-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RREXRZ88vG7HY9GUFisOiK57WSmbNS9cWYWDo6N5lMDR5E3AQ1RRza/6qELT3pQL
 Yw7dBo+aqf3CR+S85GuAHg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001011438-04-000342.txt : 20041021
<SEC-HEADER>0001011438-04-000342.hdr.sgml : 20041021
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041021184948
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001011438-04-000342
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041019
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041021
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041021

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANTIN ROBERT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000901483
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16783
		FILM NUMBER:		041090468

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA INC
		STREET 2:		3420 OCEAN PARK BLVD STE 1000
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90405
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3103929599

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edg04-0133_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901483</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANTIN ROBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VCA ANTECH, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12401 WEST OLYMPIC BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90064</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chair/Chief Exec. Off. &amp; Pres.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.40</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>425000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>425000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>425000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares subject to this option will vest on April 19, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert L. Antin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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