CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Traditional Common Stock	Traditional Common Stock Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated Deficit Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018				0		7,676,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 122,409			$ 0		$ 77		$ 257,034		$ 277		$ (134,979)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss attributable to Heska Corporation	573											573
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)						118,000
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(2,461)					$ 1		(2,462)
Stock-based compensation	2,380							2,380
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21									21
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019				0		7,794,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	122,922			$ 0		$ 78		256,952		298		(134,406)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019				0		7,747,000
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	121,277			$ 0		$ 77		255,150		215		(134,165)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss attributable to Heska Corporation	(241)											(241)
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)						47,000
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	608					$ 1		607
Stock-based compensation	1,195							1,195
Other comprehensive income (loss)	83									83
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019				0		7,794,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	122,922			$ 0		$ 78		256,952		298		(134,406)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019				0	0	7,882,000	7,882,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	154,364	$ (18)	$ 154,346	$ 0	$ 0	$ 79	$ 79	290,216	$ 290,216	513	$ 513	(136,444)	$ (18)	$ (136,462)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss attributable to Heska Corporation	(11,645)											(11,645)
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)						24,000
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	904							904
Issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs (in shares)				122,000
Issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs	121,785			$ 1				121,784
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (in shares)				(122,000)		1,509,000
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	0			$ (1)		$ 15		(14)
Stock-based compensation	2,797							2,797
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,860									1,860
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020				0		9,415,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	270,047			$ 0		$ 94		415,687		2,373		(148,107)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020				122		7,843,000
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020	270,638			$ 1		$ 78		412,152		157		(141,750)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss attributable to Heska Corporation	(6,357)											(6,357)
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)						63,000
Issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	1,106					$ 1		1,105
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (in shares)				122		1,509,000
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	0			$ (1)		$ 15		(14)
Stock-based compensation	2,444							2,444
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,216									2,216
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020				0		9,415,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 270,047			$ 0		$ 94		$ 415,687		$ 2,373		$ (148,107)