Condensed, Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 74,480	$ 98,888
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $21,236 and $21,775 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	79,540	76,634
Inventory	54,961	51,523
Prepaid expenses and other	33,090	30,521
Prepaid income taxes	7,798	24,598
Total current assets	249,869	282,164
Property and equipment, net	540,017	507,753
Goodwill	1,656,389	1,517,650
Other intangible assets, net	114,469	97,377
Notes receivable	5,472	2,194
Other	97,459	93,994
Total assets	2,663,675	2,501,132
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	33,947	33,623
Accounts payable	46,573	52,337
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	88,510	75,519
Other accrued liabilities	77,418	70,828
Total current liabilities	246,448	232,307
Long-term debt, net	918,622	832,718
Deferred income taxes	131,150	131,478
Other liabilities	39,167	36,084
Total liabilities	$ 1,335,387	$ 1,232,587
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 11,787	$ 11,511
Preferred stock, par value $0.001, 11,000 shares authorized, none outstanding	0	0
VCA Inc. stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.001, 175,000 shares authorized, 80,801 and 80,764 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	81	81
Additional paid-in capital	22,681	19,708
Retained earnings	1,321,434	1,275,207
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(37,789)	(50,034)
Total VCA Inc. stockholders’ equity	1,306,407	1,244,962
Noncontrolling interests	10,094	12,072
Total equity	1,316,501	1,257,034
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,663,675	$ 2,501,132

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.