The appetite will disappear during the first day as will rumen contractions. The fecus may become soft. The temperature will become sub-normal unless the animal is exposed to hot sun. In cattle, animals with a heart rate of less than 100 will much more likely respond to treatment than one with a heart rate of 120-140. It seems likely that a similar prognostic aid would be valid in goats.
Respiratory rate becomes fast and breathing is shallow.
Diarrhea usually develops and is profuse. The excess lactic acid in the rumen causes a large amount of body fluid to be transported into the rumen. This decrease in the amount of fluid in the blood and the acidosis cause circulatory collapse. The shock is best detected clinically by a paling of the mucous membranes, a fast heart but barely perceptible pulse. A hematocrit above 45aids in the diagnosis of grain overload and indicates a less favorable prognosis.