The entire life cycle from oocyst to new oocyst takes 2-3 weeks. If a young kid is suddenly exposed to many sporulated oocysts, it may become severely ill 1-2 weeks later. It will be off feed, listless, and weak. It may show abdominal pain by crying or getting up again as soon as it lies down. At first, the kid might have a fever, but later the body temperature is normal or even below normal.
Diarrhea begins pastey, then becomes watery.
The kid may dehydrate rapidly. Contrary to various reports written by people more accustomed to calves than kids, the diarrhea is only rarely bloody. Neither is straining common. Signs often show 2-3 weeks after the kids are weaned, because the lactic acid produced by the digestion of milk helps to inhibit occidia in the nursing kid. 4 Young kids may be killed quickly by a severe attack of coccidiosis.