Condensed, Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 499,577		$ 464,055		$ 1,438,556		$ 1,367,916
Direct costs	375,820		353,378		1,092,933		1,046,022
Gross profit	123,757		110,677		345,623		321,894
Selling, general and administrative expense	42,792		38,747		124,163		117,616
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	27,019		0		27,019		0
Net loss (gain) on sale or disposal of assets	470		(109)		(173)		1,187
Operating income (loss)	53,476		72,039		194,614		203,091
Interest expense, net	4,367		4,474		12,564		14,439
Debt retirement costs	1,709		0		1,709		0
Other expense (income)	188		(86)		178		(113)
Income before provision for income taxes	47,212		67,651		180,163		188,765
Provision for income taxes	18,261		25,740		69,389		71,571
Net income	28,951	[1]	41,911	[1]	110,774	[1]	117,194	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,499		1,264		3,695		4,400
Net income attributable to VCA Inc.	$ 27,452		$ 40,647		$ 107,079		$ 112,794
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32		$ 0.46		$ 1.22		$ 1.27
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31		$ 0.45		$ 1.21		$ 1.26
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share (in shares)	86,274		88,834		87,543		88,583
Weighted-average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	87,360		89,845		88,665		89,659

[1] Includes approximately $1.9 million and $2.6 million of net income related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests combined for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.