Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 81,409	$ 98,888
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $23,440 and $21,775 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	85,593	76,634
Inventory	57,590	51,523
Prepaid expenses and other	44,752	30,521
Prepaid income taxes	11,705	24,598
Total current assets	281,049	282,164
Property and equipment, net	613,224	507,753
Goodwill	2,164,422	1,517,650
Other intangible assets, net	212,577	97,377
Notes receivable	2,147	2,194
Other	99,909	93,994
Total assets	3,373,328	2,501,132
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	38,320	33,623
Accounts payable	68,587	52,337
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	97,806	75,519
Other accrued liabilities	91,783	70,828
Total current liabilities	296,496	232,307
Long-term obligations, net	1,309,397	832,718
Deferred income taxes, net	142,535	131,478
Other liabilities	44,560	36,084
Total liabilities	1,792,988	1,232,587
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	11,615	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, 81,231 and 80,764 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	81	81
Additional paid-in capital	32,157	19,708
Retained earnings	1,484,391	1,275,207
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(45,406)	(50,034)
Total VCA Inc. stockholders’ equity	1,471,223	1,244,962
Noncontrolling interests	97,502	12,072
Total equity	1,568,725	1,257,034
Total liabilities and equity	$ 3,373,328	$ 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.