-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IFl8N45SNgdN87INlX+qH+OgZBnHrltfterUtIdQGCjKOf74onORNkPW43YVeUp1
 nivXv4hjMovDOrKVzD9E8w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001011438-04-000023.txt : 20040220
<SEC-HEADER>0001011438-04-000023.hdr.sgml : 20040220
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040220171825
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001011438-04-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040220

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VCA ANTECH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000817366
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE SERVICES [0700]
		IRS NUMBER:				954097995
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12401 WEST OLYMPIC BOULEVARD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90064-1022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		310-584-65

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12401 WEST OLYMPIC BOULEVARD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90064-1022

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEIL JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001036194

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16783
		FILM NUMBER:		04619994

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VCA ANTECH INC
		STREET 2:		12401 WEST OLYMPIC BLVD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90064
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3105718500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VCA ANTECH INC
		STREET 2:		12401 WEST OLYMPIC BLVD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90064
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edg04-0010_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000817366</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VCA ANTECH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WOOF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001036194</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEIL JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VCA ANTECH INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12401 WEST OLYMPIC BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90064</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options become exercisable upon the first anniversary of the date of grant on February 19, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Heil</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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