Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Goodwill

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2010	$	965,999		$	96,818		$	29,663		$	1,092,480
Goodwill acquired		64,459			6			99,087			163,552
Other (1)		(1,807	)		(30	)		(134	)		(1,971	)
Balance as of September 30, 2011	$	1,028,651		$	96,794		$	128,616		$	1,254,061

⁽¹⁾  Other includes acquisition-price adjustments which consist primarily of an adjustment related to deferred taxes, buy- outs and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Other Intangible Assets

	As of September 30, 2011							As of December 31, 2010
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Noncontractual customer relationships	$	80,613	$	(18,297	)	$	62,316	$	48,686	$	(14,188	)	$	34,498
Covenants not-to-compete		12,990		(8,030	)		4,960		14,459		(8,311	)		6,148
Favorable lease asset		5,571		(3,076	)		2,495		5,486		(2,672	)		2,814
Trademarks		7,545		(1,463	)		6,082		3,749		(986	)		2,763
Contracts		3,500		(74	)		3,426		-		-			-
Technology		16,589		(1,852	)		14,737		2,189		(1,447	)		742
Client lists		84		(28	)		56		35		(14	)		21
Total	$	126,892	$	(32,820	)	$	94,072	$	74,604	$	(27,618	)	$	46,986

Aggregate amortization expense

	Three Months  Ended September 30,				Nine Months  Ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Aggregate amortization expense	$	3,833	$	2,484	$	9,092	$	6,825

Estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets

Remainder of 2011	$	4,403
2012		16,952
2013		14,680
2014		12,348
2015		10,492
Thereafter		35,197
Total	$	94,072