Segment and Geographic Data - Sales Information by Product (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 25, 2020	Jan. 25, 2020	Oct. 26, 2019	Jul. 27, 2019	Apr. 27, 2019	Jan. 26, 2019	Oct. 27, 2018	Jul. 28, 2018	Apr. 25, 2020	Apr. 27, 2019	Apr. 28, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,286,461	$ 1,456,155	$ 1,418,744	$ 1,328,651	$ 1,436,706	$ 1,396,745	$ 1,404,752	$ 1,336,320	$ 5,490,011	$ 5,574,523	$ 5,465,683
Consumable
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									4,378,018	4,482,016	4,415,643
Equipment and software
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									736,702	753,805	709,253
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									375,291	338,702	340,787
Dental net sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,101,922	2,191,790	2,196,078
Dental net sales | Consumable
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,136,083	1,214,814	1,251,642
Dental net sales | Equipment and software
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									677,548	694,864	660,355
Dental net sales | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									288,291	282,112	284,081
Animal Health net sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									3,336,253	3,354,528	3,242,564
Animal Health net sales | Consumable
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									3,241,935	3,267,202	3,164,001
Animal Health net sales | Equipment and software
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									59,154	58,941	48,898
Animal Health net sales | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									35,164	28,385	29,665
Corporate net sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									51,836	28,205	27,041
Corporate net sales | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 51,836	$ 28,205	$ 27,041