Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 29, 2013 number	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 29, 2013 number	Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments			2
Number of countries served globally	24		24
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,391,810	$ 2,201,452	$ 4,685,321	$ 4,300,471
Operating income	176,065	154,702	329,694	287,997
Health Care Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,313,765	2,133,299	4,532,564	4,169,381
Operating income	154,682	136,047	289,142	253,268
Health Care Distribution [Member] \| Dental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,259,581	1,185,919	2,450,376	2,341,585
Health Care Distribution [Member] \| Medical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	387,887	361,122	776,749	715,948
Health Care Distribution [Member] \| Animal Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	666,297	586,258	1,305,439	1,111,848
Technology and Value-Added Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	78,045	68,153	152,757	131,090
Operating income	$ 21,383	$ 18,655	$ 40,552	$ 34,729

The number of countries in which the entity operates as of balance sheet date.

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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