,555

450

Redemption value change, Income Statement Impact

74

37

557

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

2,077

1,592

1,007

Formation noncontrolling interests, redeemable noncontrolling interests

80

8,161

800

Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests

(1,703)

Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Deconsolidation

(357)

Distribution to noncontrolling interests, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

(1,833)

(1,714)

(424)

Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

44

(103)

adjustment noncontrolling interests

1,223

Ending balance, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

9,355

11,047

3,111

505

redeemable partnership interests [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]

The following table provides a summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	5,799
Noncontrolling interest	$	840
Redemption value change	716		1,556
Formation of noncontrolling interests			510
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(901		)
Balance as of December 31, 2011			6,964
Noncontrolling interest	$	806
Redemption value change	156		962
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(935		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			6,991
Noncontrolling interest	$	1,146
Redemption value change	87		1,233
Formation of noncontrolling interests			3,601
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,147		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	10,678

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Redemption value change, Income Statement Impact

87

156

716

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

1,233

962

1,556

Formation noncontrolling interests, redeemable noncontrolling interests

3,601

510

Distribution to noncontrolling interests, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

(1,147)

(935)

(901)

Ending balance, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

10,678

6,991

6,964

5,799

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Attributable Net Income Loss

$ 1,146

$ 806

$ 840

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Noncontrolling Interests (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Securities Subject to Mandatory Redemption [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests

The following table provides a summary of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	505
Noncontrolling interest expense	450
Redemption value change	557		1,007
Formation of noncontrolling interests			800
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(424		)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests			1,223
Balance as of December 31, 2011			$	3,111
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	1,555
Redemption value change	37		1,592
Formation of noncontrolling interests			8,161
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,714		)
Currency translation adjustment			(103		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	11,047
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	2,003
Redemption value change	74		2,077
Formation of noncontrolling interests			80
Purchase of noncontrolling interests			(1,703		)
Dissolution of noncontrolling interests			(357		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,833		)
Currency translation adjustment			44
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	9,355

redeemable partnership interests [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests

The following table provides a summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	5,799
Noncontrolling interest	$	840
Redemption value change	716		1,556
Formation of noncontrolling interests			510
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(901		)
Balance as of December 31, 2011			6,964
Noncontrolling interest	$	806
Redemption value change	156		962
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(935		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			6,991
Noncontrolling interest	$	1,146
Redemption value change	87		1,233
Formation of noncontrolling interests			3,601
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,147		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	10,678

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 145,156	$ 150,427
Accumulated Amortization	(58,485)	(55,604)
Other intangible assets, net	86,671	94,823
Customer Relationships [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	109,842	110,404
Accumulated Amortization	(41,895)	(36,605)
Other intangible assets, net	67,947	73,799
Non Compete Agreements [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	8,843	12,707
Accumulated Amortization	(4,661)	(7,357)
Other intangible assets, net	4,182	5,350
Favorable lease asset [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	7,458	7,228
Accumulated Amortization	(4,373)	(3,866)
Other intangible assets, net	3,085	3,362
Technology [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	5,240	6,588
Accumulated Amortization	(3,015)	(4,179)
Other intangible assets, net	2,225	2,409
Trademarks [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	13,115	12,494
Accumulated Amortization	(4,194)	(3,001)
Other intangible assets, net	8,921	9,493
Contracts [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	608	956
Accumulated Amortization	(305)	(570)
Other intangible assets, net	303	386
Client lists [Member]
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	50	50
Accumulated Amortization	(42)	(26)
Other intangible assets, net	$ 8	$ 24

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Share-Based Compensation (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number		1,031,119	2,181,000	3,776,000
Summary of options outstanding
Weighted-Average Exercise Price		$ 17.28
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3 years 256 days	3 years 256 days	3 years 37 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number		294,422
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price		$ 17.06
Price Range One [Member]
Summary of options outstanding
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit		$ 15.98
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit		$ 18.94

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 125,029	$ 68,435
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $14,978 and $13,801 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	59,900	55,912
Inventory	55,067	51,456
Prepaid expenses and other	25,417	25,086
Deferred income taxes	28,907	22,579
Prepaid income taxes	15,434	20,061
Total current assets	309,754	243,529
Property and equipment, net	448,366	403,444
Goodwill	1,330,917	1,291,231
Other intangible assets, net	86,671	94,823
Notes receivable, net	3,454	6,080
Deferred financing costs, net	2,987	4,232
Other	55,632	48,241
Total assets	2,237,781	2,091,580
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	51,087	39,002
Accounts payable	36,962	39,416
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	57,337	49,893
Other accrued liabilities	58,762	57,131
Total current liabilities	204,148	185,442
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	568,558	591,641
Deferred income taxes	100,099	75,846
Other liabilities	36,758	37,267
Total liabilities	909,563	890,196
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	10,678	6,991
Preferred stock, par value $0.001, 11,000 shares authorized, none outstanding	0	0
VCA Antech, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.001, 175,000 shares authorized, 86,796 and 86,179 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	89	88
Additional paid-in capital	384,721	390,359
Retained earnings	928,720	791,209
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(6,190)	1,847
Total VCA Antech, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,307,340	1,183,503
Noncontrolling interests	10,200	10,890
Total equity	1,317,540	1,194,393
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,237,781	$ 2,091,580

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401(k) Plan (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Retirement Plan (Textual) [Abstract]
Matching contributions to voluntary retirement plan	$ 1.6	$ 1.5	$ 1.0
Period to become eligible to participate in 401(k) Plan	six months

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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 3.3	$ 2.5	$ 2.0

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Acquisitions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Hospital	Dec. 31, 2012 Hospital	Dec. 31, 2011 Hospital
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Properties Sold Closed or Merged	(18)	(6)	(11)
Acquisitions relocated into our existing animal hospitals	(2)	(6)	(3)
Total animal hospitals	0	68	13
Total laboratories	1	2	3
Animal Hospital [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of hospitals created	0	1	0
AVC [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Businesses Acquired	0	44	0
Acquisitions, excluding BrightHeart and Pet DRx [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Businesses Acquired	20	35	18
BrightHeart [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Businesses Acquired	0	0	9
Acquisitions [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Businesses Acquired	1	1	1
Acquisitions relocated into our existing laboratories [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Acquired Laboratories Relocated To Existing Laboratories	0	(1)	0
New facilities [Member]
Summary of acquisitions of animal hospitals and laboratories
Number of Laboratories Created	0	2	2

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Long-Term Obligations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]

		2013			2012
Senior term notes	Notes payable, maturing in 2016, secured by assets, variable interest rate (1.92% and 1.96% at 2013 and 2012, respectively)	556,914			592,422
Revolving credit	Revolving line of credit, maturing in 2016, secured by assets, variable interest rate	—			—
Secured seller notes	Notes payable matures in 2014, secured by assets and stock of certain subsidiaries, with interest rate of 10.0%	230			266
	Total debt obligations	557,144			592,688
	Capital lease obligations	62,501			37,955
		619,645			630,643
	Less — current portion	(51,087		)	(39,002		)
		$	568,558		$	591,641

Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]

	Debt Obligations		Capital Lease Obligations		Total
2014	$	47,574	$	3,515	$	51,089
2015	51,289		3,419		54,708
2016	458,281		3,171		461,452
2017	—		3,490		3,490
2018	—		3,805		3,805
Thereafter	—		45,101		45,101
Total	$	557,144	$	62,501	$	619,645

Summary of Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time

Level	Leverage Ratio	Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans		Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %
I	≥ 2.50:1.00	2.25	%	0.50	%
II	< 2.50:1.00 and ≥ 1.75:1.00	1.75	%	0.375	%
III	< 1.75:1.00 and ≥ 1.00:1.00	1.50	%	0.25	%
IV	< 1.00:1.00	1.25	%	0.20	%

Scheduled principal payments for senior term notes

	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
Senior term notes	$	47,344	$	51,289	$	458,281	$	—	$	—

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Long-Term Obligations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Seller Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum			10.00%
Senior Notes	$ 556,914	$ 592,422
Summary of long-term obligations
Secured seller notes	230	266
Total debt obligations	557,144	592,688
Capital lease obligations	62,501	37,955
Long term debt including capital lease obligation	619,645	630,643
Less - current portion	(51,087)	(39,002)
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	568,558	591,641
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	$ 0	$ 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum			10.00%

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Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

12. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Federal:
Current	$	54,915		$	51,342		$	45,765
Deferred	16,150			(27,103		)	17,330
	71,065			24,239			63,095
State:
Current	11,156			9,896			10,710
Deferred	3,017			(5,081		)	2,222
	14,173			4,815			12,932
Foreign:
Current	3,318			4,035			—
Deferred	(1,103		)	(1,214		)	—
	2,215			2,821			—
	$	87,453		$	31,875		$	76,027

12. Income Taxes, continued

The net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are comprised of the following (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Current deferred income tax assets:
Accounts receivable	$	6,598		$	6,085
State taxes	4,333			2,471
Other liabilities and reserves	14,298			9,716
Other assets	7,042			7,119
Inventory	1,547			1,275
Valuation allowance	(4,911		)	(4,087		)
Total current deferred income tax assets	$	28,907		$	22,579
Non-current deferred income tax (liabilities) assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	28,111		$	29,805
Write-down of assets	—			1,222
Start-up costs	—			335
Other assets	27,287			24,955
Intangible assets	(126,451		)	(107,112		)
Property and equipment	(26,393		)	(22,649		)
Share-based compensation	6,226			7,377
Valuation allowance	(8,879		)	(9,779		)
Total non-current deferred income tax (liabilities), net	$	(100,099	)	$	(75,846	)

At December 31, 2013, we had Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $68.5 million, comprised mainly of acquired NOL carryforwards. These NOLs expire at various dates through 2032. The utilization of NOL carryforwards to reduce taxable income is subject to certain statutory limitations. Events that cause such a limitation include, but are not limited to, a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three-year period. We believe that some of our acquisitions caused such a change of ownership and, accordingly, utilization of the NOL carryforwards may be limited in future years. Accordingly, the valuation allowance is principally related to subsidiaries’ NOL carryforwards. The change in valuation allowance in 2012 is related to investment-related loss carryforwards which expired in 2012. We believe that it is more likely than not that the benefit from the remaining net deferred tax assets will be realizable.

Our effective tax rate was 38.9%, 41.2% and 44.3% in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed at the Federal statutory rate is as follows:

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State taxes, net of Federal benefit	4.2		4.1		4.9
Goodwill impairment	—		4.6		4.3
AVC gain	—		(2.6	)	—
Foreign rate differential	(0.4	)	(1.1	)	—
Miscellaneous	0.1		1.2		0.1
	38.9	%	41.2	%	44.3	%

We are regularly audited by federal and state tax authorities. The statute is generally open for four years for state audits. We are currently under IRS audit for the 2011 taxable year.

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Carrying value and fair value of variable rate long-term debt

The following table reflects the carrying value and fair value of our variable-rate long-term debt (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2013				2012
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Variable-rate long-term debt	$	556,914	$	556,914	$	592,422	$	592,422

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Lines of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Lines of Business

15. Lines of Business

Our reportable segments are Animal Hospital and Laboratory. Our Animal Hospital segment provides veterinary services for companion animals and sells related retail and pharmaceutical products. Our Laboratory segment provides diagnostic laboratory testing services for veterinarians, both associated with our animal hospitals and those independent of us. Our other operating segments included in “All Other” in the following tables are our medical technology business, which sells digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment, related computer hardware, software and ancillary services to the veterinary market and our Vetstreet business, which provides online and printed communications, professional education, marketing solutions to the veterinary community and an ecommerce platform for independent animal hospitals. These operating segments do not meet the quantitative requirements for reportable segments. Our operating segments are strategic business units that have different services, products and/or functions. The segments are managed separately because each is a distinct and different business venture with unique challenges, risks and rewards. We also operate a corporate office that provides general and administrative support services for our other segments.

The accounting policies of our segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. We evaluate the performance of our segments based

on gross profit and operating income. For purposes of reviewing the operating performance of our segments, all intercompany sales and purchases are generally accounted for as if they were transactions with independent third parties at current market prices.

15. Lines of Business, continued

The following is a summary of certain financial data for each of our segments (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital		Laboratory			All Other			Corporate			Eliminations			Total
2013
External revenue	$	1,417,908	$	290,583		$	91,686		$	—		$	3,192		$	1,803,369
Intercompany revenue	—		54,248			21,054			—			(75,302		)	—
Total revenue	1,417,908		344,831			112,740			—			(72,110		)	1,803,369
Direct costs	1,208,781		180,952			74,139			—			(69,883		)	1,393,989
Gross profit	209,127		163,879			38,601			—			(2,227		)	409,380
Selling, general and administrative expense	34,133		31,915			32,941			58,922			—			157,911
Operating income (loss) before charges	174,994		131,964			5,660			(58,922		)	(2,227		)	251,469
Net loss (gain) on sale of assets	2,853		(77		)	7			(328		)	—			2,455
Operating income (loss)	$	172,141	$	132,041		$	5,653		$	(58,594	)	$	(2,227	)	$	249,014
Depreciation and amortization	$	57,748	$	10,251		$	7,909		$	3,284		$	(1,783	)	$	77,409
Capital expenditures	$	54,116	$	11,148		$	4,288		$	5,908		$	(2,190	)	$	73,270
Total assets at December 31, 2013	$	1,854,609	$	247,591		$	96,245		$	77,153		$	(37,817	)	$	2,237,781
2012
External revenue	$	1,331,314	$	275,406		$	90,616		$	—		$	2,306		$	1,699,642
Intercompany revenue	—		52,395			22,344			—			(74,739		)	—
Total revenue	1,331,314		327,801			112,960			—			(72,433		)	1,699,642
Direct costs	1,142,203		176,040			74,253			—			(67,828		)	1,324,668
Gross profit	189,111		151,761			38,707			—			(4,605		)	374,974
Selling, general and administrative expense	30,826		29,660			37,879			58,790			—			157,155
Operating income (loss) before charges	158,285		122,101			828			(58,790		)	(4,605		)	217,819
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	1,216		—			122,357			—			—			123,573
Net loss (gain) on sale of assets	713		(14		)	717			(106		)	—			1,310
Operating income (loss)	$	156,356	$	122,115		$	(122,246	)	$	(58,684	)	$	(4,605	)	$	92,936
Depreciation and amortization	$	54,835	$	10,141		$	9,582		$	3,198		$	(1,529	)	$	76,227
Capital expenditures	$	55,651	$	8,334		$	5,921		$	9,695		$	(2,794	)	$	76,807
Total assets at December 31, 2012	$	1,648,578	$	244,551		$	98,159		$	127,963		$	(27,671	)	$	2,091,580
2011
External revenue	$	1,150,120	$	272,468		$	61,736		$	—		$	1,037		$	1,485,361
Intercompany revenue	—		44,329			18,694			—			(63,023		)	—
Total revenue	1,150,120		316,797			80,430			—			(61,986		)	1,485,361
Direct costs	970,310		173,007			59,459			—			(55,872		)	1,146,904
Gross profit	179,810		143,790			20,971			—			(6,114		)	338,457
Selling, general and administrative expense	24,342		27,864			19,136			49,770			—			121,112
Operating income (loss) before charges	155,468		115,926			1,835			(49,770		)	(6,114		)	217,345
Goodwill impairment	—		—			21,310			—			—			21,310
Net loss on sale of assets	327		21			27			7			—			382
Operating income (loss)	$	155,141	$	115,905		$	(19,502	)	$	(49,777	)	$	(6,114	)	$	195,653
Depreciation and amortization	$	40,319	$	10,111		$	5,022		$	2,853		$	(1,317	)	$	56,988
Capital expenditures	$	45,753	$	6,082		$	6,448		$	7,299		$	(2,097	)	$	63,485
Total assets at December 31, 2011	$	1,439,103	$	232,423		$	202,187		$	142,793		$	(21,138	)	$	1,995,368

15. Lines of Business, continued

The table below lists our revenue by geographic area for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	2013		2012		2011
Revenue*
United States	$	1,671,170	$	1,589,588	$	1,474,294
Canada	132,199		110,054		11,067
Total	$	1,803,369	$	1,699,642	$	1,485,361

*Revenues are determined based on the location of the customer. Long-lived assets were not disclosed, as the amounts attributable to the Canadian operations are immaterial, as compared to total consolidated long-lived assets.

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Long Term Obligations (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Seller Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Term Notes Two [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Term Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum			10.00%
Senior Notes	$ 556,914	$ 592,422
2012	51,089			47,344	47,574	3,515
2013	54,708				51,289	3,419
2014	461,452				458,281	3,171
2015	3,490				0	3,490
2016	3,805				0	3,805
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	45,101				0	45,101
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	0	0
Secured Debt	230	266
Long-term Debt	557,144	592,688
Capital Lease Obligations	62,501	37,955
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	619,645	630,643
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current	51,087	39,002
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 568,558	$ 591,641
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum			10.00%

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Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balances at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,009,485	$ 86	$ 347,848	$ 650,253	$ 737	$ 10,561
Beginning Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		86,179
Net income (excludes $1,555 and $450 in 2011, $962 and $1,555 in 2012 and $1,233 and $2,003 in 2013 related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, respectively)	97,855	0	0	95,405	0	2,450
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	95,405
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(319)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(1,952)	0	0	0	0	(1,952)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(722)	0	(263)	0	0	(985)
Share-based compensation	10,773	0	10,773	0	0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	0
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation		(114)
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	3,999	1	3,998	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans, shares		731
Stock repurchases	(2,673)	0	(2,673)	0	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock options	1,708	0	1,708	0	0	0
Tax shortfall and other from stock options and awards	202	0	202	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(319)	0	0	0	(319)	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	0
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	1,117,952	87	361,715	745,658	418	10,074
Ending Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		86,796
Net income (excludes $1,555 and $450 in 2011, $962 and $1,555 in 2012 and $1,233 and $2,003 in 2013 related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, respectively)	48,199	0	0	45,551	0	2,648
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	45,551
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,429
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(1,832)	0	0	0	0	(1,832)
Share-based compensation	14,087	0	14,087	0	0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	10,500	0	10,500	0	0	0
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation		(403)
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	9,533	1	9,532	0	0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions	473
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans, shares		1,506
Stock repurchases	(8,216)	0	(8,216)	0	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock options	2,868	0	2,868	0	0	0
Tax shortfall and other from stock options and awards	127	0	127	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	1,429	0	0	0	1,429	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	(8,161)
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	1,194,393	88	390,359	791,209	1,847	10,890
Ending Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		88,372
Net income (excludes $1,555 and $450 in 2011, $962 and $1,555 in 2012 and $1,233 and $2,003 in 2013 related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, respectively)	139,686	0	0		0	2,175
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	137,511
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(7,999)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(1,886)	0	0	0	0	(1,886)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(5,094)	0	(785)	0	0	(4,309)
Share-based compensation	14,104	0	14,104	0	0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares		(1,423)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(39,367)	(1)	(39,366)	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans	17,233	2	17,231	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans, shares		1,559
Excess tax benefit from stock options	3,446	0	3,446	0	0	0
Tax shortfall and other from stock options and awards	268	0	268	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(7,999)	0	0	0	(8,037)	(6)
Other Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax, excluding mandatorily redeemable partnership interests	(8,043)
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	3,336	0	0	0	0	3,336
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,317,540	$ 89	$ 384,721	$ 928,720	$ (6,190)	$ 10,200
Ending Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		88,508

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets, Current [Abstract]
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	$ 17,702	$ 16,546
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	11,000	11,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	175,000	175,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	88,508	88,372

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Other Accrued Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Other Accrued Liabilities

6. Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2013		2012
Deferred revenue	$	11,190	$	10,811
Accrued health insurance	5,479		6,409
Deferred rent	4,331		3,604
Accrued other insurance	4,381		3,799
Miscellaneous accrued taxes (1)	2,804		3,485
Accrued workers' compensation	3,267		3,570
Holdbacks and earn-outs	3,040		3,599
Customer deposits	3,075		3,140
Accrued consulting fees	3,028		3,114
Accrued lease payments	2,547		888
Other	15,620		14,712
	$	58,762	$	57,131

⁽¹⁾ Includes property, sales, and use taxes.

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Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 125,000,000								$ 125,000,000		$ 125,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	25,728,000	41,911,000	43,460,000	31,823,000	(57,025,000)	35,642,000	35,778,000	36,321,000	142,922,000	50,716,000	99,860,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities									256,372,000	237,253,000	191,051,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other									(2,541,000)	(2,313,000)	(596,000)
Net cash used in investing activities									(126,731,000)	(219,258,000)	(271,310,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans									17,233,000	9,533,000	3,999,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(72,013,000)	(13,514,000)	47,004,000
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									56,594,000	4,784,000	(33,475,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				68,435,000				63,651,000	68,435,000	63,651,000	97,126,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	125,029,000				68,435,000				125,029,000	68,435,000	63,651,000
Parent [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									137,511,000	45,551,000	95,405,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity interest in earnings of subsidiaries									(137,511,000)	(45,551,000)	(95,405,000)
Increase in intercompany receivable									0	0	3,999,000
Net cash provided by operating activities									0	0	(3,999,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other								9,533,000	(17,233,000)		0
Net cash used in investing activities									(17,233,000)	(9,533,000)	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock incentive plans									17,233,000	9,533,000	3,999,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									17,233,000	9,533,000	3,999,000
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				0				0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

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Document and Entity Information (USD $) In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 24, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	VCA ANTECH INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000817366
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 2.2
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		88,248,976

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Long-Term Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Obligations

7. Long-Term Obligations

Long-term obligations consisted of the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

		2013			2012
Senior term notes	Notes payable, maturing in 2016, secured by assets, variable interest rate (1.92% and 1.96% at 2013 and 2012, respectively)	556,914			592,422
Revolving credit	Revolving line of credit, maturing in 2016, secured by assets, variable interest rate	—			—
Secured seller notes	Notes payable matures in 2014, secured by assets and stock of certain subsidiaries, with interest rate of 10.0%	230			266
	Total debt obligations	557,144			592,688
	Capital lease obligations	62,501			37,955
		619,645			630,643
	Less — current portion	(51,087		)	(39,002		)
		$	568,558		$	591,641

The annual aggregate scheduled maturities of our long-term obligations for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2013 are presented below (in thousands):

7. Long-Term Obligations, continued

	Debt Obligations		Capital Lease Obligations		Total
2014	$	47,574	$	3,515	$	51,089
2015	51,289		3,419		54,708
2016	458,281		3,171		461,452
2017	—		3,490		3,490
2018	—		3,805		3,805
Thereafter	—		45,101		45,101
Total	$	557,144	$	62,501	$	619,645

Senior Credit Facility

In August 2010, we entered into a new senior credit facility with various lenders for $600 million of senior secured credit facilities with Bank of America, N.A. as the syndication agent and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent, collateral agent, issuing bank and swing line lender. At the time of entering into the senior credit facility, it included $500 million of senior term notes and $100 million revolving credit facility, which may be used to borrow, on a same-day notice under a swing line, the lesser of $10 million and the aggregate unused amount of the revolving credit facility then in effect. In connection with this transaction, we paid financing costs in the amount of $9.1 million, of which $2.1 million, or $1.3 million after tax were recognized as part of income from continuing operations, the remainder was capitalized as deferred financing costs.

In August 2011, we amended and restated our existing senior credit facility to allow for additional senior term notes in the amount of $100 million and an additional $25 million aggregate principal amount of revolving commitments. Bank of America, N.A. and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. are co-syndication agents for the amended senior credit facility, while Wells Fargo, N.A. remains the administrative agent, collateral agent, issuing bank and swing line lender. The amended senior credit facility called for $581.3 million in senior term notes and a $125 million revolving credit facility. The funds borrowed from the additional senior term notes were used to repay in full, amounts borrowed in connection with the acquisition of Vetstreet on August 9, 2011. The terms of the amended and restated senior credit facility are discussed below in this footnote. In connection with the amendment we incurred $2.9 million in financing costs, of which approximately $865,000 were recognized as part of income from continuing operations and approximately $2.0 million was capitalized as deferred financing costs. In addition, we expensed $1.1 million of previously capitalized deferred financing costs associated with lenders who exited the syndicate on the amendment date or those that were determined to be extinguished.

On January 25, 2012, we executed an amendment (the "First Amendment") to our Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement entered into as of August 16, 2011 (our "Senior Credit Facility"). On January 24, 2012, we issued new term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million. The First Amendment replenished the aggregate principal amount of uncommitted incremental facilities by $50.0 million, permitting us to request up to an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million in uncommitted incremental facilities. The funds borrowed from the Incremental Facility were used to fully repay amounts borrowed to fund an additional investment in AVC on February 1, 2012. In connection with the First Amendment we incurred $122,000 in financing costs, of which approximately $47,000 were expensed as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses and $75,000 were capitalized as deferred financing costs.

Interest Rate. In general, borrowings under the senior term notes and the revolving credit facility bear interest, at our option, on either:

• the base rate (as defined below) plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for a base rate loan is an amount equal to the applicable margin for Eurodollar rate (as defined below) minus 1.00%; or

• the adjusted Eurodollar rate (as defined below), plus a margin of 1.75% (Level II, see table below), per annum until the date of delivery of the compliance certificate and the financial statements, for the period ended December 31, 2013, at which time the applicable margin will be determined by reference to the leverage ratio in effect from time to time as set forth in the following table:

7. Long-Term Obligations, continued

Level	Leverage Ratio	Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans		Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee %
I	≥ 2.50:1.00	2.25	%	0.50	%
II	< 2.50:1.00 and ≥ 1.75:1.00	1.75	%	0.375	%
III	< 1.75:1.00 and ≥ 1.00:1.00	1.50	%	0.25	%
IV	< 1.00:1.00	1.25	%	0.20	%

The base rate for the senior term notes is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo") prime rate in effect on such day, the Federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 0.5% and the adjusted Eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period commencing on such day plus 1.0%. The adjusted Eurodollar rate is defined as the rate per annum obtained by dividing (1) the rate of interest offered to Wells Fargo on the London interbank market by (2) a percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities.”

Maturity and Principal Payments.    The Amended and Restated senior term notes mature on August 19, 2016. Principal payments on the senior term notes are paid quarterly in the amount of (i) $11.8 million for the two years beginning on December 31, 2013 and (ii) $15.8 million for the three quarters prior to maturity, at which time the remaining balance is due. The following table sets forth the remaining scheduled principal payments for our senior term notes (in thousands):

	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
Senior term notes	$	47,344	$	51,289	$	458,281	$	—	$	—

The revolving credit facility has a per annum commitment fee determined by reference to the Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time as set forth in the table above and is applied to the unused portion of the commitment. The revolving credit facility matures on August 19, 2016. Principal payments on the revolving credit facility are made at our discretion with the entire unpaid amount due at maturity. At December 31, 2013, we had no borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Guarantees and Security.    We and each of our wholly-owned subsidiaries guarantee the outstanding debt under the senior credit facility. These borrowings, along with the guarantees of the subsidiaries, are further secured by substantially all of our consolidated assets. In addition, these borrowings are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the capital stock, or similar equity interests, of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Debt Covenants.    The senior credit facility contains certain financial covenants pertaining to fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios. In addition, the senior credit facility has restrictions pertaining to capital expenditures, acquisitions and the payment of cash dividends on all classes of stock. At December 31, 2013, we had a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.77 to 1.00, which was in compliance with the required ratio of no less than 1.20 to 1.00, and a leverage ratio of 1.81 to 1.00, which was in compliance with the required ratio of no more than 3.00 to 1.00.

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Income Taxes (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current deferred income tax assets:
Accounts receivable	$ 6,598	$ 6,085
State taxes	4,333	2,471
Other liabilities and reserves	14,298	9,716
Other assets	7,042	7,119
Inventory	1,547	1,275
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Current	(4,911)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current	28,907	22,579
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance		(4,087)
Total current deferred income tax assets	28,907	22,579
Non-current deferred income tax (liabilities) assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	28,111	29,805
Write-down of assets	0	1,222
Start-up costs	0	335
Other assets	27,287	24,955
Intangible assets	(126,451)	(107,112)
Property and equipment	(26,393)	(22,649)
Share-based compensation	6,226	7,377
Valuation allowance	(8,879)	(9,779)
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Noncurrent	$ (100,099)	$ (75,846)

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Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Statements of Income
Revenue	$ 435,453	$ 464,055	$ 465,255	$ 438,606	$ 418,192	$ 433,613	$ 438,372	$ 409,465	$ 1,803,369	$ 1,699,642	$ 1,485,361
Direct costs									1,393,989	1,324,668	1,146,904
Gross profit	87,486	110,677	114,294	96,923	81,807	99,181	100,607	93,379	409,380	374,974	338,457
Selling, general and administrative expense									157,911	157,155	121,112
Loss on sale of assets									(2,455)	(1,310)	(382)
Operating income	45,923	72,039	75,701	55,351	(83,553)	61,186	61,498	53,805	249,014	92,936	195,653
Income before provision for income taxes									230,375	82,591	175,887
Provision for income taxes									87,453	31,875	76,027
Net income	25,728	41,911	43,460	31,823	(57,025)	35,642	35,778	36,321	142,922	50,716	99,860
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									5,411	5,165	4,455
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	24,717	40,647	41,662	30,485	(58,051)	34,037	34,320	35,245	137,511	45,551	95,405
Parent [Member]
Condensed Statements of Income
Revenue									0	0	0
Direct costs									0	0	0
Gross profit									0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense									0	0	0
Loss on sale of assets									0	0	0
Operating income									0	0	0
Interest income, net									0	0	0
Equity interest in income of subsidiaries									137,511	45,551	95,405
Income before provision for income taxes									137,511	45,551	95,405
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									137,511	45,551	95,405
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.									$ 137,511	$ 45,551	$ 95,405

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Consolidated Income Statements (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,803,369	$ 1,699,642	$ 1,485,361
Direct costs	1,393,989	1,324,668	1,146,904
Gross profit	409,380	374,974	338,457
Selling, general and administrative expense	157,911	157,155	121,112
Asset Impairment Charges	0
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment		123,573
Goodwill impairment		99,501	21,310
Net loss on sale of assets	2,455	1,310	382
Operating income (loss)	249,014	92,936	195,653
Interest expense	(18,928)	(17,020)	(17,485)
Interest income	(379)	(468)	(601)
Debt retirement costs	0	0	2,764
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain	0	(5,719)	0
Other expense (income)	90	(488)	118
Income before provision for income taxes	230,375	82,591	175,887
Provision for income taxes	87,453	31,875	76,027
Net income	142,922	50,716	99,860
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,411	5,165	4,455
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$ 137,511	$ 45,551	$ 95,405
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.55	$ 0.52	$ 1.10
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.53	$ 0.51	$ 1.09
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	88,621	87,681	86,606
Weighted-average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	89,663	88,671	87,394

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Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

3. Related Party Transactions

a.   Transactions with ThinkPets Inc. (formerly known as Zoasis Corporation)

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets, Inc., for $21 million, payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. The number of shares of VCA common stock were determined based on the daily volume weighted-average closing sales price of the VCA common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acquisition. At the time of the acquisition, Bob Antin, our CEO and Chairman of the Board, owned 54% of the common stock of ThinkPets, and served as a director of ThinkPets, and Art Antin, our Chief Operating Officer, owned 8% of the common stock of ThinkPets.

b.  Related Party Vendors

Frank Reddick joined our company as a director in February 2002 and is a partner in the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP (“Akin”). Akin provided legal services to us during 2013, 2012 and 2011. The amount paid by our company to Akin for these legal services was approximately $375,000, $551,000 and $1.6 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

c.    Transactions with VetSource

In 2006, we entered into a pharmacy distribution agreement with Strategic Pharmaceutical Solutions, Inc. (“VetSource”) a start-up pharmacy distribution company. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement we are entitled to one representative on the VetSource Board of Directors. Under the agreement we promote the use of VetSource as the preferred provider of pharmaceutical products to VCA animal hospitals. The agreement has a five-year term and will renew for one year terms unless either party provides written notice of termination to the other party at least 120 days prior to expiration of the then current term. The amount paid by our company to VetSource for pharmaceutical products was $13.0 million, $13.1 million and $28.2 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We own 39.3% of the outstanding preferred stock of VetSource.

On October 24, 2013, we entered into a $1.2 million revolving credit agreement with VetSource in the form of promissory note. Our commitment under the revolving credit agreement is to loan up to $471,600, equitable to our 39.3% pro rata share in VetSource. As of December 31, 2013, we loaned VetSource $275,000.

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Dividends

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Equity [Abstract]

Dividends

9. Dividends and Share Repurchase Program

Dividends

We have not paid cash dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our senior credit facility places limitations on our ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions in respect of our common stock. Specifically, our amended and restated senior credit facility dated August 16, 2011 prohibits us from declaring, ordering, paying, or setting apart any sum for any dividends or other distributions on account of any shares of any class of stock, other than dividends payable solely in shares of stock to holders of such class of stock. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors, including the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits.

Share Repurchase Program

In April, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program, authorizing us to repurchase up to $125.0 million of our common shares from time to time in open market purchases, pursuant to trading plans established in accordance

with SEC rules or through privately negotiated transactions. The extent and timing of our repurchases will depend upon market

conditions, our cash requirements to fund the long-term growth investments in our business and other corporate considerations.

The repurchases will be funded by existing cash balances and by our revolving credit facility. The share repurchase program

has no expiration date. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

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Noncontrolling Interests

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interests

13. Noncontrolling Interests

We own some of our animal hospitals in partnerships with noncontrolling interest holders. We consolidate our partnerships in our 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 consolidated income statements. Noncontrolling interest in income of subsidiaries was $5.4 million, $5.2 million and $4.5 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, we reflect our noncontrolling partners’ cumulative share in the equity of the respective partnerships as either noncontrolling interests in equity, mandatorily reedemable noncontrolling interests in other liabilities, or redeemable noncontrolling interests in temporary equity (mezzanine) in our consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, noncontrolling interest was $10.2 million and $10.9 million, respectively.

a.    Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

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 discounted cash flow technique, both of which are used as an approximation of fair value. The discounted cash flow inputs used to determine the redemption value are level 3 and include forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and the weighted average cost of capital. We recognize changes in the obligation as an interest cost in the consolidated income statement.

The following table provides a summary of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	505
Noncontrolling interest expense	450
Redemption value change	557		1,007
Formation of noncontrolling interests			800
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(424		)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests			1,223
Balance as of December 31, 2011			$	3,111
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	1,555
Redemption value change	37		1,592
Formation of noncontrolling interests			8,161
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,714		)
Currency translation adjustment			(103		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	11,047
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	2,003
Redemption value change	74		2,077
Formation of noncontrolling interests			80
Purchase of noncontrolling interests			(1,703		)
Dissolution of noncontrolling interests			(357		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,833		)
Currency translation adjustment			44
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	9,355

13. Noncontrolling Interests, continued

b.    Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

We also enter into partnership agreements whereby the noncontrolling interest 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.

The following table provides a summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	5,799
Noncontrolling interest	$	840
Redemption value change	716		1,556
Formation of noncontrolling interests			510
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(901		)
Balance as of December 31, 2011			6,964
Noncontrolling interest	$	806
Redemption value change	156		962
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(935		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			6,991
Noncontrolling interest	$	1,146
Redemption value change	87		1,233
Formation of noncontrolling interests			3,601
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,147		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	10,678

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

8. Fair Value

Current fair value accounting guidance includes a hierarchy that is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon their own market assumptions. The current guidance establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

• Level 1.    Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

• Level 2.    Inputs, other than quoted prices, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and

• Level 3.    Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Non-Recurring Assets

Non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis are accounted for in accordance with FASB’s guidance on fair value measurement.

At December 31, 2013, we did not have any material applicable non-recurring measurements of non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities.     

During the quarter ended December 31, 2012, our Vetstreet goodwill was written down to its implied fair value resulting in an impairment charge of $99.5 million, which was included in earnings in the period. Our Vetstreet goodwill balance as of December 31, 2012 was $8.8 million. Additionally, during the quarter ended December 31, 2012, our Vetstreet long-lived assets were written down to their estimated fair value resulting in an impairment charge of $22.9 million, which was included in earnings in the period. Our Vetstreet long-lived assets balance as of December 31, 2012 was $28.7 million. Both the implied fair value of goodwill and the estimated fair value of long-lived assets were calculated using Level 3 inputs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The FASB accounting guidance requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Fair value as defined by the guidance is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value estimates of financial instruments are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we might pay or receive in actual market transactions. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.    These balances include cash and cash equivalents with maturities of less than three months. The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

Receivables, Less Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Accounts Payable and Certain Other Accrued Liabilities.    Due to their short-term nature, fair value approximates carrying value.

Long-Term Debt.    The fair value of debt at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is based upon the ask price quoted from an external source, which is considered a Level 2 input.

The following table reflects the carrying value and fair value of our variable-rate long-term debt (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2013				2012
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Variable-rate long-term debt	$	556,914	$	556,914	$	592,422	$	592,422

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Noncontrolling Interests (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Noncontrolling Interests (Textual) [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 5,411	$ 5,165	$ 4,455
Ownership interest percentage to consolidate partnerships	50.10%
Noncontrolling interests	$ 10,200	$ 10,890

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Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisitions

4. Acquisitions

Our acquisition strategy includes the acquisition of animal hospitals, animal hospital chains, laboratories or related businesses. In accordance with that strategy, we acquired the following:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Animal hospitals:
Acquisitions (1), excluding AVC in 2012 and BrightHeart in 2011	20		35		18
AVC (1)	—		44		—
BrightHeart(1)	—		—		9
New facilities	—		1		—
Acquisitions relocated into our existing animal hospitals	(2	)	(6	)	(3	)
Sold, closed or merged	(18	)	(6	)	(11	)
Total	—		68		13
Laboratories:
Acquisitions	1		1		1
Acquisitions relocated into our existing laboratories	—		(1	)	—
New facilities	—		2		2
Total	1		2		3

⁽¹⁾  Associate Veterinary Clinics (1981) LTD ("AVC") was acquired on January 31, 2012 and BrightHeart Veterinary Centers (“BrightHeart") was acquired on July 11, 2011.

4. Acquisitions, continued

Animal Hospital and Laboratory Acquisitions, excluding AVC and BrightHeart

The following table summarizes the aggregate consideration, including acquisition costs, paid by us for our acquired animal hospitals and laboratories, excluding AVC and BrightHeart, and the allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Consideration:
Cash	$	52,688		$	78,629		$	34,243
Assumed debt	2,360			—			—
Holdback	1,092			2,425			1,500
Contingent consideration	1,285			1,306			79
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	57,425		$	82,360		$	35,822
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	14,779		$	3,515		$	1,237
Identifiable intangible assets	15,001			14,718			6,414
Goodwill(1)	45,665			64,253			28,171
Notes payable and other liabilities assumed	(11,084		)	(126		)	—
	$	64,361		$	82,360		$	35,822
Noncontrolling interest	(6,936		)	—			—
Total	$	57,425		$	82,360		$	35,822

⁽¹⁾  We expect that $15.0 million, $60.4 million and $26.4 million of the goodwill recorded in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, will be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

In addition to the purchase price listed above are cash payments made for real estate acquired in connection with our purchase of animal hospitals totaling $5.3 million, $5.3 million and $1.9 million in 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

2012 AVC Investment

On January 31, 2012, we increased our investment in AVC by approximately CDN $81 million (approximately US $81 million) becoming the sole non-veterinarian shareholder of AVC. At the time of the additional investment, AVC operated 44 animal hospitals in three Canadian provinces, offering services ranging from primary care, to specialty referral services and 24-hour emergency care. This investment and planned additional investments in AVC will facilitate our continued expansion in the Canadian market. At the time of the investment, AVC had annualized revenue of approximately CDN $95 million (approximately US $95 million). Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of AVC since January 31, 2012.

4. Acquisitions, continued

The following table summarizes the total investment and final allocation of the investment in AVC (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	48,819
Assumed debt	25,915
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	74,734
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	11,694
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	25,170
Goodwill(2)	79,707
Other liabilities assumed	(21,826		)
	$	94,745
Noncontrolling interest	(8,161		)
Fair value of pre-existing investment in AVC	(11,850		)
Total	$	74,734

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, trademark and covenants-not-to-compete. The weighted- average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately six years. The customer-related intangible assets weighted-average amortization period is approximately five years. The trademark weighted-average amortization period is approximately ten years. The covenants-not-to-compete weighted-average amortization period is approximately three years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $362,000 of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

2011 BrightHeart Acquisition

On July 11, 2011, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of BrightHeart for approximately $50 million in cash. BrightHeart operates nine animal hospitals, eight of which focus on the delivery of specialty and emergency medicine. The acquisition increased our level of market recognition in areas where we had an existing market presence. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of BrightHeart since July 11, 2011.

4. Acquisitions, continued

The following table summarizes the final purchase price and the final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	23,490
Assumed debt	26,048
Contingent consideration	481
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	50,019
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	18,921
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	8,796
Goodwill(2)	39,806
Other liabilities assumed	(17,504		)
Total	$	50,019

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets primarily include customer relationships. The weighted average amortization period for both the total identifiable intangible assets and the customer-related intangible assets is approximately five years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $38.8 million of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

4. Acquisitions, continued

Other Acquisitions

2012 ThinkPets, Inc. ("ThinkPets")

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets for $21 million , payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. We intend to combine the operations of ThinkPets with our Vetstreet business, which we expect will improve the products and services it offers to clients of both companies. Our consolidated financial statements reflect the operating results of ThinkPets since February 1, 2012.

The following table summarizes the total purchase price and the final allocation of the investment in ThinkPets (in thousands):

Consideration:
Cash	$	7,468
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	10,500
Holdback	1,050
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	19,018
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	2,093
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	7,221
Goodwill(2)	12,155
Other liabilities assumed	(2,451		)
Total	$	19,018

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, contracts and trademarks. The weighted average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately eight years, for the customer-related intangible assets approximately nine years, for the technology approximately four years, and for the trademarks approximately two years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that $821,000 of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Our ThinkPets business is reported within our “All Other” category in our segment disclosures combined with our Medical Technology and Vetstreet operating segments.

2011 MediMedia Animal Health, LLC (“Vetstreet”)

On August 9, 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interests of Vetstreet, a provider of online and printed communications, professional education and marketing solutions to the veterinary community. The acquisition of Vetstreet expanded the breadth of our product offerings to the veterinary community. We acquired Vetstreet for a final purchase price of $146.4 million, net of cash acquired. The following table summarizes the final purchase price and final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

4. Acquisitions, continued

Consideration:
Cash	$	146,420
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
Tangible assets	$	8,565
Identifiable intangible assets(1)	45,810
Goodwill(2)	96,149
Other liabilities assumed	(4,104		)
Total	$	146,420

⁽¹⁾  Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, technology, trademarks, non-compete agreements and contracts. The weighted average amortization period for the total identifiable intangible assets is approximately nine years, for the customer-related intangible assets approximately ten years, for the technology and trademarks approximately seven years, for the non-compete agreements approximately two years and for the contracts approximately eight years.

⁽²⁾  We expected that all of the goodwill recognized would be fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Our Vetstreet business is reported within our “All Other” category in our segment disclosures combined with our Medical Technology operating segment.

Pro Forma Information (unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma financial information for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 presents, (i) the actual results of operations of our 2013 acquisitions and (ii) the combined results of operations for our company and our 2013 acquisitions as if those acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2012, the first day of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The pro forma financial information considers principally (i) our company’s financial results, (ii) the unaudited historical financial results of our acquisitions, and (iii) select pro forma adjustments to the historical financial results of our acquisitions. Such pro forma adjustments represent principally estimates of (i) the impact of the hypothetical amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) the recognition of fair value adjustments relating to tangible assets, (iii) adjustments reflecting the new capital structure, including additional financing or repayments of debt as part of the acquisitions and (iv) the tax effects of the acquisitions and related adjustments as if those acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what our consolidated results of operations would have been had we completed the acquisition at the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period.

In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information does not attempt to project the future results of operations of our company:

	Revenue	Net Income
	(Unaudited)
(In thousands):
Actual from acquisition date to December 31, 2013	12,615	1,350
2013 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013(1)	1,837,872	138,621
2012 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012(1)	1,819,693	47,385

⁽¹⁾  2013 supplemental pro forma net income was adjusted to exclude $869,000 of acquisition-related costs incurred in 2013. 2012 supplemental pro forma net income was adjusted to include these charges.

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Acquisitions (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$ (52,688)	$ (134,916)	$ (205,794)
Consideration:
Cash paid to holders of debt	2,360	0	0
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	(2,200)	(1,500)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	45,665	156,115
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	57,425	82,360	35,822
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	(3,336)	8,161	0
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Fair Value	0	(11,850)	0
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(52,688)	(78,629)	(34,243)
Consideration:
Cash paid for holdbacks	1,092	2,425	1,500
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	1,285	1,306	79
Fair value of total consideration transferred	57,425	82,360	35,822
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets	14,779	3,515	1,237
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	15,001	14,718	6,414
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	45,665	64,253	28,171
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	(11,084)	(126)	0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	64,361	82,360	35,822
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	(6,936)	0	0
Think Pets Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired		(7,468)
Consideration:
Cash paid for holdbacks		1,050
Fair value of total consideration transferred		19,018
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets		2,093
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill		7,221
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		12,155
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities		(2,451)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net		19,018
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Value Assigned		(10,500)
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	8 years
Animal Hospitals and Laboratory Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired		(48,819)
Consideration:
Cash paid to holders of debt		25,915
Fair value of total consideration transferred		74,734
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets		11,694
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill		25,170
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		79,707
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities		(21,826)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net		74,734
business acquisition purchase price allocation total		94,745
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination		8,161
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Fair Value		$ (11,850)
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	6 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Think Pets Inc [Member]
Consideration:
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	9 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Animal Hospitals and Laboratory Acquisitions [Member]
Consideration:
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	5 years

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

a.    Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), and include the accounts of our parent company, all majority-owned subsidiaries where we have control, certain fifty-percent owned subsidiaries where we possess the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies and certain veterinary medical groups to which we provide services as discussed below. We have eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances in consolidation.

We provide management and other administrative services to certain veterinary practices in states and Canadian provinces with laws, rules and regulations which require that veterinary medical practices be owned by licensed veterinarians and that corporations which are not owned by licensed veterinarians refrain from providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. In these states and Canadian provinces, we provide management and other administrative services to the veterinary medical practices. At December 31, 2013, we operated 176 animal hospitals in 15 of these states and 52 animal hospitals in four Canadian provinces, under management agreements with these veterinary practices. Pursuant to the management agreements, the veterinary medical practices are each solely responsible for all aspects of the practice of veterinary medicine, as defined by their respective state or province.

We have determined that the veterinary medical practices are variable interest entities as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and that we have a variable interest in those entities through our management agreements. We also determined that our variable interests in these veterinary medical practices, in aggregate with the variable interests held by our related parties, provide us with the power to direct the activities of these practices that most significantly impact their economic performance and obligate us to absorb losses that could potentially be significant or the right to receive benefits from the veterinary medical practices that could potentially be significant. Based on these determinations, we consolidated the veterinary medical practices in our consolidated financial statements.

b.    Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate at the balance sheet date, whereas revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the reporting period.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and realized transaction gains and losses are recorded in the results of operations.

c.    Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements and our reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates. Amounts subject to significant judgment and estimates include, but are not limited to, collectability of receivables, cash flows used in the evaluation of impairment of goodwill, cash flows used in the evaluation of impairment of long-lived assets, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, estimated redemption value of mandatorily redeemable partnership interests and inputs used for computing stock-based compensation.

d.    Revenue and Related Cost Recognition

General

We recognize revenue, barring other facts, when the following revenue recognition criteria are met:

• persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists;

• delivery of goods has occurred or services have been rendered;

• the sales price or fee is fixed or determinable; and

• collectability is reasonably assured.

Revenue is reported net of sales discounts and excludes sales taxes.

We generally recognize revenue and costs as follows:

• For non-contractual services provided by our business units, at the time services are rendered.

• For the sale of merchandise, when delivery of the goods has occurred.

• For services under defined support and maintenance contracts, on a straight-line basis over the contractual period, recognizing costs as incurred; these services include, but are not limited to, technical support, when-and-if available product updates for software and extended warranty coverage.

• For the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and ultrasound imaging equipment sold on a standalone basis, at the time title and risk of loss transfers to the customer, which is generally upon delivery or upon installation and customer acceptance if required per the sale arrangement.

• For the sale of reminder cards, when shipment has occurred.

Multiple Element Arrangements

We account for revenue for certain bundled products and services as follows:

• Sales arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method, whereby any discount in the arrangement is allocated proportionally to each deliverable on the basis of each deliverable’s selling price. The selling price for each deliverable is based on

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence (“TPE”) if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (“ESP”) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. For elements where VSOE is available, VSOE of fair value is based on the price for those products and services when sold separately by us or the price established by management with the relevant authority. TPE of selling price is the price of our, or any of our competitor’s, largely interchangeable products or services in stand-alone sales to similarly situated customers. ESP is generally calculated based upon multiple factors that vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. Key external and internal factors considered in developing the ESPs include prices charged by us for similar arrangements, historical pricing practices and the nature of the product. In addition, when developing ESPs, we may consider other factors as appropriate, including the pricing of competitive alternatives if they exist, and product-specific business objectives. We exercise significant judgment to evaluate the relevant facts and circumstances in calculating the ESP of the deliverables in our arrangements.

Digital radiography (“DR”) imaging equipment and all of its related computer equipment, our proprietary software and services in addition to any other computers sold with our proprietary software are accounted for under the FASB’s accounting guidance related to multiple-deliverable transactions.

We do not currently have VSOE for our DR imaging equipment as units are not sold on a stand-alone basis without the related support packages. As this is also true for our competitors, TPE of selling price is also unavailable. We therefore use the ESP to allocate the arrangement consideration related to our DR imaging equipment.

In domestic markets we have VSOE for our post-contract customer support (“PCS”) as the support package is sold on a stand-alone basis. Our PCS agreements normally include a warranty on the receptor plate and technical support on the software elements. In foreign markets however, we do not have VSOE or TPE on the receptor plate warranties, accordingly we use the ESP.

In certain transactions we sell our ultrasound imaging equipment and related services together with our DR imaging equipment and related services. In these transactions, we account for each item under its respective literature and allocate revenue based upon the relative selling prices.

In certain transactions with pharmaceutical companies we sell subscriptions to our portal products together with other marketing related services. We account for these arrangements under the multiple-deliverable accounting, mentioned above; with the arrangement consideration allocated using the relative selling prices.

Deferred Revenue

We defer revenue for certain transactions as follows:

• We defer revenue for pre-paid services such as our consulting, marketing, education services or PCS and recognize that revenue on a straight-line basis over the contract period or as the services are provided depending on the nature of the service.

• We defer revenue for PCS provided as part of the purchase of equipment and software and recognize that revenue on a straight-line basis over the PCS period.

• We defer revenue when we lack persuasive evidence of a sales agreement and recognize that revenue only when that evidence exists.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

As a result of these policies, we have deferred revenue and costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisting of the following (in thousands):

	2013		2012
Deferred equipment revenue(1)	$	811	$	735
Deferred fixed-priced support or maintenance contract revenue	3,854		3,383
Other deferred revenue(2)	6,578		6,828
Total deferred revenue	11,243		10,946
Less current portion included in other accrued liabilities	11,190		10,811
Long-term portion of deferred revenue included in other liabilities	$	53	$	135
Current portion of deferred costs included in prepaid expenses and other	$	502	$	709
Long-term portion of deferred costs included in other assets	698		1,099
Total deferred costs(3)	$	1,200	$	1,808

⁽¹⁾  Represents amounts received for sales arrangements that include equipment, hardware, software and PCS. See above discussion for the accounting guidance pertaining to revenue recognition — multiple-deliverable transactions.

⁽²⁾  Represents amounts received in advance for services.

⁽³⁾  Represents costs related to warranties, equipment and hardware included in deferred equipment revenue.

Customer Loyalty Programs

We record reductions to revenue related to customer incentive programs, which include various forms of cash consideration. Incentives may be provided in the form of credits, coupons or loans and are earned by clients upon entering into an agreement to purchase products or services in future periods while maintaining defined volume purchase or utilization levels. These incentives are capitalized and recognized as a reduction to revenue over the term of the customer agreement. We monitor customer purchases over the term of their agreement to assess the realizability of our capitalized customer acquisition costs. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we did not have any impaired customer acquisition costs.

e.    Direct Costs

Direct costs are comprised of all service and product costs, including but not limited to, salaries of veterinarians, technicians and other hospital-based, laboratory-based personnel, and content-development personnel, transportation and delivery costs, facilities rent, occupancy costs, supply costs, depreciation and amortization, certain marketing and promotional expenses and costs of goods sold.

f.    Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider only highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than 90 days to be cash equivalents. We maintain balances in our bank accounts that are in excess of FDIC insured levels.

g.    Inventory

Our inventory consists primarily of finished goods and includes imaging equipment, pet food and products and medical supplies. It is valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method and is adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments and market conditions.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

h.    Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Equipment held under capital leases is recorded at the lower of the present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the equipment at the beginning of the lease term.

We develop and implement new software to be used internally, or enhance our existing internal software. We develop the software using our own employees and/or outside consultants. We capitalize software development costs when application development begins, it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used as intended. We expense costs associated with preliminary project stage activities, training, maintenance and all other post implementation stage activities as we incur these costs. The capitalized costs are amortized over the expected useful lives of the software. Costs related to upgrades or enhancements of existing systems are capitalized if the modifications result in additional functionality.

Depreciation and amortization are recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements	5 to 40 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or 15 years
Furniture and equipment	3 to 10 years
Software	3 to 10 years
Equipment held under capital leases	5 to 10 years

Depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of property under capital leases, in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $56.5 million, $53.5 million and $43.6 million, respectively.

Property and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of (in thousands):

	2013			2012
Land	$	58,545		$	56,162
Building and improvements	142,099			137,614
Leasehold improvements	176,487			140,944
Furniture and equipment	272,820			243,429
Software	42,524			32,676
Buildings held under capital leases	59,555			30,550
Equipment held under capital leases	835			849
Construction in progress	9,999			35,683
Total property and equipment	762,864			677,907
Less — accumulated depreciation and amortization	(314,498		)	(274,463		)
Total property and equipment, net	$	448,366		$	403,444

Accumulated amortization on buildings and equipment held under capital leases amounted to $13.7 million and $10.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

i.    Operating Leases

Most of our facilities are under operating leases. The minimum lease payments, including predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent, are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term as defined in the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to leases. The lease term includes contractual renewal options that are reasonably assured based on significant leasehold improvements acquired. Any leasehold improvement incentives paid to us by a landlord are recorded as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

j.    Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). In accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance pertaining to goodwill and other intangibles, we have determined that we have four reporting units: Animal Hospital, Laboratory, Medical Technology and Vetstreet. Annually, or sooner if circumstances indicate an impairment may exist, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units and compare their estimated fair value against the net book value of those reporting units to determine if our goodwill is impaired.

The recognition and measurement of a goodwill impairment loss involves either a qualitative assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit or a more detailed quantitative two-step process. We have not presently elected to rely on a qualitative assessment, accordingly we measure our goodwill for impairment based upon the two-step process. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit’s assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is required to be recorded as an impairment.

We recorded impairment charges in 2012 related to our Vetstreet reporting unit and in 2011 related to our Medical Technology reporting unit. For additional information related to goodwill impairment, see Note 5, Goodwill.

Our estimated reporting unit fair values are calculated using valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. These valuation methods involve the use of significant assumptions and estimates such as forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, the weighted-average cost of capital, and risk premiums. Consumer spending habits for our business are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. We believe these factors have and may continue to impact consumer spending for our products and services. Deterioration in consumer spending habits for our business would negatively impact the value of our reporting units and could result in additional goodwill impairment. Any potential impairment charge could be material and would be reflected as expense in our consolidated statements of income. We provide no assurance that forecasted growth rates, valuation multiples, and discount

rates will not deteriorate in the near term. We will continue to analyze changes to these assumptions in future periods. We adopted the end of October as our annual impairment testing date. Our October 31, 2013 impairment test indicated that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount and therefore step two of the two-step impairment test was unnecessary. Our October 31, 2012 impairment test, however, indicated that we had a $99.5 million goodwill impairment related to our Vetstreet reporting unit. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment. The Vetstreet and Medical Technology reporting units are each included in the “All Other” category of our disclosures in Note 15, Lines of Business.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

k.    Other Intangible Assets

In addition to goodwill, we have amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012, as follows (in thousands):

	2013							2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	109,842	$	(41,895	)	$	67,947	$	110,404	$	(36,605	)	$	73,799
Covenants not-to-compete	8,843		(4,661		)	4,182		12,707		(7,357		)	5,350
Favorable lease asset	7,458		(4,373		)	3,085		7,228		(3,866		)	3,362
Technology	5,240		(3,015		)	2,225		6,588		(4,179		)	2,409
Trademarks	13,115		(4,194		)	8,921		12,494		(3,001		)	9,493
Contracts	608		(305		)	303		956		(570		)	386
Client lists	50		(42		)	8		50		(26		)	24
Total	$	145,156	$	(58,485	)	$	86,671	$	150,427	$	(55,604	)	$	94,823

The recoverability of the carrying values of all intangible assets with finite lives is re-evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate an asset's value may be impaired. We perform a quarterly review of identified intangible assets to determine if facts and circumstances indicate that the useful life is shorter than we had originally estimated or that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If such facts and circumstances exist, we assess recoverability by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their remaining lives against their respective carrying amounts. Impairments, if any, are based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets. If the useful life is shorter than originally estimated, we accelerate the rate of amortization and amortize the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life.

Our October 31, 2012 impairment test indicated that we had a $22.9 million intangible asset impairment related to non-contractual customer relationships, technology, trademarks and contracts related to Vetstreet. Our determination in 2012 that the fair value of the intangible assets was less than carrying value was based upon changes in our estimate of forecasted cash flows related to changes in both our overall business strategy and the overall competitive environment as mentioned above. The fair values of the impaired intangibles were calculated utilizing valuation methods consisting primarily of discounted cash flow techniques, and market comparables, where applicable. The impairment is included under the caption "Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets" in our consolidated income statement.

Amortization is recognized on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Non-contractual hospital customer relationships	5 years
Non-contractual laboratory customer relationships	20 to 25 years
All other non-contractual customer relationships	3 to 10 years
Covenants not-to-compete	2 to 25 years
Favorable lease asset	1 to 18 years
Technology	5 to 7 years
Trademarks	2 to 10 years
Contracts	6 years
Client lists	3 years

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

The following table summarizes our aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Aggregate amortization expense	$	20,934	$	22,731	$	13,391

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter at December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	21,342
2015	18,999
2016	15,689
2017	9,321
2018	5,649
Thereafter	15,671
Total	$	86,671

l.    Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes. In accordance with the guidance, we record deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, which represent taxes to be recovered or settled in the future. We adjust our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to reflect changes in tax rates or other statutory tax provisions. We make judgments in assessing our ability to realize future benefits from our deferred tax assets, which include operating and capital loss carryforwards. As such, we have a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets for the portion we believe will not be realized. Changes in tax rates or other statutory provisions are recognized in the period the change occurs. We also assess differences between our probable tax bases and the as-filed tax bases of certain assets and liabilities.

We account for unrecognized tax benefits also in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance on income taxes which prescribe a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

m.    Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are financial instruments issued in the normal course of business and are not market traded. The amounts recorded approximate fair value and are shown net of valuation allowances. There were no valuation allowances recorded as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The notes bear interest at rates varying from 2.6% to 8.0% per annum.

n.    Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the related debt. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing costs was $1.2 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

o.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk

The carrying amount reported in our consolidated balance sheets for cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Our policy is to place our cash and cash equivalents in highly-rated financial instruments and institutions,which we believe mitigates our credit risk. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the diversity of our customer base. We routinely review the collection of our accounts receivable and maintain an allowance for potential credit losses, but historically have not experienced any significant losses related to an individual customer or groups of customers in a geographic area.

Our operations depend, in some cases, on the ability of single source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers, to deliver products and supplies on a timely basis. We have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, shortages of or difficulties in acquiring products and supplies in the quantities and of the quality needed. Shortages in the availability of products and supplies for an extended period of time could have a negative impact on our operating results.

p.    Marketing and Advertising

Marketing and advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total marketing and advertising expense included in direct costs amounted to $25.4 million, $25.3 million and $25.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total marketing and advertising expense included in selling, general and administrative expense amounted to $5.9 million, $7.6 million and $3.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

q.    Insurance and Self-Insurance

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance with high-retention or high-deductible provisions for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, property insurance and our group health insurance benefits.

Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated based on an undiscounted basis by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.

r.    Product Warranties

We accrue the cost of basic product warranties included with the sale of our digital radiography imaging equipment and our ultrasound imaging equipment at the time we sell these units to our customers. Our warranty costs are primarily for our assistance in helping our customers resolve issues with the warranties they have with the original equipment manufacturers. We estimate our warranty costs based on historical warranty claim experience. Accrued warranty costs at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $73,000 and $70,000, respectively.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

s.    Calculation of Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	88,621		87,681		86,606
Effect of dilutive potential common stock:
Stock options	305		479		560
Non-vested shares and units	737		511		228
Diluted	89,663		88,671		87,394
Basic earnings per common share	$	1.55	$	0.52	$	1.10
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.53	$	0.51	$	1.09

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, potential common shares of 43,300, 1.0 million and 1.2 million, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

t.    Share-Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation in accordance with FASB’s accounting guidance on stock compensation. Accordingly, we measure the cost of share-based payments based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments and recognize the cost over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period.

Our company’s share-based employee compensation plans are described further in Note 10, Share-Based Compensation.

u.    Acquisitions

We account for acquisitions based upon the provisions of the FASB’s accounting guidance on business combinations. Accordingly, acquisitions are accounted for at fair value under the acquisition method of accounting. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred; noncontrolling interests are valued at fair value at the acquisition date; and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date generally affect income tax expense.

v.    Litigation

We are party to various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. We closely monitor these claims and lawsuits and frequently consult with our legal counsel to determine whether they may, when resolved, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations and accrue and/or disclose loss contingencies as appropriate.

w.   Corrections    

During 2013, we recorded a $2.8 million immaterial out-of-period non-cash physical inventory adjustment in our Animal Hospital business segment which resulted in a debit to inventory and a credit to direct costs.

During 2012, we recorded a $3.1 million immaterial out-of-period adjustment to depreciation expense related to our acquired capital leases, which resulted in a debit to depreciation expense and a credit to property and equipment, net.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

During 2011, we recorded an immaterial out-of-period adjustment related to our deferred revenue and related deferred cost for certain equipment sales governed by revised accounting guidance related to multiple element arrangements. The correction resulted in the recognition of $4.0 million of previously deferred revenue and $3.8 million of previously deferred costs in our Medical Technology operating segment that should have been recognized in prior periods.

We have analyzed the impact of each of these items and concluded that none of the adjustments would be material to any individual period, taking into account the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). In accordance with the relevant guidance, we evaluated the materiality of errors from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Based on such evaluation, we concluded that correcting the errors would not have had a material impact on any individual prior period presented in the 2013 Form 10-K nor would it have affected the trend of financial results. As provided by SAB 108, the error correction did not require the restatement of the consolidated financial statements for prior periods.

XML

The Company

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The Company

1. The Company

Our company, VCA Antech, Inc. (“VCA”) is a Delaware corporation formed in 1986 and is based in Los Angeles, California. We are an animal healthcare company with the following four operating segments: animal hospitals (“Animal Hospital”), veterinary diagnostic laboratories (“Laboratory”), veterinary medical technology (“Medical Technology”) and Vetstreet.

Our animal hospitals offer a full range of general medical and surgical services for companion animals. Our animal hospitals treat diseases and injuries, provide pharmaceutical products and perform a variety of pet-wellness programs, including health examinations, diagnostic testing, vaccinations, spaying, neutering and dental care. At December 31, 2013, we operated or managed 609 animal hospitals throughout 41 states and four Canadian provinces.

We operate a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory network serving all 50 states and certain areas in Canada. Our laboratory network provides sophisticated testing and consulting services used by veterinarians in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, treatment and prevention of diseases and other conditions affecting animals. At December 31, 2013, we operated 56 laboratories of various sizes located strategically throughout the United States and Canada.

Our Medical Technology business sells digital radiography and ultrasound imaging equipment, provides education and training on the use of that equipment, provides consulting and mobile imaging services, and sells software and ancillary services to the veterinary market.

Our Vetstreet business provides online and print communications, professional education, marketing solutions to the veterinary community and an ecommerce platform for independent animal hospitals.

XML

Goodwill (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Goodwill [Line Items]

Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]

5. Goodwill

The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of our goodwill for 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	$	1,035,401		$	96,810		$	126,706		$	1,258,917
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(21,310		)	(21,310		)
Subtotal	1,035,401			96,810			105,396			1,237,607
Goodwill acquired	143,926			34			12,155			156,115
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(99,501		)	(99,501		)
Foreign translation adjustment	1,281			17			—			1,298
Other (1)	(3,260		)	—			(1,028		)	(4,288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	1,177,348			96,861			137,833			1,412,042
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,177,348			96,861			17,022			1,291,231
Goodwill acquired	45,615			50			—			45,665
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,651		)	(40		)	—			(5,691		)
Other(1)	(731		)	—			443			(288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	1,216,581			96,871			138,276			1,451,728
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	17,465		$	1,330,917

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, "Other" primarily includes measurement period adjustments and a write-off related to a sale of an animal hospital. In 2012, "Other" includes acquisition-price adjustments, which consist primarily of an adjustment related to capital leases and buy outs of noncontrolling interest partners.

Goodwill Impairment Charges

2012 Charge

Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at least annually. We perform our annual impairment test as of October 31st. Goodwill is also tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.

We performed our annual test of goodwill as of October 31, 2012 for all of our reporting units. We determined that each of our reporting unit's fair value exceeded their respective carrying values with the exception of our Vetstreet reporting unit. Management ultimately determined that there was impairment to Vetstreet's goodwill primarily due to (i) less than anticipated financial performance for fiscal 2012, including with respect to revenue and operating cash flow, and (ii) new revenue and operating profit growth projections that were significantly lower than previous projections. Accordingly, we recorded a $99.5 million impairment charge during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Revenue and operating profit growth projections were lowered as a result of continued operational delays in part due to our upgrading and migration of Vetstreet's information technology systems from their former parent to ours. Corporate data center. Additionally, we have changed Vetstreet's overall business strategy to better accommodate the needs of the veterinary community. The projected cash flows under our revised strategy were significantly lower than under our

5. Goodwill, continued

previous plan. Finally, our revised forecast reflected the impact of new well-capitalized entrants to this business which resulted in increased competition.

The impairment test for goodwill uses a two-step approach, which is performed at the reporting unit level. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and Step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its implied fair value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit's assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is recorded as an impairment.

In performing Step one of the impairment test, we estimated the fair value of the reporting unit using a combination of the income and market approaches with greater emphasis placed on the income approach, for purposes of estimating the total enterprise value.

The income approach is based on a discounted cash flow analysis and calculates the fair value of the reporting unit by estimating the after-tax cash flows attributable to the reporting unit and then discounting the after-tax cash flows to a present value, using a weighted average cost of capital ("WACC"). The WACC utilized in our analysis using the income approach was 15.5%. The WACC is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required for equity and debt holders of a business enterprise. The reporting unit's cost of equity and debt was developed based on data and factors relevant to the economy, the industry and the reporting unit. The cost of equity was estimated using the capital asset pricing model ("CAPM"). The CAPM uses a risk-free rate of return and an appropriate market risk premium for equity investments and the specific risks of the investment. The analysis also included comparisons to a group of guideline companies engaged in the same or similar businesses. The cost of debt was estimated using the current after-tax average borrowing cost that a market participant would expect to pay to obtain its debt financing assuming a target capital structure.

The market approach is based on the guideline publicly traded company method to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Due to the significant lack of guideline public companies, little weight was given to this approach. Under this method, market multiples ratios were applied to the reporting unit's earnings with consideration given to our size, product offerings, growth, and other relevant factors compared to those of the guideline companies. The guideline companies selected were engaged in the same or a similar line of business as us. Market multiples were then selected based on consideration of risk, growth, and profitability differences between us and the guideline companies. The selected market multiples were then multiplied by our October 31, 2012 revenue to arrive at an estimate of fair value.

Based on the above analysis, it was determined that the carrying value of the Vetstreet reporting unit including goodwill exceeded the fair value of the reporting unit, requiring us to perform step two of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any.

In performing step two of the goodwill impairment test, we compared the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its carrying value of goodwill. This test resulted in a non-cash, goodwill impairment charge of $99.5 million ($60.6 million after-tax), which was recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2012. This charge had no impact on our cash flows or our compliance with debt covenants.

The fair value estimates used in the goodwill impairment analysis required significant judgment. The Company's fair value estimates for purposes of determining the goodwill impairment charge are considered Level 3 fair value measurements.

We based our fair value estimates on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable but that are inherently uncertain, including estimates of future revenues and operating margins and assumptions about the overall economic climate and the competitive environment for our business. Our estimates assumed that revenues would decline into the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions will prove to be accurate predictions of the future. If our assumptions regarding business plans, competitive environments or anticipated operating results are not correct, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	$	1,035,401		$	96,810		$	126,706		$	1,258,917
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(21,310		)	(21,310		)
Subtotal	1,035,401			96,810			105,396			1,237,607
Goodwill acquired	143,926			34			12,155			156,115
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(99,501		)	(99,501		)
Foreign translation adjustment	1,281			17			—			1,298
Other (1)	(3,260		)	—			(1,028		)	(4,288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	1,177,348			96,861			137,833			1,412,042
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,177,348			96,861			17,022			1,291,231
Goodwill acquired	45,615			50			—			45,665
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,651		)	(40		)	—			(5,691		)
Other(1)	(731		)	—			443			(288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	1,216,581			96,871			138,276			1,451,728
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	17,465		$	1,330,917

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, "Other" primarily includes measurement period adjustments and a write-off related to a sale of an animal hospital. In 2012, "Other" includes acquisition-price adjustments, which consist primarily of an adjustment related to capital leases and buy outs of noncontrolling interest partners.

XML

Other Accrued Liabilities (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Rent, Current

$ 2,547

$ 888

Other accrued liabilities

Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2013		2012
Deferred revenue	$	11,190	$	10,811
Accrued health insurance	5,479		6,409
Deferred rent	4,331		3,604
Accrued other insurance	4,381		3,799
Miscellaneous accrued taxes (1)	2,804		3,485
Accrued workers' compensation	3,267		3,570
Holdbacks and earn-outs	3,040		3,599
Customer deposits	3,075		3,140
Accrued consulting fees	3,028		3,114
Accrued lease payments	2,547		888
Other	15,620		14,712
	$	58,762	$	57,131

⁽¹⁾ Includes property, sales, and use taxes.

Deferred revenue

11,190

10,811

Accrued health insurance

5,479

6,409

Deferred rent

4,331

3,604

accruedotherinsurance

4,381

3,799

Holdbacks And Earn Outs Current

3,040

3,599

Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes

2,804

3,485

Workers' Compensation Liability, Current

3,267

3,570

Customer deposits

3,075

3,140

Accrued consulting fees

3,028

3,114

Other

15,620

14,712

Other accrued liabilities

$ 58,762

$ 57,131

XML

Lines of Business (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
External revenue									1,803,369	1,699,642	1,485,361
Revenue, Net	435,453	464,055	465,255	438,606	418,192	433,613	438,372	409,465	1,803,369	1,699,642	1,485,361
Gross Profit	87,486	110,677	114,294	96,923	81,807	99,181	100,607	93,379	409,380	374,974	338,457
Direct costs									1,393,989	1,324,668	1,146,904
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									157,911	157,155	121,112
Operating income before significant charges									251,469	217,819	217,345
Goodwill, Impairment Loss					123,600					99,501	21,310
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment										(123,573)
Asset Impairment Charges									0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									2,455	1,310	382
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Description of Revenue from External Customers									*Revenues are determined based on the location of the customer.
Operating income (loss)	45,923	72,039	75,701	55,351	(83,553)	61,186	61,498	53,805	249,014	92,936	195,653
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									1,803,369	1,699,642	1,485,361
Assets	2,237,781				2,091,580				2,237,781	2,091,580	1,995,368
Depreciation and amortization									77,409	76,227	56,988
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									73,270	76,807	63,485
Animal Hospital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties									0	0	0
External revenue									1,417,908	1,331,314	1,150,120
Revenue, Net									1,417,908	1,331,314	1,150,120
Gross Profit									209,127	189,111	179,810
Direct costs									1,208,781	1,142,203	970,310
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									34,133	30,826	24,342
Operating income before significant charges									174,994	158,285	155,468
Goodwill, Impairment Loss										0	0
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment										(1,216)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									2,853	713	327
Operating income (loss)									172,141	156,356	155,141
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									1,417,908	1,331,314	1,150,120
Assets	1,854,609				1,648,578				1,854,609	1,648,578	1,439,103
Depreciation and amortization									57,748	54,835	40,319
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									54,116	55,651	45,753
Laboratory [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties									54,248	52,395	44,329
External revenue									290,583	275,406	272,468
Revenue, Net									344,831	327,801	316,797
Gross Profit									163,879	151,761	143,790
Direct costs									180,952	176,040	173,007
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									31,915	29,660	27,864
Operating income before significant charges									131,964	122,101	115,926
Goodwill, Impairment Loss										0	0
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment										0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									(77)	(14)	21
Operating income (loss)									132,041	122,115	115,905
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									290,583	275,406	272,468
Assets	247,591				244,551				247,591	244,551	232,423
Depreciation and amortization									10,251	10,141	10,111
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									11,148	8,334	6,082
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties									21,054	22,344	18,694
External revenue									91,686	90,616	61,736
Revenue, Net									112,740	112,960	80,430
Gross Profit									38,601	38,707	20,971
Direct costs									74,139	74,253	59,459
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									32,941	37,879	19,136
Operating income before significant charges									5,660	828	1,835
Goodwill, Impairment Loss										99,501	21,310
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment										(122,357)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									7	717	27
Operating income (loss)									5,653	(122,246)	(19,502)
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									91,686	90,616	61,736
Assets	96,245				98,159				96,245	98,159	202,187
Depreciation and amortization									7,909	9,582	5,022
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									4,288	5,921	6,448
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties									0	0	0
External revenue									0	0	0
Revenue, Net									0	0	0
Gross Profit									0	0	0
Direct costs									0	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									58,922	58,790	49,770
Operating income before significant charges									(58,922)	(58,790)	(49,770)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss											0
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment										0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									(328)	(106)	7
Operating income (loss)									(58,594)	(58,684)	(49,777)
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									0	0	0
Assets	77,153				127,963				77,153	127,963	142,793
Depreciation and amortization									3,284	3,198	2,853
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									5,908	9,695	7,299
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties									(75,302)	(74,739)	(63,023)
External revenue									3,192	2,306	1,037
Revenue, Net									(72,110)	(72,433)	(61,986)
Gross Profit									(2,227)	(4,605)	(6,114)
Direct costs									(69,883)	(67,828)	(55,872)
Selling, General and Administrative Expense									0	0	0
Operating income before significant charges									(2,227)	(4,605)	(6,114)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss											0
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment										0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									(2,227)	(4,605)	(6,114)
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									3,192	2,306	1,037
Assets	(37,817)				(27,671)				(37,817)	(27,671)	(21,138)
Depreciation and amortization									(1,783)	(1,529)	(1,317)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									(2,190)	(2,794)	(2,097)
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External revenue									1,671,170	1,589,588	1,474,294
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									1,671,170	1,589,588	1,474,294
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External revenue									132,199	110,054	11,067
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Entity's Country of Domicile									$ 132,199	$ 110,054	$ 11,067

XML

Long-Term Obligations (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	$ 51,089
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	54,708
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	461,452
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	3,490
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	3,805
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	45,101
Long-term Debt	557,144	592,688
Capital Lease Obligations	62,501	37,955
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.75%
Leverage Ratio	1.81
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	619,645	630,643
Senior Notes [Member]
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	47,574
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	51,289
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	458,281
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	0
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	3,515
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	3,419
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	3,171
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	3,490
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	3,805
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	$ 45,101
Leverage Ratio Level One [Member]
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.50%
Leverage Ratio	≥ 2.50:1.00
Leverage Ratio Level Two [Member]
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.75%
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.375%
Leverage Ratio	< 2.50:1.00 and ≥ 1.75:1.00
Leverage Ratio Level Three [Member]
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.50%
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.25%
Leverage Ratio	< 1.75:1.00 and ≥ 1.00:1.00
Leverage Ratio Level Four [Member]
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.20%
Leverage Ratio	< 1.00:1.00

XML

Goodwill (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Goodwill [Line Items]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	$	1,035,401		$	96,810		$	126,706		$	1,258,917
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(21,310		)	(21,310		)
Subtotal	1,035,401			96,810			105,396			1,237,607
Goodwill acquired	143,926			34			12,155			156,115
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(99,501		)	(99,501		)
Foreign translation adjustment	1,281			17			—			1,298
Other (1)	(3,260		)	—			(1,028		)	(4,288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	1,177,348			96,861			137,833			1,412,042
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,177,348			96,861			17,022			1,291,231
Goodwill acquired	45,615			50			—			45,665
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,651		)	(40		)	—			(5,691		)
Other(1)	(731		)	—			443			(288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	1,216,581			96,871			138,276			1,451,728
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	17,465		$	1,330,917

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, "Other" primarily includes measurement period adjustments and a write-off related to a sale of an animal hospital. In 2012, "Other" includes acquisition-price adjustments, which consist primarily of an adjustment related to capital leases and buy outs of noncontrolling interest partners.

Goodwill, Gross

$ 1,412,042,000

$ 1,451,728,000

$ 1,412,042,000

$ 1,258,917,000

Goodwill

1,291,231,000

1,330,917,000

1,291,231,000

1,237,607,000

Goodwill, Translation Adjustments

(5,691,000)

1,298,000

Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments

(288,000)

(4,288,000)

Goodwill, Impairment Loss

(123,600,000)

(99,501,000)

(21,310,000)

Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate

15.50%

Goodwill Impairment Loss, Net of Tax Benefit

60,600,000

Goodwill, Acquired During Period

45,665,000

156,115,000

Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss

(120,811,000)

120,811,000

(120,811,000)

(21,310,000)

Animal Hospital [Member]

Goodwill [Line Items]

Goodwill, Gross

1,177,348,000

1,216,581,000

1,177,348,000

1,035,401,000

Goodwill

1,177,348,000

1,216,581,000

1,177,348,000

1,035,401,000

Goodwill, Translation Adjustments

(5,651,000)

1,281,000

Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments

(731,000)

(3,260,000)

Goodwill, Impairment Loss

0

0

Goodwill, Acquired During Period

45,615,000

143,926,000

Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss

0

0

0

0

Laboratory [Member]

Goodwill [Line Items]

Goodwill, Gross

96,861,000

96,871,000

96,861,000

96,810,000

Goodwill

96,861,000

96,871,000

96,861,000

96,810,000

Goodwill, Translation Adjustments

(40,000)

17,000

Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments

0

0

Goodwill, Impairment Loss

0

0

Goodwill, Acquired During Period

50,000

34,000

Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss

0

0

0

0

Other Segments [Member]

Goodwill [Line Items]

Goodwill, Gross

137,833,000

138,276,000

137,833,000

126,706,000

Goodwill

17,022,000

17,465,000

17,022,000

105,396,000

Goodwill, Translation Adjustments

0

0

Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments

443,000

(1,028,000)

Goodwill, Impairment Loss

(99,501,000)

(21,310,000)

Goodwill, Acquired During Period

0

12,155,000

Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss

$ (120,811,000)

$ 120,811,000

$ (120,811,000)

$ (21,310,000)

XML

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	15.50%
Allowance for uncollectible accounts
Balance at the beginning of the period		$ 17,702	$ 14,978
Balance at the End of the period	$ 16,546	$ 17,702	$ 14,978

XML

Goodwill (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Goodwill [Line Items]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2011
Goodwill	$	1,035,401		$	96,810		$	126,706		$	1,258,917
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(21,310		)	(21,310		)
Subtotal	1,035,401			96,810			105,396			1,237,607
Goodwill acquired	143,926			34			12,155			156,115
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(99,501		)	(99,501		)
Foreign translation adjustment	1,281			17			—			1,298
Other (1)	(3,260		)	—			(1,028		)	(4,288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	1,177,348			96,861			137,833			1,412,042
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,177,348			96,861			17,022			1,291,231
Goodwill acquired	45,615			50			—			45,665
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,651		)	(40		)	—			(5,691		)
Other(1)	(731		)	—			443			(288		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	1,216,581			96,871			138,276			1,451,728
Accumulated Impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	17,465		$	1,330,917

⁽¹⁾  In 2013, "Other" primarily includes measurement period adjustments and a write-off related to a sale of an animal hospital. In 2012, "Other" includes acquisition-price adjustments, which consist primarily of an adjustment related to capital leases and buy outs of noncontrolling interest partners.

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	$ 762,864	$ 677,907
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	(314,498)	(274,463)
Total property and equipment, net	448,366	403,444
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	58,545	56,162
Buildings and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	142,099	137,614
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	176,487	140,944
Furniture and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	272,820	243,429
Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	42,524	32,676
Buildings held under capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	59,555	30,550
Equipment held under capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	835	849
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	(13,700)	(10,500)
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Total property and equipment	$ 9,999	$ 35,683

XML

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

11. Commitments and Contingencies

a.    Leases

We operate many of our animal hospitals from premises that are leased under operating leases with terms, including renewal options, ranging from five to 35 years. Certain leases include fair-value purchase options that can be exercised at our discretion at various times within the lease terms.

The future minimum lease payments on operating leases at December 31, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	69,353
2015	68,975
2016	68,466
2017	67,338
2018	65,946
Thereafter	733,705
Total	$	1,073,783

Rent expense totaled $67.6 million, $66.0 million and $55.2 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Rental income totaled $1,049,000, $955,000 and $920,000 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

b.    Purchase Commitments

Under the terms of certain purchase agreements, we have aggregate commitments to purchase approximately $13.5 million of products and services through 2016.

c.    Earn-out Payments

We have contractual arrangements in connection with certain acquisitions, whereby additional cash may be paid to former owners of acquired companies upon attainment of specified financial criteria as set forth in the respective agreements. The amount to be paid cannot be determined until the earn-out periods have expired and the attainment of criteria is established. If the specified financial criteria are attained, we will be obligated to pay an additional $2.6 million.

In accordance with business combination accounting guidance, contingent consideration, such as earn-out agreements, are recognized as part of the consideration transferred on the acquisition date. A liability is initially recorded based upon its acquisition date fair value. The changes in fair value are recognized in earnings where applicable at each reporting period. The fair value is determined using a contractually stated formula using either a multiple of revenue or Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). The formulas used to determine the estimated fair value are level 3 inputs. The changes in fair value were immaterial to our consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. We recorded $2.2 million and $1.5 million in earnout liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which are included in other accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

d.    Holdbacks

In connection with certain acquisitions, we withheld a portion of the purchase price, or the holdback, as security for indemnification obligations of the sellers under the acquisition agreement. The amounts withheld are typically payable within a 12-month period. The total outstanding holdbacks at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $886,000 and $2.2 million, respectively, and are included in other accrued liabilities.

We paid $2.4 million, $2.7 million and $1.8 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, to sellers for the unused portion of holdbacks.

11. Commitments and Contingencies, continued

e.    Other Contingencies

On May 29, 2013, a former veterinary assistant at one of our animal hospitals filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, titled Jorge Duran vs. VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc., et. al. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of current and former veterinary assistants employed by us in California, and alleges, among other allegations, that we improperly failed to pay overtime wages, improperly failed to

provide proper meal and rest periods, and engaged in unfair business practices. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

Additionally, on July 12, 2013, an individual who provided courier services with respect to our laboratory clients in California filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Clara - San Jose Branch, titled Carlos Lopez vs. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, Antech Diagnostics, Inc., et. al. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, is a company with which Antech has contracted to provide courier services in California. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of individuals who were engaged by Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC to perform such courier services and alleges, among other allegations, that Logistics Delivery Solutions, and Antech Diagnostics improperly classified the plaintiffs as independent contractors, improperly failed to pay overtime wages, and improperly failed to provide proper meal and rest periods. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

We are vigorously defending these lawsuits. Because these lawsuits are in the initial stages, the financial impact to us, if any, cannot be estimated.

We have certain contingent liabilities resulting from litigation and claims incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We believe that the probable resolution of such contingencies will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

XML

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	$	1,208,080		$	1,078,606
Intercompany receivable	99,260			104,897
Total assets	$	1,307,340		$	1,183,503
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock	$	89		$	88
Additional paid-in capital	384,721			390,359
Retained earnings	928,720			791,209
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,190		)	1,847
Total stockholders’ equity	$	1,307,340		$	1,183,503

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Statements of Income

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Revenue	$	—	$	—	$	—
Direct costs	—		—		—
Gross profit	—		—		—
Selling, general and administrative expense	—		—		—
Loss on sale of assets	—		—		—
Operating income	—		—		—
Interest income, net	—		—		—
Equity interest in income of subsidiaries	137,511		45,551		95,405
Income before provision for income taxes	137,511		45,551		95,405
Provision for income taxes	—		—		—
Net income	137,511		45,551		95,405
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—		—		—
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$	137,511	$	45,551	$	95,405

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	137,511		$	45,551		$	95,405
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity interest in earnings of subsidiaries	(137,511		)	(45,551		)	(95,405		)
Increase in intercompany receivable	—			—			(3,999		)
Net cash used in operating activities	—			—			(3,999		)
Cash flows provided by investing activities:
Other	(17,233		)	(9,533		)	—
Net cash used in investing activities	(17,233		)	(9,533		)	—
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock option plans	17,233			9,533			3,999
Net cash provided by financing activities	17,233			9,533			3,999
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	—			—			—
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	—			—			—
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	—		$	—		$	—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

VCA Antech, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Schedule I — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

VCA Antech, Inc. (Parent Company)

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 State province Hospital	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Marketing and Advertising Expenses Direct Cost	$ 25,400,000	$ 25,300,000	$ 25,200,000
Number Of Animal Hospitals Where Management Services Are Provided	176
Number Of States In Which Management Services Are Provided To Animal Hospitals	15
Deferred revenue and costs
Deferred equipment revenue	811,000	735,000
Deferred fixed priced support or maintenance contract revenue	3,854,000	3,383,000
Other deferred revenue	6,578,000	6,828,000
Total deferred revenue	11,243,000	10,946,000
Deferred Revenue, Current	11,190,000	10,811,000
Long-term portion of deferred revenue included in other liabilities	53,000	135,000
Current portion of deferred costs included in prepaid expenses and other	502,000	709,000
Long-term portion of deferred costs included in other assets	698,000	1,099,000
Total deferred costs	1,200,000	1,808,000
Marketing And Advertising Expense Included In Selling General And Administrative	$ 5,900,000	$ 7,600,000	$ 3,200,000

XML

Noncontrolling Interests mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Securities Subject to Mandatory Redemption [Member]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]

The following table provides a summary of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	505
Noncontrolling interest expense	450
Redemption value change	557		1,007
Formation of noncontrolling interests			800
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(424		)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests			1,223
Balance as of December 31, 2011			$	3,111
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	1,555
Redemption value change	37		1,592
Formation of noncontrolling interests			8,161
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,714		)
Currency translation adjustment			(103		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	11,047
Noncontrolling interest expense	$	2,003
Redemption value change	74		2,077
Formation of noncontrolling interests			80
Purchase of noncontrolling interests			(1,703		)
Dissolution of noncontrolling interests			(357		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,833		)
Currency translation adjustment			44
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	9,355

redeemable partnership interests [Member]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]

The following table provides a summary of redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):

	Income Statement Impact		Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance as of December 31, 2010			$	5,799
Noncontrolling interest	$	840
Redemption value change	716		1,556
Formation of noncontrolling interests			510
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(901		)
Balance as of December 31, 2011			6,964
Noncontrolling interest	$	806
Redemption value change	156		962
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(935		)
Balance as of December 31, 2012			6,991
Noncontrolling interest	$	1,146
Redemption value change	87		1,233
Formation of noncontrolling interests			3,601
Distribution to noncontrolling interests			(1,147		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013			$	10,678

XML

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable And Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	$ 3,300,000	$ 2,500,000	$ 2,000,000
Net income	142,922,000	50,716,000	99,860,000
Other comprehensive income:
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(7,999,000)	1,429,000	(319,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(7,999,000)	1,429,000	(319,000)
Total comprehensive income	134,923,000	52,145,000	99,541,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,449,000	5,165,000	4,455,000
Comprehensive income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc	$ 129,474,000	$ 46,980,000	$ 95,086,000

XML

Selected Quarterly Financial Data Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges		$ 0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$ 123,600		$ 99,501	$ 21,310

XML

401(k) Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

401(k) Plan

14. 401(k) Plan

In 1992, we established a voluntary retirement plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers all employees with at least six months of employment with our company and provides the annual matching contributions by us at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Our expense for matching contributions to our voluntary retirement plan approximated $1.6 million, $1.5 million and $1.0 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Deferrec Revenue and costs [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 24,717,000	$ 40,647,000	$ 41,662,000	$ 30,485,000	$ (58,051,000)	$ 34,037,000	$ 34,320,000	$ 35,245,000	$ 137,511,000	$ 45,551,000	$ 95,405,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets									20,934,000	22,731,000	13,391,000
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(314,498,000)				(274,463,000)				(314,498,000)	(274,463,000)
Deferred Equipment Revenue	811,000				735,000				811,000	735,000
Deferred Fixed Priced Support Or Maintenance Contract Revenue	3,854,000				3,383,000				3,854,000	3,383,000
Other Deferred Revenue	6,578,000				6,828,000				6,578,000	6,828,000
Total deferred revenue	11,243,000				10,946,000				11,243,000	10,946,000
Deferred Revenue, Current	11,190,000				10,811,000				11,190,000	10,811,000
Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent	53,000				135,000				53,000	135,000
Deferred Costs, Current	502,000				709,000				502,000	709,000
Deferred Costs, Noncurrent	698,000				1,099,000				698,000	1,099,000
Deferred Costs	$ 1,200,000				$ 1,808,000				$ 1,200,000	$ 1,808,000

XML

Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Number of years under state audit	four
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Federal net operating loss carry forwards	$ 68.5
Effective income tax rate	38.90%	41.20%	44.30%
Percentage of cumulative ownership	50.00%
Cumulative ownership change period	three-year period

XML

Long Term Obligations (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Base Rate And Adjusted Rate Description	The base rate for the senior term notes is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo") prime rate in effect on such day, the Federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 0.5% and the adjusted Eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period commencing on such day plus 1.0%. The adjusted Eurodollar rate is defined as the rate per annum obtained by dividing (1) the rate of interest offered to Wells Fargo on the London interbank market by (2) a percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities.”
Base Rate And Adjusted Rate Description	the base rate or the adjusted Eurodollar rate plus a margin of 1.75%
Long Term Debt Maturities Qtrly Repayments of Principal In First Eight Quarters	$ 11,800,000
Long Term Debt Maturities Quarterly Repayments Of Principal In Last Three Quarters	15,800,000
Credit Facility Capacity Available						600,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	125,000,000		125,000,000	100,000,000
Senior term notes					581,300,000	500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.75%
Deferred financing costs		75,000	2,000,000
Capitalized Deferred financing costs associated with lenders			1,100,000
Leverage Ratio	1.81
Senior term note interest rate, period end	1.92%	1.96%
Line Of Credit Facility Minimum Borrowing Capacity Under A Swing Line						10,000,000
Debt Retirement Expense Recognized In Continuing Operations		47,000	865,000	2,100,000
Debt Retirement Expense Recognized In Continuing Operations After Tax				1,300,000
Amended Credit Facility Additional Revolving Commitment			25,000,000
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	LIBOR
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	50,000,000	150,000,000
Increase in Incremental Facilities		50,000,000
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio	177.00%
Required Leverage Ratio	3.0
Incremental Facilities After Amendment		100,000,000
Long Term Obligations (Textual) [Abstract]
Senior term notes		50,000,000	100,000,000
Payment of financing costs	$ 0	$ (122,000)	$ (2,944,000)	$ (9,100,000)
Revolving credit facility maturity date	Aug. 19, 2016
Amended Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	Base rate or adjusted Eurodollar rate
Senior Term Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Description Of Eurodollar Rate Basis	The adjusted Eurodollar rate is defined as the rate per annum obtained by dividing (1) the rate of interest offered to Wells Fargo on the London interbank market by (2) a percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities.”
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	The base rate for the senior term notes is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of Wells Fargo’s prime rate in effect on such day, the Federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 0.5% and the adjusted Eurodollar rate for a one-month interest period commencing on such day plus 1.0%.
Senior Term Notes One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.75%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Basis for Effective Rate	LIBOR plus 1.75%
Secured Seller Notes [Member]
Long Term Obligations (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rates on notes payable maturities, minimum	10.00%
Interest rates on notes payable maturities, maximum	10.00%
Fixed Charge [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage required ratio	1.2

XML

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

			Additions
	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Charged to Other Accounts		Write-offs			Other(1)		Balance at End of Period
Year ended December 31, 2013
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	16,546	$	7,360	$	—	$	(6,325	)	$	121	$	17,702
Year ended December 31, 2012
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	14,978	$	6,396	$	—	$	(5,134	)	$	306	$	16,546
Year ended December 31, 2011
Allowance for uncollectible accounts(2)	$	13,801	$	6,742	$	—	$	(6,178	)	$	613	$	14,978

⁽¹⁾  “Other” changes in the allowance for uncollectible accounts include allowances acquired with animal hospitals and laboratory acquisitions.

⁽²⁾  Balance includes allowance for trade accounts receivable and notes receivable.

XML

Share-Based Compensation (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of nonvested stock activity
Shares, Granted		211,462
Nonvested Stock Awards [Member]
Summary of nonvested stock activity
Shares, Beginning balance	1,516,000	1,451,000	1,516,000
Shares, Granted		211,000	400,000
Shares, Vested		(477,000)	(457,000)
Shares, Forfeited/Canceled	(8,000)	(2,000)
Shares, Ending balance		1,183,000	1,451,000
Grant Date Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share, Beginning balance	$ 20.76	$ 19.90	$ 20.76
Grant Date Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share, Granted		$ 29.77	$ 19.23
Grant Date Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share, Vested	$ 22.17	$ 20.18
Grant Date Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share, Forfeited/Canceled		$ 18.78	$ 19.03
Grant Date Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share, Ending balance		$ 21.56	$ 19.90

XML

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

11. Commitments and Contingencies

a.    Leases

We operate many of our animal hospitals from premises that are leased under operating leases with terms, including renewal options, ranging from five to 35 years. Certain leases include fair-value purchase options that can be exercised at our discretion at various times within the lease terms.

The future minimum lease payments on operating leases at December 31, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	69,353
2015	68,975
2016	68,466
2017	67,338
2018	65,946
Thereafter	733,705
Total	$	1,073,783

Rent expense totaled $67.6 million, $66.0 million and $55.2 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Rental income totaled $1,049,000, $955,000 and $920,000 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

b.    Purchase Commitments

Under the terms of certain purchase agreements, we have aggregate commitments to purchase approximately $13.5 million of products and services through 2016.

c.    Earn-out Payments

We have contractual arrangements in connection with certain acquisitions, whereby additional cash may be paid to former owners of acquired companies upon attainment of specified financial criteria as set forth in the respective agreements. The amount to be paid cannot be determined until the earn-out periods have expired and the attainment of criteria is established. If the specified financial criteria are attained, we will be obligated to pay an additional $2.6 million.

In accordance with business combination accounting guidance, contingent consideration, such as earn-out agreements, are recognized as part of the consideration transferred on the acquisition date. A liability is initially recorded based upon its acquisition date fair value. The changes in fair value are recognized in earnings where applicable at each reporting period. The fair value is determined using a contractually stated formula using either a multiple of revenue or Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). The formulas used to determine the estimated fair value are level 3 inputs. The changes in fair value were immaterial to our consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. We recorded $2.2 million and $1.5 million in earnout liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which are included in other accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

d.    Holdbacks

In connection with certain acquisitions, we withheld a portion of the purchase price, or the holdback, as security for indemnification obligations of the sellers under the acquisition agreement. The amounts withheld are typically payable within a 12-month period. The total outstanding holdbacks at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $886,000 and $2.2 million, respectively, and are included in other accrued liabilities.

We paid $2.4 million, $2.7 million and $1.8 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, to sellers for the unused portion of holdbacks.

11. Commitments and Contingencies, continued

e.    Other Contingencies

On May 29, 2013, a former veterinary assistant at one of our animal hospitals filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, titled Jorge Duran vs. VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc., et. al. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of current and former veterinary assistants employed by us in California, and alleges, among other allegations, that we improperly failed to pay overtime wages, improperly failed to

provide proper meal and rest periods, and engaged in unfair business practices. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

Additionally, on July 12, 2013, an individual who provided courier services with respect to our laboratory clients in California filed a purported class action lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Clara - San Jose Branch, titled Carlos Lopez vs. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, Antech Diagnostics, Inc., et. al. Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, is a company with which Antech has contracted to provide courier services in California. The lawsuit seeks to assert claims on behalf of individuals who were engaged by Logistics Delivery Solutions, LLC to perform such courier services and alleges, among other allegations, that Logistics Delivery Solutions, and Antech Diagnostics improperly classified the plaintiffs as independent contractors, improperly failed to pay overtime wages, and improperly failed to provide proper meal and rest periods. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and other relief, including attorneys' fees and costs.

We are vigorously defending these lawsuits. Because these lawsuits are in the initial stages, the financial impact to us, if any, cannot be estimated.

We have certain contingent liabilities resulting from litigation and claims incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We believe that the probable resolution of such contingencies will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Future minimum lease payments on operating leases

2014	$	69,353
2015	68,975
2016	68,466
2017	67,338
2018	65,946
Thereafter	733,705
Total	$	1,073,783

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Share-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Share-Based Compensation

10. Share-Based Compensation

Stock Incentive Plans

At December 31, 2013, there were stock options, non-vested shares and restricted stock units outstanding under our existing stock incentive plans. We maintain three plans: the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan; the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan; and the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”). New options and other stock awards may only be granted under the 2006 Plan. At December 31, 2013, the sum of the shares previously issued pursuant to awards under the 2006 Plan and the shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under the 2006 Plan to our employees, directors, consultants and those of our affiliates is 7,789,532 shares. The number of shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under the 2006 Plan may increase by any shares of common stock underlying prior outstanding options that expire, are forfeited, canceled or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full. The number of shares available for issuance at December 31, 2013 was 1,713,732. Outstanding options and non-vested shares granted under our plans typically vest over periods that range from three to six years, and outstanding options typically expire between five and ten years from the date of grant.

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

Stock Option Activity

A summary of our stock option activity for 2013 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price and weighted-average remaining contractual term):

	Stock Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	3,776		$	16.92
Granted	462		$	18.94
Exercised	(966	)	$	9.87
Expired	(1,039	)	$	23.68
Forfeited/Canceled	(52	)	$	18.91
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	2,181		$	17.20	3.1	$	8,399
Granted	—		$	—
Exercised	(1,043	)	$	16.73
Expired	(36	)	$	30.70
Forfeited/Canceled	(71	)	$	16.06
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,031		$	17.28	3.7	$	14,516
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	294		$	17.06	3.7	$	4,212
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013.	1,014		$	17.30	3.7	$	14,246

There were no stock options granted during 2013. We granted 462,229 and 894,000 stock options during 2012 and 2011, respectively, which had an estimated weighted-average grant date fair value of approximately $5.48 and $5.21, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of our stock options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $11.4 million, $9.9 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized on options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $4.5 million, $3.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.8 million, $3.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about the options outstanding at December 31, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts and the weighted-average remaining contractual life):

Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Exercise Price	Outstanding	Weighted-Avg. Remaining Contractual         Life	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price	Exercisable	Weighted-Avg. Exercise Price
$15.98 - $18.94	1,031,119	3.7	$17.28	294,422	$17.06

At December 31, 2013, there was $3.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to our stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of over 2.2 years.

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

Calculation of Fair Value

The fair value of our options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We amortize the fair value of our options on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. There were no options granted during 2013. The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the fair value of those options granted during 2012 and 2011:

	For Years Ended
	December 31,
	2012	2011
Expected volatility(1)	34.1%	39.0%
Expected dividends	—%	—%
Expected term(2)	4.4 years	4.3 years
Risk-free rate(3)	0.62%	0.79%

⁽¹⁾  We estimated the volatility of our common stock on the date of grant based on both historical and implied volatility.

⁽²⁾  The expected term represents the period of time that we expect options to be outstanding. We estimated the expected term based upon the weighted-average of our historical experience.

⁽³⁾  The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield in effect at the time of option grant on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with equivalent remaining terms.

We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures. We recognize share-based compensation only for those awards that we expect to vest.

The compensation cost charged against income for stock options was $1.8 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $687,000, $603,000 and $636,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Non-Vested Shares

Additionally, under our 2006 Plan, we have issued non-vested stock awards in our common stock to certain employees and members of our Board of Directors. The outstanding non-vested stock awards to employees and executives generally vest in three or four equal annual installments starting with the first anniversary of the grant date. The non-vested stock awards to members of our Board of Directors generally vest in equal annual installments over three years from the date of grant. A summary of our non-vested stock activity for 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average fair value per share):

	Shares		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	1,516		$	20.76
Granted	400		$	19.23
Vested	(457	)	$	22.17
Forfeited/Canceled	(8	)	$	19.03
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	1,451		$	19.90
Granted	211		$	29.77
Vested	(477	)	$	20.18
Forfeited/Canceled	(2	)	$	18.78
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,183		$	21.56

10. Share-Based Compensation, continued

During 2013, we granted 211,462 shares of non-vested common stock. Of these awards, 199,410 shares were granted to employees and 12,052 shares were granted to our non-employee directors. The awards to employees will vest in equal annual installments over four years. The shares awarded to our non-employee directors will vest in three equal annual installments.

Total compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards was $8.8 million, $11.4 million and $9.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $3.4 million, $4.4 million and $3.6 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was $16.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to these non-vested shares that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.

Restricted Stock Unit Activity

Pursuant to the terms of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, we have also granted performance-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") to our executive officers representing the right to receive one share of common stock. These RSUs will be earned upon achievement of the applicable performance criteria during the performance periods and in accordance with the specific equity performance award agreement they were issued from. Assuming achievement of the required performance conditions and continued service through each vesting date, these awards will generally vest in equal annual installments over four years from the date of grant.

A summary of our RSU award activities for 2013 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average fair value per share):

	Units		Grant Date Weighted- Average Fair Value Per Unit
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	83		$	22.90
Granted	308		$	18.94
Vested/Paid out	(83	)	$	22.90
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	308		$	18.94
Granted	292		$	27.78
Vested/Paid out	(38	)	$	18.94
Forfeited/Canceled	—		$	—
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	562		$	23.54

Total compensation cost charged against income, related to RSU awards was $3.5 million and $1.2 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recognized in the income statement was $1.4 million and $468,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively. There was no compensation cost charged against income related to RSUs in 2011. As of December 31, 2013, there was $9.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to our RSU awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of over 3.5 years.

There were 292,478 and 307,989 performance based RSUs granted to our executive officers in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The RSUs earned upon achievement of performance goals are further subject to vesting where an aggregate of 25% of RSUs earned will vest in four equal annual installments starting on the applicable anniversary date. There were no RSUs granted in 2011.