Doctor De Soto is a picture book for children written and illustrated by William Steig and first published in 1982.

However, while under anesthesia, the fox unknowingly exclaims how he loves to eat mice (including with a dry, white wine).

In the end Dr. De Soto vows, as his father taught him, to finish the job he started, but they formulate a plan to protect themselves.

Dr. De Soto then introduces a new formula the couple created recently, and claiming that one application will prevent toothaches forever, asks the fox if he'd like to be the first to try it.

The dentist takes his time and paints each tooth with the formula, then has the patient clench his jaws shut for a full minute.

The plot of the book bears many similarities to a fable by Aesop regarding a wolf and a crane; in both stories, a predator has trouble with their mouth or throat, and requires the aid of another animal to place themselves inside the jaws of the beast.