A 2-year-old female spayed Golden Retriever presented to the Oncology Service at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals for further work up of a lymphoma diagnosis. The initial diagnosis was made by her primary care veterinarian with a lymph node biopsy after a few week history of progressive oral pain, inappetance, lethargy and right-sided mandibular lymph node enlargement. Our patient's presentation was not typical oflymphoma and although staging and confirmatory diagnostics were complicated by the use of glucocorticoids, no evidence of neoplasia was found. She was ultimately diagnosed with an oral and retro bulbar abscess after seeking a second histopathology opinion. Drains were placed and she was sent home with pain medications and antibiotics. The patient made a full recovery and is doing well.