dogtor

English

Etymology 1

Blend of dog +‎ doctor.

Noun

dogtor (plural dogtors)

1. (informal, humorous) A veterinarian who treats dogs.
   • 1997, Marie Jacks, A. E. Parker, The Vanishing Vampire (Clue; 15), New York: Scholastic, →ISBN, page 18:

     I'll bet whoever did this was trying to steal my dog. Now I'll have to take the poor pooch to a dogtor.

   • 1999, Joanna Cole, Stephanie Calmenson, Give a Dog a Bone, New York: Scholastic, →ISBN, page 75:

     Where do you take a sick dog?
     To the dogtor.
     [illustration of a dog being carried on a stretcher by two doctors]

   • 2014 March 28, The Daring Dufas, “'rat from hell'”, in alt.home.repair‎^[1] (Usenet):

     I took Sandy to the dogtor Tuesday and she had to spend the night in the dogspital. I've got her on the same schedule as me to take medications and I'm going to have to bathe her every other day with her prescription shampoo to get her skin to heal. The poor little critter has been scratching constantly and it may take a while to get her better.

   • 2022, Deborah Blake, Claws for Suspicion, New York: Berkley Books, →ISBN, page 271:

     His red hair was shaggy and in need of a trim, and his rangy body was clad in jeans and a slightly ratty gray sweatshirt that said “Trust me, I'm a dogtor," instead of a three-piece suit.

     Referring to the character Angus McCoy, a veterinarian.

2. (informal, humorous) A dog who is also a doctor.
   • 1988, Meyer Seltzer, Petcetera: The Pet Riddle Book‎^[2], Niles, IL: Albert Whitman & Co., →ISBN:

     What kind of dog works in a hospital?
     A dogtor.
     [illustration of a dog, dressed as a doctor, putting a thermometer in a human child's mouth]

   • 2003, Z Budapest, Rasta Dogs, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 125:

     Of course we try to maintain the highest human standards. But it's true; we do have an extra advantage. We have a staffer of another species. His name is Zoro, our three-legged healer, the Dogtor, our little friend.

   • 2007, Iris Bell, Chew on Things, Tucson, AZ: Creative Bookworm Press, →ISBN, page xiii:

     In Chew on Things – It Helps You Think: Words of Wisdom from a Worried Canine, Casey B. Worrywart, Dogtor of Philosophy, explains his window-seat views on life. He shares how he managed to deal with his own ups and downs, with matter-of-factness and humor, inspiring fellow worrywart canines (and people) to cope better.

   • 2012, Elliott Foster, Retrieving Isaac & Jason, Saint Paul, MN: Hiawatha Press, →ISBN, page 172:

     Well, there’s really nothing I can do to change the minds of dogs like Dogtor Daisy other than to live my life and lead my pack according to what is good, right, and healthy for my family. That includes two good walks per day, plenty of rest, and an appropriate ration of daily kibble and water, or appropriate human substitutes.

     From a story set in a world with talking dogs, narrated by a dog.

   • 2014, Charles M. Schulz, “The Dogtor Is In”, in Peanuts, volume 4, Los Angeles: KaBOOM!, →ISBN, page 20:

     [a story in which Snoopy takes over Lucy Van Pelt's psychiatric booth]

   • 2020, Doing Things Media, Doggos Doing Things: The Hilarious World of Puppos, Borkers, and Other Good Bois, Running Press, →ISBN:

     [image by @wrigleyandtheo of two dogs in medical uniforms] Welcome to the dogtor office / no insurance required fren / after minimal research / we diagnose u with a shortage of / chimken

   • 2021 fall/winter, “A study in maroon and orange”, in Tracks Magazine, Blacksburg, VA: Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, →OCLC, page 17:

     “Pray, tell me, Dean. In what manner do these dogs assist the students? Do they teach?”
     “In a manner of speaking, yes,” the dean replied.
     “Do they hold doctorate of philosophy degrees, as does my companion, Dogtor Watson?” Furlock asked.

Synonyms

• (both senses): dog doctor

Etymology 2

Noun

dogtor (plural dogtors)

1. Pronunciation spelling of doctor.
   • 1838, Horace Smith, Jane Lomax: Or a Mother's Crime, volume 1, London: Henry Colburn, →OCLC, pages 30–31:

     My gomblemends to yourself and de dogtors, and you are all liars and jagasses! Mine own jodgement is bedder dan your's, and I feel dat I shall not be bote under de grass dis time, unless dere is a gonspiracy to gill me. I tell you I am bedder, moch bedder, ever since I left off daking your nasty drogs and rubbish.

   • 1946 April, Gardner Fox, Joe Kubert, “The Man With the Amazing Nose”, in Flash Comics, number 70, DC comics, page 2:

     I godda see a dogtor. Only a dogtor can 'elb me! […] I'm not gidding you dogtor. Whed I led go of my nose – things habben to me!

     Spoken by a character whose nose is being pinched by a clothespin.

   • 1983, Robert Russell, Go on, I'm Listening, London: Souvenir Press, →ISBN, page 130:

     “It don’t look too good, eh, dogtor?”
     “You’ll be OK, don’t worry,” I replied, trying to smile reassuringly.
     “What about my babies – dey OK too?”

     Spoken by the character Ludnika Wilcinska, implying a Slavic accent.