Portland, Ore. ? Despite the feel-good story of Velvet, the black Labrador mix who helped keep three Mount Hood climbers warm and alive, some experts say taking dogs up the mountain is a foolhardy practice that could do more harm than good.

“Any sport that requires safety gear, like harnesses, crampons, ice axes and rope, is probably not an appropriate place for a pet dog to be,” and could endanger both the dog and owner, said Julie Kittams, a Portland veterinarian for sled dogs in the Iditarod.

Taking a dog on a mountain-climbing expedition, she said, is “like caring for an injured team member. It just hinders your ability to get safely off the mountain.”

The dog kept the climbers warm as they were tucked into sleeping bags Sunday night in a snowstorm at 7,300 feet, about 4,000 feet shy of the summit.

Kittams said dogs, with body temperatures between 99.8 and 101 degrees, can provide warmth in some situations, such as a sled race. But she cautioned against thinking of them as an emergency source of heat.

“If there’s a crisis, it’s not unheard of for a musher to snuggle up with the pack,” Kittams said. “I still wouldn’t advocate that as a reason to take a dog along on a mountain-climbing expedition.”

Velvet, a 4-year-old black Labrador mix, is tended to by veterinarian Chris MacKay and technician's assistant Michelle Johnson at the DoveLewis animal hospital in Portland, Ore. Velvet was treated after being rescued Monday, having spent the night on Mount Hood with three stranded climbers. The dog is credited with helping keep the climbers alive, but climbing experts advise against taking dogs up mountains.

The rescue prompted climbers to chatter on mountaineering Web sites such as cascadiaclimbers.com about the wisdom of bringing a dog on an expedition. Climbers noted that some dogs are bred for snowy environments, but a few wondered about potential risks for the animals.

“I’ve got a dog myself. I take her skiing, and I take her rock climbing,” said Steve Rollins, a veteran Hood climber and a leader of Portland Mountain Rescue, the outfit whose volunteers brought the three climbers out on Monday. “I think the south side of Mount Hood is pushing the envelope.”

But, Rollins said, every mountain situation and each dog is different. He said he’s taken his dog to the top of 12,276-foot Mount Adams, in Washington state, where the climb does not demand as much skill and equipment.

Velvet’s owner, Matty Bryant, did not respond to requests for an interview.

David Lytle, of the Oregon Humane Society, said he doubted the publicity surrounding the rescue would lead more climbers to bring dogs. Given the injuries Velvet suffered, he said, “I would expect that it would be just the opposite.”

Velvet suffered cuts and scrapes on her feet from exposure to the snow and went home with bandages, antibiotics and pain medication. She was expected to make a full recovery.