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

Amount of loss contingency liability.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14326-108349

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

The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of years lawsuit was temporarily suspended.

No definition available.

Name:	zts_LawsuitTemporarilySuspended
Namespace Prefix:	zts_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Loss Contingency, Additional Number of Defendants

No definition available.

Name:	zts_LossContingencyAdditionalNumberOfDefendants
Namespace Prefix:	zts_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of Contaminated, Contamination of Animal Feed

No definition available.

Name:	zts_NumberofContaminatedContaminationofAnimalFeed
Namespace Prefix:	zts_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of Deaths, Contamination of Animal Feed

No definition available.