Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Condensed Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Statements of Income
Revenue	$ 533,720	$ 551,717	$ 548,785	$ 449,453	$ 479,927	$ 499,577	$ 489,472	$ 449,507	$ 2,133,675	$ 1,918,483	$ 1,803,369
Direct costs									1,623,604	1,473,842	1,393,989
Gross profit	117,696	137,666	140,847	113,862	99,018	123,757	120,415	101,451	510,071	444,641	409,380
Selling, general and administrative expense									183,995	171,506	157,911
Net loss (gain) on sale or disposal of assets									829	(1,152)	2,455
Operating income (loss)	66,381	97,079	97,181	69,129	52,654	53,476	79,906	61,232	329,770	247,268	249,014
Income before provision for income taxes									351,641	227,561	230,375
Provision for income taxes									135,543	86,878	87,453
Net income	64,154	56,468	55,923	39,553	29,909	28,951	46,908	34,915	216,098	140,683	142,922
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									5,049	5,245	5,411
Net income attributable to VCA Inc.	$ 63,595	$ 54,854	$ 54,299	$ 38,301	$ 28,359	$ 27,452	$ 45,584	$ 34,043	211,049	135,438	137,511
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Statements of Income
Revenue									0	0	0
Direct costs									0	0	0
Gross profit									0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense									0	0	0
Net loss (gain) on sale or disposal of assets									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									0	0	0
Interest income, net									0	0	0
Equity interest in income of subsidiaries									211,049	135,438	137,511
Income before provision for income taxes									211,049	135,438	137,511
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									211,049	135,438	137,511
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to VCA Inc.									$ 211,049	$ 135,438	$ 137,511