Condensed, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 34,915,000	[1]	$ 31,823,000	[1]
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(5,521,000)		(2,744,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(5,521,000)		(2,744,000)
Total comprehensive income	29,394,000		29,079,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	444,000	[1]	1,338,000	[1]
Comprehensive income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	28,950,000		27,741,000
Net income related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 500,000		$ 700,000

[1] Includes approximately $0.5 million and $0.7 million of net income related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.