The terms proximal (from Latin proximus, meaning 'nearest') and distal (from Latin distare, meaning 'to stand away from') are used to describe parts of a feature that are close to or distant from the main mass of the body, respectively.
But, with Citrucel and/or Metamucil you can start with one teaspoon mixed in water or juice. If you have diarrhea don't use the preparation with artificial sweeteners. Use the one with sugar. I think artificial sweeteners (some of them) might cause more diarrhea.
For dogs however, you might be surprised that Metamucil is being prescribed by vets in cases of hard stools and soft stools as well. If your pet dog is constipated, a few doses of Metamucil can usually resolve the problem within 24 hours. And if your dog is very prone to constipation, giving Metamucil regularly will also result in soft but firm stools everyday.