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