Exhibit 99.2

VCA Antech, Inc. Increases Financial Guidance for Fiscal Year 2004 and Provides
Financial Guidance for the Third Quarter of 2004

     LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2004--VCA Antech, Inc.
(Nasdaq:WOOF), a leading animal health care company in the United States,
provides the following revised guidance for all investors in adherence with
Regulation Fair Disclosure as issued by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, SEC, and encourages all current and potential investors to
review the disclosure regarding forward-looking statements in this press release
as well as in all financial documents filed with the SEC. All guidance amounts
are before any potential special items.
     In response to its strong performance for the second quarter of 2004, VCA
Antech is increasing its financial guidance for the year ending December 31,
2004 as follows:

     --   projected revenue to a range of $648.0 million to $654.0 million;

     --   projected operating income to a range of $131.9 million to $132.7
          million;

     --   projected net income to a range of $61.0 million to $61.5 million; and

     --   projected diluted earnings per common share to a range of $1.46 to
          $1.47, or $0.73 to $0.74 reflecting the 2-for-1 stock split announced
          today, which is payable on August 25, 2004.

     Financial guidance for the three months ending September 30, 2004 is as
follows: projected revenue to a range of $173.0 million to $176.0 million and
diluted earnings per common share to a range of $0.40 to $0.41, or $0.20
reflecting the 2-for-1 stock split.
     The foregoing includes an aggregate charge of approximately $1.3 million,
which consists of the following: (1) integration costs related to the merger of
National PetCare Centers, Inc. ("NPC") in the amount of $570,000 actually
incurred during the second quarter of 2004 and an estimated $1.0 million
expected to be incurred during the remainder of 2004; (2) debt retirement costs
related to the refinance of the Company's senior credit facility in the amount
of $810,000 incurred during the second quarter of 2004; and (3) a benefit of
$1.1 million for the settlement of an insurance claim during the first quarter
of 2004.
     Statements contained in this release that are not based on historical
information are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may vary substantially as a result of a variety of factors. Among
the important factors that could cause actual results to differ are: the ability
to successfully integrate NPC into the Company's existing operations and achieve
expected operating synergies following the merger; the level of direct costs and
the ability of the Company to maintain revenue at a level necessary to maintain
expected operating margins; the level of selling, general and administrative
costs; the effects of competition; the effects of the Company's recent
acquisitions and its ability to effectively manage its growth; the ability of
the Company to service its debt; the continued implementation of the Company's
management information systems; pending litigation and governmental
investigations; general economic conditions; and the results of the Company's
acquisition program. These and other risk factors are discussed in the Company's
recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K and Form
10-Q and the reader is directed to these statements for a further discussion of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements.

     VCA Antech owns, operates and manages the largest networks of freestanding
veterinary hospitals and veterinary-exclusive clinical laboratories in the
country.

     CONTACT: VCA Antech, Inc.
              Tom Fuller (CFO), 310-571-6505