Financial Instruments (Senior Notes Offering) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 28, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount	$ 3,653us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount		3,650
Debt, unamortized discount		10
Debt, purchase price percent due to downgrade of investment grade		101.00%
Senior Notes \| Initial Purchasers
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount		2,650
Senior Notes \| Pfizer Transfer
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount		1,000
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes 1.150% due 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount	400	400
Debt, stated interest rate		1.15%
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes 1.875% due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount	750	750
Debt, stated interest rate		1.875%
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes 3.250% due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount	1,350	1,350
Debt, stated interest rate		3.25%
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes 4.700% due 2043
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount	$ 1,150	$ 1,150
Debt, stated interest rate		4.70%

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Purchase Price Percent Due to Downgrade of Investment Grade

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zts_DebtInstrumentPurchasePricePercentDueToDowngradeOfInvestmentGrade
Namespace Prefix:	zts_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: