CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Net Former Parent Investment	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2018			0
Beginning balance at Dec. 29, 2018		$ 1,494	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,576	$ (82)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Covetrus	[1]	(982)			(992)	10
Dividend to Former Parent		(1,174)		(21)		(1,153)
Issuance of shares at Separation (including share sale investors) (in shares)			71,693,426
Issuance of shares at Separation (including Share Sale investors)		1	$ 1	609		(609)
Issuance of shares in connection with the Acquisition (in shares)			39,742,089
Issuance of shares in connection with the Acquisition		1,772		1,772
Shares held in escrow expected to be canceled		(30)		(30)
Net increase in Former Parent investment		176				176
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans (in shares)			618,758
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans		3		3
Share-based compensation		35		35
Dividends declared on Series A preferred stock		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(19)					(19)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			112,054,273
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		1,276	$ 1	2,368	(992)	0	(101)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			111,932,491
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019		2,248	$ 1	2,357	(33)	0	(77)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Covetrus	[1]	(959)			(959)	0
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans (in shares)			121,782
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans		1		1
Share-based compensation		10		10
Dividends declared on Series A preferred stock		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(24)					(24)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			112,054,273
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 1,276	$ 1	2,368	(992)	$ 0	(101)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		111,620,507	111,620,507
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,256	$ 1	2,381	(1,040)		(86)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Covetrus	[1]	(15)			(15)
Dividend to Former Parent		(6)
Net increase in Former Parent investment		(6)		(6)
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans (in shares)			1,385,447
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans		6		6
Share-based compensation		30		30
Dividends declared on Series A preferred stock		(6)			(6)
Conversion of Preferred Series A Stock to Common Stock (in shares)			14,357,478
Conversion of Preferred Series A Stock to Common Stock		156		156
Other comprehensive income (loss)		$ (5)					(5)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		127,363,432	127,363,432
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		$ 1,416	$ 1	2,567	(1,061)		(91)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020			112,674,657
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020		1,276	$ 1	2,404	(1,022)		(107)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Covetrus	[1]	(35)			(35)
Dividend to Former Parent		(4)
Net increase in Former Parent investment		(6)		(6)
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans (in shares)			331,297
Issuance of shares in connection with share-based compensation plans		2		2
Share-based compensation		11		11
Dividends declared on Series A preferred stock		(4)			(4)
Conversion of Preferred Series A Stock to Common Stock (in shares)			14,357,478
Conversion of Preferred Series A Stock to Common Stock		156		156
Other comprehensive income (loss)		$ 16					16
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		127,363,432	127,363,432
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		$ 1,416	$ 1	$ 2,567	$ (1,061)		$ (91)

[1] (a) Net income earned from January 1, 2019 through February 7, 2019 is attributed to the Former Parent as it was the sole shareholder prior to February 7, 2019.