Acquisition - Pro forma financial information (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Revenue, net	$ 55,735	$ 59,308
Net income (loss) attributable to Heska Corporation	$ (2,830)	$ 663
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Heska Corporation	$ (0.49)	$ 0.12
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Heska Corporation	$ (0.49)	$ 0.11

Pro forma basic earnings per share or earnings per unit, which is commonly presented in initial public offerings based on the terms of the offering.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph b

-Subparagraph 7

-Article 11

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BasicEarningsPerShareProForma
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pro forma diluted earnings per share, which is commonly presented in initial public offerings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph b

-Subparagraph 7

-Article 11

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DilutedEarningsPerShareProForma
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration