Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Total assets	$ 2,332,020us-gaap_Assets	$ 2,228,209us-gaap_Assets	$ 2,081,939us-gaap_Assets
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock	83us-gaap_CommonStockValueOutstanding	89us-gaap_CommonStockValueOutstanding
Additional paid-in capital	155,802	384,797
Accumulated earnings	1,064,158	928,720
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(19,397)	(6,190)
Total VCA Inc. stockholders’ equity	1,200,646us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	1,307,416us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Parent Company [Member]
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries	1,330,311	1,208,080
Intercompany (payable) receivable	(129,665)	99,336
Total assets	1,200,646	1,307,416
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock	83	89
Additional paid-in capital	155,802	384,797
Accumulated earnings	1,064,158	928,720
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(19,397)	(6,190)
Total VCA Inc. stockholders’ equity	$ 1,200,646	$ 1,307,416

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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Value received from shareholders in common stock-related transactions that are in excess of par value or stated value and amounts received from other stock-related transactions. Includes only common stock transactions (excludes preferred stock transactions). May be called contributed capital, capital in excess of par, capital surplus, or paid-in capital.

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

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The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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