Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Statements of Income
Revenue	$ 368,998	$ 385,135	$ 376,105	$ 355,123	$ 338,112	$ 358,703	$ 353,919	$ 330,734	$ 1,485,361		$ 1,381,468		$ 1,314,507
Direct costs									1,146,904		1,050,304		973,275
Gross profit	71,710	90,137	96,832	79,778	69,586	85,299	93,484	82,795	338,457		331,164		341,232
Selling, general and administrative expense									121,112		123,541		95,669
Loss on sale of assets									(382)		(374)		(4,035)
Operating income	14,197	57,841	70,109	53,506	40,124	58,042	52,453	56,630	195,653		207,249		241,528
Income before provision for income taxes									175,887		192,260		220,166
Provision for income taxes									76,027		78,102		84,580
Net income	(2,060)	31,359	40,065	30,496	22,122	28,587	30,517	32,932	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.	(3,215)	30,169	39,612	28,839	21,473	27,431	29,404	31,935	95,405		110,243		131,428
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Statements of Income
Revenue									0
Direct costs									0
Gross profit									0
Selling, general and administrative expense									0
Loss on sale of assets									0
Operating income									0
Interest income, net									0
Equity interest in income of subsidiaries									95,405		110,243		131,428
Income before provision for income taxes									95,405		110,243		131,428
Provision for income taxes									0
Net income									95,405		110,243		131,428
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0
Net income attributable to VCA Antech, Inc.									$ 95,405		$ 110,243		$ 131,428

[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.