The integral constitutive equations of a multipolar viscoelastic material are analyzed from the thermodynamic point of view. They are shown to be approximated by those of the differential-type viscous materials when the processes are slow. As a consequence of the thermodynamic compatibility of the viscoelastic model, the coefficients of viscosity of the approximate viscous model are shown to have an Onsager-type symmetry. This symmetry was employed earlier in the proof of the existence of solutions...