Exhibit 99.1

VCA Antech, Inc. Increases Financial Guidance for Fiscal Year 2004
and Provides Financial Guidance for the Second Quarter of 2004

   LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2004--VCA Antech, Inc.
(Nasdaq:WOOF), a leading animal health care company in the United
States, provides the following revised guidance for all investors in
adherence with Regulation Fair Disclosure as issued by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, 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 first quarter of
2004, VCA Antech is increasing its financial guidance for the year
ending December 31, 2004 as follows:

   --  Projected revenue to a range of $592.0 million to $604.0
        million,

   --  Projected operating income to a range of $127.0 million to
        $128.0 million,

   --  Projected net income to a range of $59.4 million to $60.4
        million,

   --  Projected diluted earnings per common share to a range of
        $1.43 to $1.44.

   During the first quarter ended March 31, 2004, the Company
recognized a before and after-tax benefit of $1.1 million, or $0.03
per diluted common share, for the settlement of an insurance claim
relating to a prior legal settlement. This reimbursement has been
reflected in the revised projected operating income, projected net
income and projected diluted earnings per common share above.
   Financial guidance for the three months ended June 30, 2004 is as
follows: revenue from $154.0 million to $157.0 million and diluted
earnings per common share from $0.42 to $0.43.

   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 revenue at a level necessary to
maintain expected 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 SEC 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
freestanding veterinary hospitals and veterinary-exclusive clinical
laboratories in the country.

    CONTACT: VCA Antech, Inc.
             Tom Fuller, Chief Financial Officer, 310-571-6505