Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,918,483		$ 1,803,369		$ 1,699,642
Direct costs	1,473,842		1,393,989		1,324,668
Gross profit	444,641		409,380		374,974
Selling, general and administrative expense	171,506		157,911		157,155
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	27,019		0		123,573
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	(1,152)		2,455		1,310
Operating income	247,268		249,014		92,936
Interest expense	17,951		18,928		17,020
Interest income	(172)		(379)		(468)
Debt retirement costs	1,709		0		0
Business combination adjustment gain	0		0		(5,719)
Other expense (income)	219		90		(488)
Income before provision for income taxes	227,561		230,375		82,591
Provision for income taxes	86,878		87,453		31,875
Net income	140,683	[1]	142,922	[1]	50,716	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,245		5,411		5,165
Net income attributable to VCA Inc.	$ 135,438		$ 137,511		$ 45,551
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 1.56		$ 1.55		$ 0.52
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 1.54		$ 1.53		$ 0.51
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share	86,656		88,621		87,681
Weighted-average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share	87,825		89,663		88,671

[1] Includes $2.4 million, $3.3 million and $2.5 million for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to redeemable and mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests.