Acquisitions and Equity Investments - Acquisitions Completed (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Apr. 26, 2014 Mercer Mastery [Member]	Apr. 26, 2014 National Veterinary Supply [Member]	Apr. 27, 2013 Iowa Dental Supply [Member]	Apr. 27, 2013 Universal Vaporizer Support [Member]	Apr. 28, 2012 American Veterinarian Supply Corp [Member]	Apr. 28, 2012 Surgical Synergies Pty Ltd [Member]	Apr. 28, 2012 Orthoplast [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition by segment	Dental supply	Veterinary supply	Dental supply	Veterinary supply	Veterinary supply	Rehabilitation supply	Rehabilitation supply

Description of a specific restructuring plan and related activities including the facts and circumstances leading to the restructuring or decision to exit an activity, and the expected completion date. This concept and related items would be utilized for each plan if multiple exit plans have been implemented in the period.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

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