I was thinking more of a hemi-vertibrae as well The divot or reversed hair pattern above the tail in any breed usually means a hemi is underneath.

if it is intermittent especially. If the vertebrae, especially on a curve in the back, are fused the opening is often narrowed and if there is any pinching or swelling in the actual spinal column that can cause numbness in the back feet and legs so it can go from dragging foot, to paralysis and back overnight depending on how badly it is being pinched. Bad attack is often treated with cortisone to reduce inflammation of cord so as to not cause vertebrae to impinge on spinal cord itself. Keep your dog on the lean size as that can be helpful so you are not putting undue strain on the vertebrae.
A good vet needs to do more than hip xrays though...needs entire spinal column done...it is not uncommon at all.


Lorraine
If only I was as good a person as my dogs seem to think I am!
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Our Bandit started dragging his back leg when he was about 9 months old. We took him in to the vet and it was a spinal birth defect. He had surgery to correct it. Without the surgery he would have eventually lost use of his back legs. The good news is he is now 100%. Before the surgery Bandit never wiggled his tail or rear end. Is your guy able to?

or some birth defect connected with spina bifida (which is why the question about a "dimple" above the tail along the spine. While many dogs have a small indention, this alone is not totally indicative of a birth defect, but combined with the symptoms you are mentioning leads one to suspect this possibility. Please have a good vet examine the dog to see what treatment options are available.

Question...does your dog have a divot or dimple above the tail area? Sometimes the hair grows in a reverse pattern or a ridge like a Rhodesian Ridgeback over the divot area...

investigated by a bulldog-knowledgable vet...the key word being knowledgable. If your vet is not very experienced with bulldogs and their common hips, you can be made to feel that the problem is worse than it might be. And before you agree to any drastic treatment/correction, please do get another opinion from a different vet. If you need referral to a good vet familiar with The Bulldog, either contact your breeder or check the home page of this website for vet referrals, listed by state. These referrals were given by actual bulldog owners.