EXHIBIT 99.1


                                VCA ANTECH, INC.
                          INCREASES FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
                              FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003

     LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 23, 2003 - VCA ANTECH, INC. (NASDAQ NM SYMBOL: WOOF),
a leading animal health care company in the United States, provides the
following revised guidance for all investors in adherence to the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission's, SEC, Regulation Fair Disclosure, and
encourages all current and potential investors to review the disclosure
regarding forward-looking statements in this press release as well as in all
financial documents filed with the SEC. All guidance amounts are before any
potential special items.

     In response to its strong performance for the second quarter of 2003, VCA
Antech is increasing its guidance for the year ending December 31, 2003 for
projected net income to a range of $39.4 million to $40.4 million from its
previously announced guidance of $37.9 million to $38.9 million and increasing
projected earnings per diluted common share, EPS, to $0.98 from its previously
announced guidance of $0.95. Projected net income and projected EPS for both the
Company's revised and previously announced guidance includes an after-tax charge
of $4.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for debt retirement costs
associated with the retirement of its 15.5% senior notes in February 2003. VCA
Antech is also increasing its guidance for the year ending December 31, 2003 for
projected operating income to a range of $106.3 million to $108.3 million from
its previously announced guidance of $105.0 million to $107.0 million.

     In light of the SEC's adoption of Regulation G regarding Non-GAAP financial
measures, the Company has determined to discontinue its practice of providing
guidance for EBITDA.

     Statements contained in this release that are not based on historical
information are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may vary substantially as a result of a variety of factors. Among
the important factors that could cause actual results to differ are the level of
direct costs and the ability of the Company to maintain gross revenue at a level
necessary to maintain operating margins, the level of selling, general and
administrative costs, the effects of competition, the efficient integration of
the Company's acquisitions, the effects of the Company's recent acquisitions and
its ability to effectively manage its growth, the ability of the Company to
service its debt, the continued implementation of its management information
systems, pending litigation and governmental investigations, general economic
conditions, and the results of the Company's acquisition program. These and
other risk factors are discussed in the Company's recent filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K and the reader is directed to
these statements for a further discussion of important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements.

     VCA Antech owns, operates and manages the largest networks of free-standing
veterinary hospitals and veterinary-exclusive clinical laboratories in the
country.






     Media contact:   Tom Fuller, Chief Financial Officer
                      (310) 571-6505




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