Kids are often reluctant to suckle but can swallow. Depression is a common finding. Marked paradoxical metabolic acidosis is present with no detected, repeatable abnormalities in specific organ systems with the exception of mild renal changes in some cases. Other biochemical findings include an increase in anion gap, decrease in bicarbonate, normal to increased chloride, and occasional hypokalemia. Diagnosis is made based on supportive clinical and laboratory findings.
Blood chemistry is necessary to assess the severity of the base deficit and electrolyte imbalances.
Affected kids are under 2 weeks of age. Any disease that can lead to a profoundly weak or acidotic kid can be mistaken for this syndrome. Examples include white muscle disease, abomasal bloat, colibacillosis, septicemia, or enterotoxemia. Similar disease has been noted in calves and a llama cria. The llama cria presented in a similar fashion to the kids, without gastrointestinal or respiratory clinical signs.