Consolidated Income Statements (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidated Income Statements [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,485,361		$ 1,381,468		$ 1,314,507
Direct costs	1,146,904		1,050,304		973,275
Gross profit	338,457		331,164		341,232
Selling, general and administrative expense	121,112		123,541		95,669
Goodwill impairment	21,310
Net loss on sale of assets	382		374		4,035
Operating income	195,653		207,249		241,528
Interest expense	17,485		14,431		22,482
Interest income	601		801		1,016
Debt retirement costs	2,764		2,131
Other expense (income)	118		(772)		(104)
Income before provision for income taxes	175,887		192,260		220,166
Provision for income taxes	76,027		78,102		84,580
Net income	99,860	[1]	114,158	[1]	135,586	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,455		3,915		4,158
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.	$ 95,405		$ 110,243		$ 131,428
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.10		$ 1.28		$ 1.54
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.09		$ 1.27		$ 1.53
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	86,606		86,049		85,077
Weighted-average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	87,394		87,051		86,097

[1] Includes $2.0 million, $1.2 million and $1.1 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests.