EXHIBIT 5.1

                               Heska Corporation
                             1613 Prospect Parkway
                             Fort Collins, CO 80525
                              Tel: (970) 494-7272



February 8, 1999


Board of Directors
Heska Corporation
1613 Prospect Parkway
Fort Collins, CO 80525


Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     With reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
Heska Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating
to 1,322,921 shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable pursuant to the
Company's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Plan"), it is my opinion that
such shares of the Common Stock of the Company, when issued and sold in
accordance with the Stock Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.


Very truly yours,

/s/ J. Michael Christopher

J. Michael Christopher
General Counsel