VCA ANTECH, INC. ANNOUNCES
          REFINANCING OF SENIOR CREDIT FACILITY - LOWERS INTEREST RATE
                        BY 50 BASIS POINTS TO LIBOR +175

     LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 1, 2004 - VCA ANTECH, INC. (NASDAQ NM
SYMBOL: WOOF) announced today that it has refinanced its senior credit facility.
The $223.9 million of total outstanding senior term E notes were replaced with
new senior term F notes in the same amount, priced at LIBOR plus 175 basis
points, resulting in a 50 basis point reduction in the interest rate.

     Bob Antin, Chairman and CEO, stated, "I am pleased that as a result of our
strong operating performance and the outstanding efforts of Goldman Sachs and
Wells Fargo, we were able to lower our interest rate by 50 basis points."

     In conjunction with the refinancing of its senior credit facility, the
Company expects to incur debt retirement costs in the fourth quarter of 2004
related to the write-off of certain deferred financing costs and other related
expenses. The Company is still evaluating these costs and the foregoing excludes
any related impact.

                    DETAIL OF REFINANCED DEBT ($ in millions)

                     RETIRED DEBT                 NEW DEBT

    DESCRIPTION              BALANCE      RATE        BALANCE        RATE
    Senior Term E Notes      $223.9      L +225          -             -
    Senior Term F Notes        -            -         $223.9        L +175

    Revolver (unused)        $ 50.0      L +250       $ 50.0        L +250

     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 ability
to successfully integrate National PetCare Centers, Inc. into the Company's
existing operations and achieve expected operating synergies following the
merger; the level of direct costs and the ability of the Company to maintain
revenue at a level necessary to maintain expected operating margins; the level
of selling, general and administrative costs; the effects of competition; 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 the Company's 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 filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q 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.

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

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



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