Condensed, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 28,951,000	[1]	$ 41,911,000	[1]	$ 110,774,000	[1]	$ 117,194,000	[1]
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(6,207,000)		2,633,000		(6,919,000)		(3,708,000)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,207,000)		2,633,000		(6,919,000)		(3,708,000)
Total comprehensive income	22,744,000		44,544,000		103,855,000		113,486,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,021,000	[1]	1,264,000	[1]	3,167,000	[1]	4,400,000	[1]
Comprehensive income attributable to VCA Inc.	21,723,000		43,280,000		100,688,000		109,086,000
Net income related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests					$ 1,900,000		$ 2,600,000

[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.